In a podcast interview, Rabbi Berel Levine – director of the Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library at 770 and author of countless works in halacha and history – takes listeners through a packed life devoted entirely to the Rebbe’s work, sharing rare stories and behind-the-scenes details spanning decades of shlichus.

Born in Paris and raised in Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Levine has a burning desire to learn near the Rebbe. With the Rebbe’s permission, he came to New York on the condition that he would learn diligently. He devoted long hours to learning to the point that the Rebbe had to instruct him not to compromise his health.

After his marriage and joining the Kolel, he came to be the editor of “Yagdil Torah,” a Torah journal dedicated to the writings of the Rebbeim and their chassidim.

From there, the Rebbe instructed him to work on the Igros Kodesh – first of the Alter Rebbe, Mitteler Rebbe, and Tzemach Tzedek, then the Rebbe Rashab, and then the Tzemach Tzedek. When the Rebbe told him to work on his own Igros Kodesh, Rabbi Levine was taken aback, since these had been published until that point in the volumes of Likutei Sichos.

Over the years, working directly under the Rebbe’s written guidance, Rabbi Levine accumulated between 600 and 700 handwritten answers related to his work.

“For the 15 years that I worked under the Rebbe’s supervision, everything was written instructions – how to do every little detail, whether it’s how to do the catalog in the library, or in the Yagdil Torah, or other projects.”

He describes how nearly every step required written clarification, making his collection of answers unlike that of almost anyone else. “Shluchim didn’t send questions regularly, and the Mazkirus asked their questions orally – whereas I was submitting questions daily in writing.”

He also speaks about his central role in the seforim court case and his conversations with the Rebbetzin. He recalls his two missions to Soviet Russia, including the dramatic discovery of the Lubavitch seforim collection hidden in a Moscow public library.

He also speaks of the expansion of the library and the Rebbe’s surprise late-night Chanukah tour in 5754 through every room of the newly expanded library building.

The podcast episode is part of Among Chassidim: A Podcast by Derher. Hosted by Rabbi Yossi Kamman, director of A Chassidisher Derher, the podcast captures the vibrancy of dor hashvi’i through immersive, in-depth conversations. To view all episodes, visit Derher.org.

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