New Book Release: Haredi Masculinities

Haredi Masculinities between the Yeshiva, the Army, Work and Politics: The Sage, the Warrior and the Entrepeneur by Yohai Hakak

In "Haredi Masculinities between the Yeshiva, the Army, Work and Politics: The Sage, the Warrior and the Entrepreneur," Hakak takes us on a fascinating journey into the world of young Haredi men who dare to leave Jewish Haredi religious seminaries (Yeshivas and Kollels) and explore new territories. Through extensive participant observations in a Haredi army basic training course, an occupational training program in Hi-Tech professions and the Haredi Headquarter of the Likud Party, Hakak explores the interactions between young Haredi men and the cultural and masculine models they meet in these new sites. Hakak's observations expose the varying ways in which Haredi masculinities are being re-shaped through such interactions, and how this is impacting the Haredi minority and Israeli society more broadly."

New Book Release: The Debate in Minsk

The Debate in Minsk

In 1783, an important disputation took place in Minsk between leading Misnagdic geonim and R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi. The debate centered around R. Schneur Zalman's philosophy, which was based on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov - teachings that the Mitnagdim vehemently opposed.

Penned by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, The Debate in Minsk presents the background and story of this landmark event. Responding to the questions posed to him, R. Schneur Zalman passionately and sytematically outlined the basic doctrines of the Baal Shem Tov, demonstrating their veracity from genuine Torah sources and their place in mainstream Judaism.

New Book Release: Exploring the Soul

Exploring the Soul by Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneerson

Once a year, on Yom Kippur, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to perform the required duties. Generally, the entry into this innermost sanctuary was forbidden. It was only on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, that permission was granted for the High Priest alone to enter.

The current discourse, delivered by R. Shalom Dovber Schneersohn, fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, on Shabbat Parashat Acharei, 5679 (1919), analyzes the biblican verse which forbids any human being from being present in the sanctuary when the High Priest entered to seek atonement. If, as the verse in Leviticus states: "No man shall be int he Tent of Meeting" at that time, how could the High Priest himself be present?

By Thoroughly exploring the soul and all of its components, the discourse explains how the High Priest, on Yom Kippur, transcended the normative bounds of human limitation and ascended to the sublime level of "no man." This granted him the permission and sanction to enter the Holy of Holies.

In practical terms, says the Rebbe, this is the challenge of man: To access and utilize the sprarational dimension of the soul to reveal G-dliness within the world, through repentance, the study of Torah, and performance of mitzvot.