Sichos in English

Vaad Sichos in English (abbreviated as SIE) is the official publishing house for Chabad literature in English, functioning as an independent branch of Kehot Publication Society under its name.

History

The Vaad's activities began in 5738 (1978) by a group of bochurim who felt personally responsible to address the growing need to make the teachings of our Rebbeim accessible to American mekuravim who couldn't learn Chassidus directly due to the language barrier.

This group started unofficially translating the Rebbe's sichos and distributing them throughout the Crown Heights Chabad community so they could share the translations with their mekuravim and contacts.

As demand for the translations grew, the group became more established, receiving their official name 'Vaad Sichos in English', and setting up in an office at 788 Eastern Parkway near 770, the Chabad World Headquarters.

Rabbi Yonah Avtzon took on leadership of the Vaad, with the main translators being Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Rabbi Yosef Loebenstein, and Rabbi Sholom Ber Hecht.

In 5746 (1986), under Rabbi Uri Kaploun and Rabbi Sholom Ber Weinberg's supervision, the organization expanded to translate not just the Rebbe's original sichos but additional Chabad texts from other Chabad Rebbeim, as well as Chassidic stories and philosophical works by contemporary Chassidim.

Fax A Sicha

Between 5739-5752 (1979-1992), the organization's top priority was connecting English-speaking subscribers with the Rebbe's court. They would send weekly translations of the Rebbe's most recent sichos through the Fax A Sicha system. At its peak, thousands of readers in Jewish communities worldwide subscribed to the Vaad's distribution list.

Organization Staff

Past Chairman: Rabbi Yonah Avtzon Current Chairman: Rabbi Shmuel Avtzon Office Manager: Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Turner

Editors:

• Rabbi Uri Kaploun
• Rabbi Eliyahu Touger
• Rabbi Sholom Ber Weinberg
• Rabbi Yankel Oister

Writers:

• Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov
• Rabbi Naftali Hertz Pewzner
• Rabbi Elisha Nachum Pearl
• Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Mayeskai
• Rabbi Aharon Leib Raskin

Publications

• Sichos in English - 51 volumes of the Rebbe's sichos (5738-5752) translated to English
• From Exile to Redemption, 5751
• Sound the Great Shofar, 5753
• Body, Mind and Spirit by Rabbi Sholom Ber Weinberg - Collection of the Rebbe's medical guidance (3 volumes)
• In Good Hands - Collection of the Rebbe's sichos and letters on bitachon and emunah
• Chassidic Dimension series - Contains translations of the Rebbe's sichos on the weekly parsha. Five volumes published between 5758-5766, edited by Rabbi Yonah Avtzon
• R.L. Kremnitzer, Guidelines to Happy Marriage
• Eyes Upon the Land, regarding shleimus ha'aretz. Translated to Hebrew by Rabbi Yosef Ber Touger as "The Matter is in Our Souls - A Security Review"
• Likkutei Dibburim translated to English