An Encounter with the Alter Rebbe

Am at the moment enjoying the thumbnail reviews of the 'Rebbe' and the 'Gaon" and having read the new book, 'The Genius" by Stern as well as "Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi" by Nissan Mendel, I've been comparing for a long time. It's come up before that people believed the Gaon to be in his soul Chassidic...but that they should not forget that with the religious emotions there must be channeling to Torah and Mitzvoth. This has been primary in my thoughts and feelings for some time because I have so many maternal DNA "connections" with Lithuania and western 'Russian"...As well as "Yekke" Prussia (like Berlin to Stettin and then east), but am deeply connected with Chassidic Chabad now. It would seem that both perspectives are absolutely necessary for a totally successful unity of the Jewish Nation! Reply