Yoel Kahn
Encyclopedia
Yoel Kahn, also spelled Kahan, is a senior Chabad
rabbi, who served as the leading Choizer
and Meiniach
for the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
. He served in this role from the beginning of the Rebbe's leadership in 1950 until his passing in 1994. Today he continues to serve as the senior Mashpia
in the central Lubavitcher yeshiva
at 770 Eastern Parkway
. He's position as leading Choizer and Meiniach makes him the default authority on the Rebbe's teachings specifically, and he is universally recognized as the greatest scholar of general Chabad Chassidic doctrine and thought. He is referred to familiarly amongst Chabad Chasidim as Reb Yoel. He is the son of Refoel Nachman (Folle) Kahn, author of Shemu'os VeSippurim. He has no children.
, on 16 Shevat, 5690 which corresponds to February 14, 1930. His father Refoel Nachman Kahn, studied in the original Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim
, in the town of Lubavitch, White Russia
and authored Shemu'os VeSippurim an authoritative and multi-volume compilation of historical accounts and anecdotes, culled from the traditions handed down by reliable Chassidim of earlier generations and his own experiences. At a young age he emigrated to the Land of Israel
together with his family, and studied in Yeshiva "Achai Temimim" in Tel Aviv
under the tutelage of the Mashpia Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook. During his teen years he also studied privately with the famed Mashpia and scholar of Chassidic thought Rabbi Moshe Gourarie. He also knew and was influenced by Rabbi Nochum Goldshmidt and to a lesser degree Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman.
, who eventually became the seventh Rebbe of Chabad. In letters home during this period, he often praised the Rebbe for a humility that he was convinced hid deep piety, sincerity and depth of feeling as well as encyclopedic knowledge and brilliant scholarly insight. Even before the future Rebbe accepted the position officially, Kahn began to transcribe and publish his talks; these efforts enabled the wider community of Chassidim to get a better idea of the Rebbe's caliber and ultimately influenced the succession.
For decades Kahn served as the Rebbe's main choizer, repeater. He would listen to the talks and then, after consultation with colleagues, repeat the talks to the Hasidim.
He also served as Meiniach
(transcriber) of many of these talks. This involved preparing these talks and discourses to be submitted to Rabbi Schneerson for editing; the final version was then released for public study. In this way Kahn prepared the first nine volumes of Likkutei Sichos
, Schneerson's most important work, and the entire Sefer HaMa'amorim Melukat, along with assistant writers.
He was considered to be sympathetic to the messianic faction within Chabad and supported the declaration of Yechi before the passing of Rabbi Schneerson. In 1993 he was quoted in the press saying "Moses was the first redeemer and the Rebbe is the last."
In recent years he has become a fierce critic of the more extreme forms of Chabad messianism
, arguing that referring to Schneerson as alive or praying for his continued long life makes a mockery of him. However, Kahn does agree that Schneerson will return, as he believes like all orthodox Jews in the principle of the resurrection of the dead, one of Maimonides
' Principles of Faith
& that he will be the redeemer when he return as he (yoel kahn ) mention on the 10 of shvat
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
rabbi, who served as the leading Choizer
Choizer
Choizer lit. "one who reviews," pl. choizrim is a title that refers to a rabbi who memorizes the teachings of one of the Rebbes of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. This term is unique to that movement....
and Meiniach
Meiniach
Maniach lit. "one who places," pl. Manichim is a title that refers to a rabbi who transcribes the teachings of one of the Rebbes of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
for the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
. He served in this role from the beginning of the Rebbe's leadership in 1950 until his passing in 1994. Today he continues to serve as the senior Mashpia
Mashpia
Mashpia lit. "person of influence", pl. Mashpi'im is the title of a rabbi or rebbetzin who serves as a spiritual mentor in Tomchei Temimim , in a girls' seminary belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, or in a Chabad community.-Definition:Although counterparts to the mashpia exist in...
in the central Lubavitcher yeshiva
Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim is the central Yeshiva of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
at 770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America...
