About this episode
Chabad, Zionism & the Sixth Rebbe: Rabbi David Eliezrie with Rabbi Daniel LevineWelcome back! I share a quick update on the podcast’s fast growth and my Los Angeles Jewish Journal feature, then dive into a wide-ranging conversation with Rabbi David Eliezrie Chabad/Lubavitch about his new book Undaunted—the gripping story of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the “Frierdiker Rebbe” who defied Czarist Russia, Soviet communism, and Nazism, built clandestine yeshivot across the USSR, and helped reimagine American Judaism.We unpack Chabad history and philosophy, women’s learning, the “Rebbe-as-Moshiach” debate, Chabad’s nuanced stance on Zionism/State of Israel & IDF, and how outreach reshaped the American Jewish landscape.Next week’s guest: Rep. Don Bacon—on bipartisan support for Jews and Israel.⏱️ Chapters00:00 Intro & Jewish Journal shout-out00:33 Next week: Congressman Don Bacon00:59 Guest intro: Rabbi David Eliezrie & Undaunted02:45 What is Chabad? Origins, Baal Shem Tov → Alter Rebbe (Chabad = Chochmah-Binah-Da’at)07:50 Russia 1880s–1930s: pogroms, revolution, Soviet crackdown on religion14:10 Underground yeshiva network & the “covenant of mesirut nefesh”21:00 America 1940: “America is nisht andersh”—changing U.S. Judaism25:10 Outreach vs. “fortress Judaism”29:20 Women’s Torah/Talmud learning in Chabad35:10 Zionism then & now: Religious Zionists, Haredi separation, Chabad’s middle path46:05 Army/service, apolitical posture, security red lines53:40 Moshiach question—myth vs. mainstream Chabad belief57:20 Why no successor after the 7th Rebbe? Ideas - personality cult1:04:50 Modern challenges, engagement without assimilation1:10:40 Key legacy of the Sixth Rebbe & today’s relevance🔑 Key Topics & TakeawaysSixth Rebbe’s resistance: clandestine Torah education under Soviet rule; survival and global rebuilding.Chabad philosophy: intellectual Hasidut; personal responsibility; outreach as a religious imperative.Women & learning: Chabad’s support for advanced study for women, including Talmud & Chassidus.Zionism & Israel: non-partisan engagement, national security emphasis, robust participation in IDF/community life.American Jewish renaissance: day schools, youth outreach, and why Chabad became a primary gateway for Jewish return.📚 ResourcesUndaunted by Rabbi David Eliezrie on AmazonLA Jewish Journal feature: “Rabbi Daniel Levine Wants to Have a Civil Dialogue.”👤 Guests & HostGuest: Rabbi David Eliezrie — Chabad rabbi, author, lecturer.Host: Rabbi Daniel Levine.👍 If you found this valuableLike, subscribe, and share with a friend.Drop your questions for Rep. Don Bacon in the comments for next week’s episode.🔎 SEO Keywords (stuffed naturally above, listed here for discovery)Chabad, Lubavitch, Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, Rabbi David Eliezrie, Undaunted book, Soviet Jews, underground yeshiva, Hasidic philosophy, Tanya, women learning Talmud, Chabad and Zionism, Religious Zionism, Haredi, IDF, Israel security, American Judaism, Jewish outreach, kiruv, Los Angeles Jewish Journal, Rabbi Daniel Lavine podcast.#Hashtags#chabad #lubavitch #jewishhistory #Zionism #israel #SovietJews #Hasidut #womenactivists #moshiach #jewishpodcast #undaunted #RabbiDanielLavine #RabbiDavidEliezrieJewish History, Politics, Israel, Antisemitism, and Zionism - I cover it all.Politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6QupJZ1HLY&list=PLQ3aQmFcYiCqqL-GSNw6NhSZWOvzaDdIKJewish History: https://youtu.be/1u4jHoZ8stM?si=0jZP4uhXlVEg2NOTAntisemitism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCgnEZ1d24Q&list=PLQ3aQmFcYiCqkU_aPIJGbE1xTKEbkh8euFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.levine.31/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbidaniellevine/#Israel #Rabbi #Jewish #WhatisZionism #DoJews?