Treasures from the Rebbe's Library

In 5690, the Frierdiker Rebbe asked chassidim to fill out cards with their details, and the details of their family members. In 5723, the Rebbe renewed that call. 

Those cards, which were referred to as ‘Sefer Hachassidim’, were later sent by the Rebbe to the library.

One especially unique collection in the Rebbe's library is an archive of over 50,000 photos. The photos, some of which are photos of chassidim and their families, and others of Chabad activities, are unique, with the vast majority being one-of-a-kind. How did this collection come together in the Rebbe's library?

Alongside its collections of over 250,000 printed books, the Rebbe's library is also home to several thousand manuscripts, including parts of the original draft of Mishna Berurah and the priceless personal Siddur of the Baal Shem Tov.

One of the more recent collections uploaded to the website of the Rebbe’s library is a selection of over 1,000 leaflets, fliers, and pamphlets, spanning the years 1650 to 1960.

For the full story:

Anash.org/12-pages-of-tzemach-tzedeks-handwriting-disappeared-3-were-found

Who doesn’t know about the ongoing battle between Chabad and Russia over the seforim of the Rebbeim? But did you know that even as the seforim remain captive in Moscow, you can still browse them?

About two decades ago, with the spread of the internet, libraries across the world, started seeing a drastic decrease in the number of visitors. In response, the Rebbe’s library launched an ambitious project.

Special Edition: It's not every day that a stolen sefer that belonged to the Rebbe Rashab and Frierdiker Rebbe is redeemed and returned to 770. Here's the full story behind the manuscript.

The story of an important Halachic work, its second edition which was never printed, and how 20 pages of this work, in manuscript form, were discovered in the Rebbe's library.

Rav Mosshe Isserles, more famously known as the 'Rema', is most well known for his work on the Shulchan Aruch, which has been included in all editions of Shulchan Aruch since 1578.

But it would take another century and then some for his commentary on the Tur, the Darkei Moshe, to be printed. Until then it circulated only in manuscript form.

The Rebbe's library owns several such manuscripts. 

One of the earliest Halacha Seforim to be published was the Arba’ah Turim, often called simply the Tur.

Authored by Rav Yaakov ben Asher, son of the Rosh, it is an important Halachic work that serves as a vital bridge between the early Rishonim and the Shulchan Aruch.

Special edition for the Siyum Harambam: One of the earliest Seforim to be printed was the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. Learn about the earliest prints, the dramatic fight between two non-Jewish printers over the Rambam, and its tragic results.   

Among the 1,500 Haggados owned by the Rebbe’s library, there are a number of them that have a special connection to Chabad.

Rabbi Berel Levine discusses several of them, starting from the Haggada of the Baal Shem Tov and concluding with the Haggada authored by our Rebbe.

In this special Pesach edition of ‘Treasures from the Rebbe’s Library’, Chief Librarian Rabbi Berel Levin discusses the most unique and rare Haggados that are owned by the Rebbe’s library.

Following the passing of the Alter Rebbe, Reb Moshe Shapiro, rov of Slavita and head of the Slavita Press, began printing a new edition of the “Alter Rebbe’s Shas.” 

At the same time, another Chabad Chossid, Reb Yisroel Yaffee, began printing his own edition of the Talmud in Kopust. 

When a dispute broke out over printing rights, the two sides agreed to go to the Mitteler Rebbe to mediate their dispute.

In 1800, the Alter Rebbe was personally involved in publishing a new edition of the Talmud and of the Tur.

The Alter Rebbe even chose which print to base the new edition on, and other details of the printing.

Why then is this episode in the life of the Alter Rebbe not well known?