. He's position as leading Choizer and Meiniach makes him the default authority on the Rebbe's teachings specifically, and he is universally recognized as the greatest scholar of general Chabad Chassidic doctrine and thought. He is referred to familiarly amongst Chabad Chasidim as Reb Yoel. He is the son of Refoel Nachman (Folle) Kahn, author of Shemu'os VeSippurim. He has no children.
Early Life
He was born in the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, on 16 Shevat, 5690 which corresponds to February 14, 1930. His father Refoel Nachman Kahn, studied in the original Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim
Tomchei Temimim is the central Yeshiva of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
, in the town of Lubavitch, White Russia
White Russia
White Russia or White Ruthenia is a name that has historically been applied to a part of the wider region of Ruthenia or Rus', most often to that which roughly corresponds to the eastern part of present-day Belarus including the cities of Polatsk, Vitsyebsk and Mahiliou. In English, the use of the...
and authored Shemu'os VeSippurim an authoritative and multi-volume compilation of historical accounts and anecdotes, culled from the traditions handed down by reliable Chassidim of earlier generations and his own experiences. At a young age he emigrated to the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
together with his family, and studied in Yeshiva "Achai Temimim" in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
under the tutelage of the Mashpia Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook. During his teen years he also studied privately with the famed Mashpia and scholar of Chassidic thought Rabbi Moshe Gourarie. He also knew and was influenced by Rabbi Nochum Goldshmidt and to a lesser degree Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman.
Arrival in New York
In 1950 Kahn traveled to New York in order to continue his studies at the central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. At the time 770 was also the home and synagogue of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad, and Kahn expected to be able to meet the Rebbe who's teachings he had studied all his life. However, when he finally arrived in New York by sea it was too late, the man who was to became known as "the Previous Rebbe" had already died. Kahn remained in New York and soon became very attracted to the younger son-in-law of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel SchneersonMenachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
, who eventually became the seventh Rebbe of Chabad. In letters home during this period, he often praised the Rebbe for a humility that he was convinced hid deep piety, sincerity and depth of feeling as well as encyclopedic knowledge and brilliant scholarly insight. Even before the future Rebbe accepted the position officially, Kahn began to transcribe and publish his talks; these efforts enabled the wider community of Chassidim to get a better idea of the Rebbe's caliber and ultimately influenced the succession.
For decades Kahn served as the Rebbe's main choizer, repeater. He would listen to the talks and then, after consultation with colleagues, repeat the talks to the Hasidim.
He also served as Meiniach
Meiniach
Maniach lit. "one who places," pl. Manichim is a title that refers to a rabbi who transcribes the teachings of one of the Rebbes of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
(transcriber) of many of these talks. This involved preparing these talks and discourses to be submitted to Rabbi Schneerson for editing; the final version was then released for public study. In this way Kahn prepared the first nine volumes of Likkutei Sichos
Likkutei Sichos
Likkutei Sichos, lit. "Collected Talks," is an anthology of essays by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, relating to the weekly portion of the Torah and special occasions in the Jewish and Hasidic calendar....
, Schneerson's most important work, and the entire Sefer HaMa'amorim Melukat, along with assistant writers.
He was considered to be sympathetic to the messianic faction within Chabad and supported the declaration of Yechi before the passing of Rabbi Schneerson. In 1993 he was quoted in the press saying "Moses was the first redeemer and the Rebbe is the last."
In recent years he has become a fierce critic of the more extreme forms of Chabad messianism
Chabad messianism
Chabad messianism, or Lubavitch messianism, is a term used to describe a spectrum of beliefs within the Chabad Hasidic movement regarding their late leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and his purported position as the Messiah...
, arguing that referring to Schneerson as alive or praying for his continued long life makes a mockery of him. However, Kahn does agree that Schneerson will return, as he believes like all orthodox Jews in the principle of the resurrection of the dead, one of Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
' Principles of Faith
& that he will be the redeemer when he return as he (yoel kahn ) mention on the 10 of shvat
Works
- Sefer Ha'Erchim (main editor and compiler - Kehot)
- Nos'im BaChassidut (Eishel-Kfar Chabad)
- Mahutam Shel Yisroel (Heichal Menachem)
- Shiurim BeTorat Chabad (Ma'ayanotecha)
- Nos'im BaYahadut (tape series)