Editor's Picks Archives

Editor’s Picks

Revelry and Radiance: Purim in Lubavitch

In honor of the approaching yom tov of Purim, From the Margins of Chabad History presents two unknown accounts of Purim with the Rebbeim—from Lubavitch with the Rebbe Rashab and Riga with the Frierdiker Rebbe.

Russian Drunks Stood in Awe of His Learning

An incredible masmid who learned at every moment - even on his deathbed - R. Volf Levitin was chosen to..

‘You Sing, Clap and Bang, But You Don’t Change…’

Known as a "gehoreveter" chossid, R. Moshe Dov Ber of Velizh was revered amongst chassidim for his rigorous avodas Hashem..

Genius, Tragedy, and Mystery: The Tshashniker Iluy Revisited

In one of the first installments of From the Margins of Chabad History, we patched together the fascinating and tragic..

The Baal Shem Tov’s Humble Son

A holy but modest person, Reb Tzvi, the Baal Shem Tov's son, served as Rebbe after his father's histalkus. But..

The Tzemach Tzedek Tested Him with a Cup of Water

When rumors reached the Tzemach Tzedek about Reb Tzvi Hirsh, the shochet in Lubavitch, the Rebbe called him in. A..

The Untold Story of Chabad’s First Shluchim Down Under

Who was the first Chabad chasid in Australia? Ask any Australian Lubavitcher this question, and you will be told—R. Moshe..

Whenever the Work Stopped, He Ran to Lubavitch

Managing a windmill for several months a year, R' Tzadok of Kopust would dedicate the rest of the year to..

The Poilishe Chabad Rebbe Almost Lost to History

Harav Levi Yitzchak Guterman of Sirotshin was born into Poilishe chasidishe royalty, as a grandson of the Radziminer Rebbe. But..

The Gerrer Rebbe Who Drew from Likutei Torah

Known by his sefer 'Sfas Emes,' Reb Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter was a great gaon and the third Rebbe in..

The Mitteler Rebbe’s Chossid Sent Him to the Strasheler

One of the greatest talmidim of the Alter Rebbe and the Mitteler Rebbe’s chavrusa, Reb Aharon Halevi of Strasheleh became..

Solving the Mystery of the Rov of Niezhin

The name of Harav Eliyahu Dovid, the rov of Niezhin, is known to Chabad talmidei chachamim as a close associate..

He Rescued His Boys Before It Was Too Late

Overtaken with financial difficulty, R. Nochum Yitzchok Pinson overlooked his children's chinuch and they slowly became influenced by modernity. When it..