Editing Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad (section)

== Collection of Manuscripts and Archives ==
During the seven generations of Chabad Chassidus, alongside the growth of the printed book collection, the manuscript collection also grew. The main part of this collection consists of manuscripts of Chabad Chassidic teachings.

This began during the leadership of the Alter Rebbe, when the Alter Rebbe had not yet published any of his books. The discourses he would deliver every Shabbat were recorded by his brother, [[Yehudah Leib of Janowitch|Rabbi Yehudah Leib of Janowitch]], author of the book "She'erit Yehudah." Many copies were made of these "hanachos" (transcripts) which were distributed among thousands of Chassidim. Even the book of "Tanya" had not yet been printed at that time and was distributed among the Chassidim in many copies. Thus began the formation of the manuscript collection of Chabad Chassidic teachings.

This collection was not kept in the Alter Rebbe's house. However, after two generations, his grandson and successor - the Tzemach Tzedek - endeavored to gather these manuscripts in one place, and thus began the building of the manuscript collection, which was always preserved at the center of Chabad leadership.

From time to time this collection grew, both through the acquisition of manuscripts, teachings and manuscripts of previous Rebbes, and through the discourses of the Rebbe of that generation, who would record his discourses or deliver them publicly, and the Chassidim would record and copy them in many copies. This collection always passed from the leader of the movement to his successor.

This collection also did not completely escape the vicissitudes of time. A small number of volumes found their way to other heirs of the Rebbe after his passing. The aforementioned fires that struck the town of Lubavitch did not spare the manuscript collection either, and many volumes of these were also burned.

However, the majority and essence of this collection was always preserved at the center of the Chabad movement. Even the volumes that had found their way to other heirs were eventually purchased by the Rebbe and his people, and returned to the authority of the Rebbe, leader of the movement.

After many adventures and transformations, we have finally merited that the significant majority of this large and rare collection, gathered by Chabad leaders throughout the generations, has been preserved. And the lion's share of it is found today in the "Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad."

The library currently contains about three thousand manuscript volumes; more than a hundred of them are written in the original holy handwriting of our Rebbes.

All these, in addition to a huge archive containing about one hundred thousand letters and documents from all seven generations of Chabad leaders (though only a few from the early generations), as well as letters to them, in addition to thousands of other letters and documents.

A special team works on these manuscripts, editing and printing from them the series of discourses, talks and holy letters of our Rebbes, the Chabad Rebbes throughout the generations.