Telushkin’s biography of the Rebbe inspires

By Ronn Torossian

NEW YORK — Here is the most simple book review of the new book, Rebbe: The Life And Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, The Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History: Read it and you will become a better person. From reading this book, one can better understand how Rabbi Schneerson had a positive impact on hundreds of thousands – and his life’s work continues to live on today through the organization, Chabad-Lubavitch he built which remains the largest Jewish organization in the world.

This book should be read by people of all religions, who seek to become better human beings, better parents, better at business – and of course for those of us who are Jewish, better Jews.

The biography written after five years of research by renowned Modern Orthodox author & teacher, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, is well-written, and easy to read, containing a mix of history and personal anecdotes by people of all walks of life who interacted with the “Rebbe” as he was affectionately known.

The book contains countless practical lessons (do not delay – do it now), and that the person who knows you best is you.  The better and quicker you understand that, the happier and more successful you can be.  The breadth and scope of the Rebbe’s’ reach from his office and home in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, from which he rarely left was awe-inspiring. They included interactions with world leaders Ronald Reagan to Robert F. Kennedy, Jews of all walks of life, and simple people struggling with decisions concerning marriage, education and more. As Prime Minister Menachem Begin proclaimed when visiting the Rebbe after his 1977 victory in the Israeli election, “I have come tonight to our great master and teacher to ask for and get from him his blessing before I go to Washington to meet with President Carter….His blessings are very important to me.”

As a Jew, I admired his love for our people of all walks of life.  He was selfless in his devotion to the Jewish people – and far from caring only about singular issues such as wearing a yarmulke or the like.  As a leader should, he shaped his answers and philosophy based upon individuals – not everyone can do everything. Despite it, from Russia to Israel to the farthest reaches of the world, he touched Jewish communities, and individual Jews alike.  From issues like women lighting candles to encouraging Jews to don tefillin Rabbi Schneerson simply wanted Jews to be more connected to our amazing religion.  How great.

As an entrepreneur who is constantly busy, from reading this book, I learned about time management, about the need to continually have energy and continually keep going and pushing forward. Telushkin’s book details amazing personal details about the Rebbe that inspires readers to do more, to not stop.

Traveling often, every Friday night I heed the words of Elie Wiesel (whose relationship with the Rebbe is detailed in the book), that “the place of a Jew Friday night is in synagogue.” Through the years, I have spent many Friday nights in the warm embrace of a Chabad house, where I know that I can show up and will have a place to pray, and a smiling Jewish face.  From Moscow to the South of France, to California, to my home in Lincoln Center, in the last few years I have been to dozens of Chabad houses and can say quite clearly that the work of the Rebbe lives on.  It is amazing and a testament to this great Jewish leader that continues to have his influence felt throughout the entire Jewish world.

Rebbe: The Life And Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, The Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History is a great book which should be read by everyone – the world would be a better place. The book is well-written, and well-researched. Telushkin notes  in the book that “I am a happier and more spiritual person as a result of writing this book” – and I believe anyone who reads it would also say they are happier and more spiritual.

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Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a top 25 US PR Firm, Author of best-selling book For Immediate Release – and a proud Jewish admirer of Chabad and the Rebbe.