Among Chassidim

A Chassidisher Derher
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Judaism
  • Updated weekly

Welcome to Among Chassidim: a Podcast by Derher. Hosted by Rabbi Yossi Kamman, director of A Chassidisher Derher, this podcast captures the vibrancy and vitality of dor hashvi’i through immersive, heart-to-heart discussions on meaningful topics, shared in raw, unedited conversations.

  1. 4 days ago

    Ep. 62: Look For A Shidduch and Go On Shlichus with Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt

    In this episode, Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, Head Shliach of Argentina, takes us through his remarkable journey that led him to become Lubavitch and eventually the Rebbe’s Shliach. Rabbi Grunblatt grew up in Argentina in a Yekkishe kehillah. During his youth, he became very close to the Rebbe’s Shliach to Argentina, Rabbi Berel Baumgarten. Although Rabbi Baumgarten did not formally teach him Chassidus, simply being around him opened Rabbi Grunblatt to a world of Chassidus and Lubavitch, eventually leading him to join a Lubavitch Yeshiva in New York. He shares what it was like arriving from Argentina with virtually no familiarity with Lubavitch culture, and how he quickly acclimated and developed a deep connection to the Rebbe. As his involvement grew, Rabbi Grunblatt describes the tremendous effort he invested in understanding the Rebbe’s farbrengens. This eventually led him to become involved in chazara and in the work of transcribing the Rebbe’s maamorim. He shares fascinating anecdotes and insights into certain maamorim that the Rebbe was magihah, and elaborates on them. The episode then turns to the passing of Rabbi Berel Baumgarten, and how that ultimately led to Rabbi Grunblatt being sent as a Shliach to Argentina- at the same time as the Rebbe instructed him to get look for a Shidduch. Rabbi Grunblatt recounts the dramatic story of his arrival in Argentina and goes on to share fascinating episodes from his decades of Shlichus, including remarkable moments in which the Rebbe was directly involved.

    Ep. 62: Look For A Shidduch and Go On Shlichus with Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt

  2. 16 Aug

    Ep. 61: Living In The Rebbe & Rebbetzin's Apartment Building with Rabbi Chaim Levi Goldstein

    In this episode, Rabbi Chaim Levi Goldstein of Crown Heights, a veteran mechanech, shares his family background, including the story of how his father, 'Uncle Yossi', became close to Lubavitch and spent time around the Frierdiker Rebbe in America.He recalls his early childhood, including fascinating anecdotes from the years his family lived in the same apartment building as the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, his upbringing in the then-small Lubavitch community, and some up-close moments with the Rebbe.Rabbi Goldstein discusses his years in yeshiva, horaos he received from the Rebbe in yechidus, and his time studying in Brunoy, France, where he came to know many renowned Chassidim.He also shares the story of his involvement with Mesibas Shabbos and the Rebbe’s satisfaction with his work, as well as important lessons in chinuch that he learned from Rabbi Hodakov.In a fascinating twist, Rabbi Goldstein describes how questions that arose through his work as a teacher were brought to the Rebbe, with some later addressed by the Rebbe at farbrengens. One question he posed ultimately led to an entire Likkutei Sichos being developed around the subject.Drawing on a lifetime in chinuch, Rabbi Goldstein also shares practical approaches and insights based on the Rebbe’s teachings that are deeply relevant to educators and parents, and much more.

    Ep. 61: Living In The Rebbe & Rebbetzin's Apartment Building with Rabbi Chaim Levi Goldstein

  3. 9 Aug

    Ep. 60: How American Chassidim Were Made with Rabbi Leibel Altein

    In this episode, Rabbi Leibel Altein of Crown Heights shares fascinating stories and memories spanning generations of Chabad. He speaks about his grandfather, Reb Yisroel Jacobson, his early years in Lubavitch and his close involvement with the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, as well as his pioneering askanus in the early years of Chabad in America. He also discusses his father’s becoming close to Lubavitch through his future father in law, Reb Yisroel Jacobson, his various Shlichus’n, and especially his shlichus in the Bronx. Rabbi Altein shares the fascinating story of the esrogim from Calabria that his grandfather began preparing for the Frierdiker Rebbe and later the Rebbe, including unique details about the Rebbe’s esrog purchases. He discusses his own upbringing and shlichus in Australia, and especially his remarkable work preparing Likkutei Sichos for the Rebbe to edit. He shares details of this unique zchus, along with personal stories with the Rebbe. The episode also explores Rabbi Altein’s lifelong involvement in Hafatzas Hamayanos, including Heichel Menachem and Chassidus Mevu’eres.

