Kol Menachem
Encyclopedia
Kol Menachem is a non-profit unofficial Chabad
publishing house based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
, founded by philanthropist Meyer Gutnick and Rabbi Chaim Miller in 2000. Its goal is "to organize the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
and make them universally accessible and useful."
's commentary, which was delivered in a series of public talks at Farbrengens that began in 1964 and continued for more than 25 years,Many of which were printed in Likutei Sichot. The translation, called "The Gutnick Edition Chumash" after its sponsor, Meyer Gutnick, was published in a bilingual Hebrew-English edition that includes a running commentary anthologized from classic rabbinic texts.
It also includes the haftarot
, mystical insights called "Sparks of Chassidus", a summary of the mitzvot
found in each Parashah according to Sefer ha-Chinuch
, an essay on public reading of the Torah
, and summary charts. It was Kol Menachem's first publication.
According to Miller's foreword, unlike most other translations, the Gutnick edition does not intersperse transliterations among the translations; this is intended to make the text more reader-friendly. However, the translation does includes Rashi’s commentary in parentheses, and the foreword explains that these are Rashi’s words and not a translation of the chumash.
In November 2002, the first volume of The Gutnick Edition Chumash was released. The inaugural issue published was Shemot
, to coordinate with the then-current Torah readings. The publication of the 5-volume series was completed in 2006.
According to Rabbi Gutnick, the Chumash is perfect for those who are learning Chassidus for the first time, or who have never been exposed to formal Torah study. It is written in easy to understand English, making it understandable by people of all ages and backgrounds.And adds much for beginners to Chumash study (like the audience at Chabad houses across the world) and those familiar with the text.
The series is reported to have been quite successful: "The public reception was so overwhelming that the Kol Menachem staff was inspired to work 14-hour days to finish the project. ... Can you imagine how it feels to have phone calls, letters and emails flying in all day from people whose lives have literally been changed by the Chumash and are begging for more? For many thousands of people, it was their first exposure to the Rebbe’s teachings. Others tell us how it has enabled them to bring Torah study into their busy lives, and it has even inspired many to become baalei teshuvah. So we just had to pull out all the stops to get this project finished.”
. The Kol Menachem commentaries are essays on the Haggadah written by Rabbi Schneerson and culled from his voluminous public addresses, then adapted into English. Each commentary is identified and fully annotated. In addition, the volume also incorporates an English question-and-answer running commentary by Rabbi Chaim Miller, integrating many classic commentators.
In 2009 The Kol Menachem Haggadah won the Benjamin Franklin award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.
with commentaries from the Rebbe. It was released in November 2006.
Kol Menachem has begun a series on Maimonides
' Thirteen Principles of Faith, which draws “from over 100 classic texts such as Talmud
, Midrash
, Jewish Philosophy, Halachic codes and the works of Kabbalah and Chassidus (with special emphasis on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)." These teachings have been anthologized into a series of 28 lessons. 446 pages.
Kol Menachem has begun the Leviev edition of the Gutnick Chumash, which is a rendition of the Gutnick Chumash in Hebrew sponsored by philanthropist Lev Leviev
. Thus far, the books of Bereshit, Shemot
Vayikra
and Devarim
have been released.
Kol Menachem has launched an online classroom for Jews on the go. "Torah in Ten" provides insightful conversations on the weekly Torah portion. The class includes interesting commentaries from renowned historical figures as well as modern views, in addition to thought provoking and inspiring questions. Torah in Ten takes place every week, for ten minutes.
The class is facilitated by Kol Menachem's Editor in Chief, Rabbi Chaim Miller.
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...
publishing house based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The main thoroughfare through this neighborhood is Eastern Parkway, a tree-lined boulevard designed by Frederick Law Olmsted extending two miles east-west.Originally, the area was known as Crow Hill....
, founded by philanthropist Meyer Gutnick and Rabbi Chaim Miller in 2000. Its goal is "to organize the teachings of 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...
and make them universally accessible and useful."
The Gutnick Edition Chumash
Rabbi Chaim Miller wrote a Chumash with a translation that incorporates Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's "novel interpretation" of RashiRashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
's commentary, which was delivered in a series of public talks at Farbrengens that began in 1964 and continued for more than 25 years,Many of which were printed in Likutei Sichot. The translation, called "The Gutnick Edition Chumash" after its sponsor, Meyer Gutnick, was published in a bilingual Hebrew-English edition that includes a running commentary anthologized from classic rabbinic texts.
Haftarah
The haftarah or haftoroh is a series of selections from the books of Nevi'im of the Hebrew Bible that is publicly read in synagogue as part of Jewish religious practice...
