Our Heroes

In the Middle of the Night, They Heard Knocking on the Door

It was late one blustery Friday night under Communism when knocking was heard on the door of a chossid’s home in Nevel. Terrified, he opened the door, to find the town’s shochet Reb Chaim Dovid Lein looking for candlelight by which to learn a maamar.

He Was Told Not to Learn His Shiurim After Davening

A rosh yeshiva, rov, and schochet, R. Yehoshua Lein of Nevel was given a seder in learning by the Rebbe..

“I’m on My Way to Lubavitch!”

Reb Yosef, the son of R. Yissochor Ber the rov of Lubavitch, was married to the Tzemach Tzedek’s aunt, and..

In His Sleep, He Asked the Alter Rebbe ‘What is a Neshama?’

As the Alter Rebbe came in with a candle to see how the chassidim slept, R. Moshe Vilenker woke up bewildered and asked..

He Ran Into the Alter Rebbe’s Room Without Negel Vasser

One of the greatest chassidim of the Alter Rebbe, R. Zalman Zezmer was an incredible maskil. Barred from attending the..

He Walked Into the KGB Office and Asked for the Rebbe’s Picture

A respected tomim and chozer, R. Avraham Baruch Pevzner was sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to serve as a rov..

He Didn’t Care About Gashmiyus, But the Rebbe Did

Originally a Kopuster chossid, R. Mendel Leib Abramson became a devout chossid of the Rebbe Rashab and Frierdiker Rebbe. When..

The ‘Arrogant Beggar’ Who Raided the Kitchen Cabinets

A wealthy chossid, R. Zalman Chaikin, the Rebbe’s great-grandfather, would blend with visiting beggars and lead them to a local "hospitable..

The Wealthy Arrogant Chossid Who Couldn’t Sin

An early chossid of the Alter Rebbe, R. Mordechai Liepler was both wealthy and learned. When his Yetzer HaRa would..

The Chassidic ‘Traitor’ Thrown Out by His Wife

A talmid of Tomchei Temimim, R. Fallik Gurary, brother of the Rashag, went on to become a gvir and askan like..

A Geshmaker Chossid in Brownsville

Arriving in America in 5666 (1906), R. Tuvia Belkin worked as a melamed and gave shiurim in Chassidus. In the winter,..

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..

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..

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 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..

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..