    Ep. 60: How American Chassidim Were Made with Rabbi Leibel Altein

  4. 2 Aug

    Ep. 59: The ‘Fail’ That Became A Success with Rabbi Dovid Weitman

    In this episode, Rabbi Dovid Weitman, Shliach to S. Paulo Brazil, shares the story of his childhood and journey to becoming a Chossid. He recounts remarkable stories and personal horaos from the Rebbe, along with unique encounters between the Rebbe and baalei batim that he witnessed over the years in Brazil and beyond. Throughout the conversation, Rabbi Weitman shares powerful messages that are both timeless and deeply relevant to every Chossid and Shliach.

    Ep. 59: The ‘Fail’ That Became A Success with Rabbi Dovid Weitman

  5. 26 Jul

    Ep. 58: Does The Rebbe Want Everyone Speaking Yiddish? with Rabbi Mendy Greenberg

    In this episode, Rabbi Mendy Greenberg of Twinsburg, Ohio—a feature writer for A Chassidisher Derher magazine—discusses his recent article exploring Yiddish and its place in Lubavitch and the Rebbe's teachings. The conversation examines the Rebbe's strong encouragement of Yiddish, while also addressing the important nuance that schools should not prioritize teaching in Yiddish at the expense of students' understanding. Where is the balance? How do we reconcile the Rebbe's emphasis on preserving Yiddish with his equally strong focus on effective chinuch? A thought-provoking conversation filled with fascinating sources, practical insights, and much more. For more articles like this, and to subscribe to the beautiful monthly Derher magazine, visit Derher.org.

    Ep. 58: Does The Rebbe Want Everyone Speaking Yiddish? with Rabbi Mendy Greenberg

  6. 19 Jul

    Ep. 57: Is Colel Chabad a Success? with Rabbi Sholom Duchman

    In this episode, Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Director of Colel Chabad, starts by sharing the story of his illustrious family of devoted Chassidim and their deep hiskashrus to the Rabbeim. He reflects on his childhood during the early years of the Rebbe's nesius in Crown Heights, his years of learning in various yeshivos, and the special experience of learning in 770 in the Rebbe's presence. Rabbi Duchman also discusses being sent by the Rebbe to Eretz Yisroel as part of the original group of shluchim. The conversation then turns to the rich history of Colel Chabad, from its founding to its development over the years. Rabbi Duchman shares the story of his appointment as director and offers an in-depth look at the Rebbe's horaos, expectations, and personal interest in the organization's success, providing a rare and comprehensive perspective with wonderful openness and detail.

    Ep. 57: Is Colel Chabad a Success? with Rabbi Sholom Duchman

  7. 12 Jul

    Ep. 56: Lubavitch of the Last 90 Years with Rabbi Sholom Ber Gurkov (Yiddish)

    In this episode, Rabbi Sholom Ber Gurkov of Montreal, Canada, a veteran mechanech, shares his remarkable life through 90 years of Lubavitch history. Beginning with his family's rich roots dating back to the times of the Tzemach Tzedek, he recounts his father's early interactions with the Rebbe when the Rebbe was still a bochur. He then takes us through his own childhood in Kharkov, his family's escape to Central Asia during World War II, the Chassidim's famous escape from Russia, life in the DP camps, and their move with other Chassidim to Paris. He also reflects on settling in England, learning in a non-Chabad yeshiva in Manchester, and ultimately moving to New York/Montreal to be with the Rebbe. Along the way, Rabbi Gurkov shares firsthand stories of yechidus, memories of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, his involvement in the taharah of the Rebbe's brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib, and countless other fascinating stories and insights from a lifetime spent as a Chabad Chossid.

    Ep. 56: Lubavitch of the Last 90 Years with Rabbi Sholom Ber Gurkov (Yiddish)

  8. 5 Jul

    Ep. 55: The First Jewish Event At The Kremlin with Rabbi Berel Lazar

    In this episode, Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi and Shliach of Russia, shares memories of his parents and his grandfather, the renowned poet Reb Tzvi Meir Steinmetz, growing up on shlichus in Milan, Italy, and his childhood visits to the Rebbe. Rabbi Lazar also recalls coming to New York to learn in yeshivah and later spending years in 770, where the Rebbe’s farbrengens left a lasting impression on him. The conversation also explores his early years as a shliach in post-Communist Russia, witnessing firsthand the country’s extraordinary transformation from decades of religious persecution to a place where Yiddishkeit can once again be practiced openly and proudly.

    Ep. 55: The First Jewish Event At The Kremlin with Rabbi Berel Lazar
See All (62)

About

Welcome to Among Chassidim: a Podcast by Derher. Hosted by Rabbi Yossi Kamman, director of A Chassidisher Derher, this podcast captures the vibrancy and vitality of dor hashvi’i through immersive, heart-to-heart discussions on meaningful topics, shared in raw, unedited conversations.

Information

  • Creator
    A Chassidisher Derher
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © A Chassidisher Derher
  • Show Website
    Among Chassidim

You Might Also Like