, mystical insights called "Sparks of Chassidus", a summary of the mitzvot
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
found in each Parashah according to Sefer ha-Chinuch
Sefer ha-Chinuch
The Sefer ha-Chinuch , often simply "the Chinuch" is a work which systematically discusses the 613 commandments of the Torah. It was published anonymously in 13th century Spain...
, an essay on public reading of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, and summary charts. It was Kol Menachem's first publication.
According to Miller's foreword, unlike most other translations, the Gutnick edition does not intersperse transliterations among the translations; this is intended to make the text more reader-friendly. However, the translation does includes Rashi’s commentary in parentheses, and the foreword explains that these are Rashi’s words and not a translation of the chumash.
In November 2002, the first volume of The Gutnick Edition Chumash was released. The inaugural issue published was Shemot
Shemot
Shemot is a Hebrew word, which is the second word of the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Torah . It means "Names".When used as a noun, Shemot might refer to:...
, to coordinate with the then-current Torah readings. The publication of the 5-volume series was completed in 2006.
According to Rabbi Gutnick, the Chumash is perfect for those who are learning Chassidus for the first time, or who have never been exposed to formal Torah study. It is written in easy to understand English, making it understandable by people of all ages and backgrounds.And adds much for beginners to Chumash study (like the audience at Chabad houses across the world) and those familiar with the text.
The series is reported to have been quite successful: "The public reception was so overwhelming that the Kol Menachem staff was inspired to work 14-hour days to finish the project. ... Can you imagine how it feels to have phone calls, letters and emails flying in all day from people whose lives have literally been changed by the Chumash and are begging for more? For many thousands of people, it was their first exposure to the Rebbe’s teachings. Others tell us how it has enabled them to bring Torah study into their busy lives, and it has even inspired many to become baalei teshuvah. So we just had to pull out all the stops to get this project finished.”
Kol Menachem Haggadah
In 2008 the Slager edition of the Haggadah was released by Kol Menachem, in two versions: according to the liturgy of Nusach Ashkenaz as well as Nusach AriNusach Ari
Nusach Ari means, in a general sense, any prayer rite following the usages of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the AriZal, in the 16th century, and, more particularly, the version of it used by Chabad Hasidim....
. The Kol Menachem commentaries are essays on the Haggadah written by Rabbi Schneerson and culled from his voluminous public addresses, then adapted into English. Each commentary is identified and fully annotated. In addition, the volume also incorporates an English question-and-answer running commentary by Rabbi Chaim Miller, integrating many classic commentators.
In 2009 The Kol Menachem Haggadah won the Benjamin Franklin award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Other projects
Kol Menachem has released a book of HaftarotHaftarah
The haftarah or haftoroh is a series of selections from the books of Nevi'im of the Hebrew Bible that is publicly read in synagogue as part of Jewish religious practice...
with commentaries from the Rebbe. It was released in November 2006.
Kol Menachem has begun a series on 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...
' Thirteen Principles of Faith, which draws “from over 100 classic texts such as Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
, Jewish Philosophy, Halachic codes and the works of Kabbalah and Chassidus (with special emphasis on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)." These teachings have been anthologized into a series of 28 lessons. 446 pages.
Kol Menachem has begun the Leviev edition of the Gutnick Chumash, which is a rendition of the Gutnick Chumash in Hebrew sponsored by philanthropist Lev Leviev
Lev Leviev
Lev Avnerovich Leviev is a Bukharian-Israeli billionaire businessman, with a net worth of roughly $1.5 billion following the 2008 global financial crisis. Leviev is one of the most prominent Mizrahi Jewish individuals in the world and has been a major philanthropist for Jewish causes in Eastern...
. Thus far, the books of Bereshit, Shemot
Shemot
Shemot is a Hebrew word, which is the second word of the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Torah . It means "Names".When used as a noun, Shemot might refer to:...
Vayikra
Vayikra
Vayikra is a Hebrew word, which is the first word of the book of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah . It means "And He called".When used as a noun, Vayikra might refer to:...
and Devarim
Devarim
Devarim is a Hebrew word, which is the second word of the book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah . It means "Words".When used as a noun, Devarim might refer to:...
have been released.
Kol Menachem has launched an online classroom for Jews on the go. "Torah in Ten" provides insightful conversations on the weekly Torah portion. The class includes interesting commentaries from renowned historical figures as well as modern views, in addition to thought provoking and inspiring questions. Torah in Ten takes place every week, for ten minutes.
The class is facilitated by Kol Menachem's Editor in Chief, Rabbi Chaim Miller.