I shall thank G‑d with all my heart,
Guided by the counsel of the upright and the congregation.
It was a long and winding journey from sitting at a small wooden desk, peering at thousands of relevant letters and interviews, to completing the volume in front of you. It would not be possible to reach this destination without the many individuals who gave graciously of their time and talent.
Some of them assisted by sharing their knowledge, directing me in navigating the Rebbe’s voluminous corpus and the subtleties of his Talmudic and Kabbalistic teachings. Many contributed with their insightful suggestions and honest feedback, gently letting me know when I was digressing to themes that belonged in the endnotes. Others helped this undertaking with their unwavering friendship and enthusiasm, urging me on when the awesome responsibility of purporting to accurately distill the Rebbe’s ideas overwhelmed me.
To give each of the individuals mentioned below the full acknowledgment they deserve might well warrant a book of its own. You each know what you’ve done, and I—and anyone who might gain from this book—owe a debt of gratitude to you. (In alphabetical order:)
Tzvi Alperowitz, Rabbi Shmuly Avtzon, Mendel Banon, Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein, Meir Brook, Sholom Brook, Menachem Caytak, Levi Deren, Mrs. Vivi Deren, Bentzi Duchman, Mrs. Faigy Duchman, Rabbi Zalman Duchman, Mrs. Johanna Ehrman, Rabbi Asher Federman, Levi Feldman, Peretz Garelik, Mr. Josh Goldhirsch, Dovber Goldman, Mendel Goldman, Rabbi Ovadia and Nechama Goldman, Yosef Gorowitz, Richie Greenbaum, Rabbi Dov Greenberg, Mrs. Judy Gruin, Levik Gurary, Berel Gurevitch, Shmuly Gurevitch, Rabbi Shmuly and Toby Hecht, Yaacov Hecht, Rabbi Yossi Kamman, Yisroel Kaplan, Professors Bentzion and Lindsay Katzir, Mr. Harris Kligman, Mr. Eliezer Kornhauser, Sholom Laine, Mendel Levitansky, Rabbi Shmuel Lew, Dovid Margolin, Rabbi Mendel Mintz, Rabbi Judah Mischel, Chaim Muss, Eli Nash, Mrs. Baila Olidort, Zalman Pape, Elisha Pearl, Mendy Plotkin, Dov Popack, Yossi Rapoport, Mrs. Miriam Rhodes, Rabbi Josh Rosenfeld, Eli Rubin, Mrs. Lipa Schwartz, Bronya Shaffer, Levi Shemtov, Shammai Shemtov, Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, Avraham Shneorsohn, Yisroel Slonim, Mendel Spalter, Ari Sperlin, Rabbi Shais Taub, Tzemach Weg, Orrel Weizman, Noach Wells, Menachem Wolf, Alex Zaloum, Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi, Jake Zebede.
The insight and mentorship of the following professors of psychology and practicing psychotherapists was important in clarifying to me the Rebbe’s intent: Professors Ellen Langer and Kate Lowenthal, Drs. Yisroel King, Sonia Roitman, Dani Saul, Jonah Schrag, Yisroel Susskind, and Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hirsch Weinreb.
This book could not have happened if not for others who toiled before me. The letters rely on the compilation (and some translations) of the Kehot team, the Sichos in English team (particularly the work of Rabbi Sholom Ber Wineberg), and the Chabad.org team. The first-person accounts rely on the tremendous work of Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin and the JEM team in their “My Encounter” oral history project that has to date interviewed over 1700 individuals about their personal interactions with the Rebbe. The photographic reproductions of original letters—as well as tracking down many other English letters—owe to the diligent work of Shimon Gansburg who gifted this project with his wisdom, knowledge, and generosity of spirit.
There were several individuals who played key roles in shaping this book. During evenings of spirited discussion and long nights of painstaking work, my dear cousin, Shea Shmotkin, gave abundantly of his time, idealistic passion, and keen analytical skills to help formulate the core structure and narrative of this book. The tireless investment of Mrs. Nechama Golding helped bring the manuscript to another level. Her years of patient dedication, discerning advice, and meticulous editing were invaluable. The devoted work of Mrs. Musia Kaplan gave the book its final touch.
I would also like to thank Professor Susan Handelman and Rabbi Ari Sollish for their direction early on, as well as Rabbi Naftali Silberberg of the Rohr JLI for his guidance in translating some ideas from this book into a teacher-student curriculum.
Rabbi Yosef B. Friedman, Rabbi Mendel Laine, and the Kehot team lovingly oversaw the book’s production. Among them, Rabbi Levi Raskin sensitively ensured every word remains true to the sources, and Rabbi Yirmi Berkowitz carefully formatted the text with attention to every detail. Moshe Muchnick and Alizah Chekroun from Spotlight Design thoughtfully created the cover and template.
Above all, I’d like to thank my dear parents, Rabbi Zalman and Malya Shmotkin, who were unswerving in their encouragement throughout this lengthy process, believing in the vision, sharing in its pains and delights, and serving as indispensable sounding boards and editorial guides. My grandparents, Rabbi Yisroel and Devorah Shmotkin and Rabbi Bentzion and Chana Stein, were a bedrock of support and living examples from the very beginning. Each of my siblings contributed in their own way as well.
Speaking of family, there are a few people who’ve been part of the fabric of our household since my earliest memories. This project has finally allowed me to experience their refined character, work ethic, and selfless devotion to the cause.
Chabad.org’s Rabbis Meir Simcha Kogan and Motti Seligson enthusiastically threw their time and energy behind this effort from the get-go. The former, in particular, patiently but firmly nudged it forward, heaving it over the finish line. The Rohr and Tabacinic names have been similarly constant in my life since childhood. It was thus a particular delight to experience first-hand Mr. George Rohr’s effervescent encouragement and support, along with his spot-on advice. Jared and Sondra Mehl have been forever an enthralling mix of no-holds-barred mentors and the most comfortable of friends. Their excitement for this project was truly touching.
Finally, I’d like to make special mention of my dear aunt Henya ע״ה Federman, Lubavitch emissary to the U.S. Virgin Islands, whose untimely passing occurred during the development of this manuscript. Henya lived by the lessons in this book—lessons she absorbed from her Chasidic parents: a mind liberated from ego, deeply aware of G‑d’s presence, and attuned to the needs of her children and others. Reflecting on her life granted me tangible words to describe certain ideals in the Rebbe’s letters—making this volume yet another entity forever marked with her noble spirit.
I hope that the Rebbe’s counsel shared in these pages uplifts you like it uplifted me, hastening the time when we will all be told:
Arise, my beloved; my fair one, go forth! For now the winter is past, The rains are over and gone. The blossoms have appeared in the land... Arise, my beloved; My fair one, go forth!
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