Ahead of Yud Shevat, marking 76 years of the Rebbe’s nesius, Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, director of Vaad Hanochos b’Lahak, sat down for an open interview, sharing a long series of personal accounts he has never shared before.

In a riveting three-hour discussion, R’ Chaim Shaul touches on his experiences by the Rebbe and the publication of the Rebbe’s Torah.

Rabbi Brook begins with his personal journey, from his family’s history and his revered grandfather, Reb Shoiel Brook AH, to growing up in Eretz Yisroel and arriving by the Rebbe for the first time.

He describes his many years as a bochur in 770 and the very close and personal encounters he had with the Rebbe, including the “shmira” by the Rebbe’s room.

Rabbi Brook then shares the story of how he became involved in the publishing of the Rebbe’s Torah, the first time he submitted a sicha for hagahah, later a maamar for hagahah, and goes on to give a complete behind-the-scenes look at his lifelong involvement in publishing the Rebbe’s maamorim and the Toras Menachem series.

He describes the many sichos and maamorim that were missing, either partially or entirely, and the dedicated work of the members of Lahak in retrieving hundreds of missing pages of the Rebbe’s Torah and making them available to the public.

He also speaks about the rare merit of being a partner in this sacred work in the closest possible way to the Rebbe, and shares words of encouragement ahead of Yud Shevat on how to connect with the Rebbe through learning the Rebbe’s Torah.

The interview, conducted in Yiddish, is Episode 33 of Among Chassidim, a podcast by Derher, hosted by Rabbi Yossi Kamman, director of A Chassidisher Derher.

WATCH