Yoel Kahan: Difference between revisions

Rabbi Yoel Kahan (pronounced Kahn, 16th of Shevat 5690 - 6th of Menachem Av 5781) served as the chief chozzer (oral transcriber) of the Rebbe and was a mashpia (spiritual mentor) at the Central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva for many years. He became known as one of Chabad's most prominent mashpiim, both due to his role as the chozzer and his unique talents, which included a phenomenal memory, deep understanding, and gift for explanation. Rabbi Kahn was a sought-after lecturer for Chassidic discourses and farbrengens, especially among Polish Chassidim. His lectures were collected, edited and published in various books.

Rabbi Yoel was born on 16th Shevat 5690 in Moscow to his father Rabbi Refael Nachman Kahn. In 5695, his family left Russia and traveled through Poland on their way to Eretz Yisrael to live in Ramat Gan. In Poland, they merited to have a yechidus (private audience) with the Previous Rebbe. It is told that after leaving the yechidus, the Rebbe spoke with young Yoel and asked him: "What's the difference between this Rebbe and your Rebbe in cheder?" Young Yoel answered: "This is the Rebbe of all Rebbes." The Rebbe enjoyed the answer and told his father Folle: "You have a special child, take care of your son."

When they were on their way to the ship, the Previous Rebbe sent young Yoel, who had given him such nachas (pleasure), a chocolate bar. His mother, concerned about jealousy between the children, divided the chocolate among all the children.

He immigrated to Eretz Yisrael on Rosh Chodesh Adar I 5695. In his youth, he lived in Chassidic communities that developed in the Holy Land, in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan.

As chozzer, Rabbi Yoel wrote and prepared many sichos for editing, from which volumes 1-4 of Likkutei Sichos were later printed. After seeing that the Rebbe agreed to edit the sichos but required comprehensive editing before submission for editing, Rabbi Yoel dedicated himself to re-editing the sichos, which initially focused mainly on Rashi's commentary, which the Rebbe began delivering after his mother Rebbetzin Chana's passing, from which Likkutei Sichos volumes 5-9 were printed.

Shortly after arriving at 770, he was appointed as a mashpia for Chassidus, initially at the Bedford & Dean yeshiva and later at 770. At the beginning of 5714, they arranged a new Chassidus class in the yeshiva and sought a mashgiach for Chassidus. Several suggestions were proposed to the Rebbe, and the Rebbe asked: "Why not Yoel? He would be suitable for this."

Rabbi Yoel served as chief mashpia at the Central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva - 770, gave shiurim at 770 and farbrenged with the kvutzah bochurim. He also participated in some management meetings and would occasionally share his opinion on yeshiva management matters. In his many farbrengens among Chabad Chassidim (especially among the Temimim), he mainly emphasized the need for hiskashrus (connection) to the Rebbe.

== Musical Talent ==

At many farbrengens, the Rebbe would instruct him to begin the niggunim and would give him various signals regarding the niggunim, such as how many times to repeat the last movement of the Daled Bavos and similar instructions.

Rabbi Yoel was a transmitter of tradition and Chassidic stories, many of which he received from his father, Rabbi Refael Nachman Kahn, who authored "Shmuos V'Sippurim," and from other elder Chassidim. Rabbi Yoel was extremely precise in the details of the stories and would tell them at farbrengens and at his Shabbos night meals with bochurim.

In 5751, following the Rebbe's encouragement of activities to accept his kingship as Melech HaMoshiach, he wrote an article explaining the Chassidim's belief that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach. He based his arguments on halachic proof that Moshiach must be specifically a human being, flesh and blood. He even claimed in the article that not only is there no prohibition for a Chassid to say his Rebbe is Moshiach, but one who truly believes his Rebbe is the greatest of the generation and believes in Moshiach should naturally believe that Moshiach will be his Rebbe.

After 3 Tammuz 5754, he modified his views and declared that one should not engage in publicizing Moshiach's identity. Although there is no doubt that the Rebbe is Moshiach - because from an inner perspective, the Rebbe's teachings and work are an expression of Moshiach's soul's revelation (and not just "worthy to be Moshiach"), he argued that one should not conduct publicity about this outside of Chabad.

With the purchase of Rabbi Meir Itkin's private home adjacent to 770 and its transfer to the ownership of the Lubavitch Library, a room was renovated for him on the first floor where he worked diligently. Later, he also moved to live on the first floor of the house.

In his final year, his medical condition experienced ups and downs. In 5780, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Crown Heights, he too contracted the virus but recovered after a short period. In his final months, he was hospitalized several times at the Manhattan hospital until Thursday, 6th of Menachem Av 5781, when he returned his soul to his Creator and was buried the next day in Montefiore Cemetery near the Previous Rebbe's Ohel.

* Sefer Ha'Erchim - Chabad (Chief Editor) - Encyclopedia of Chassidic teachings, 9 volumes

* Mahusom Shel Yisrael - The essence of Israel according to Chassidic teachings

* Multiple other works on Chassidic philosophy and teachings

After his passing, there was a halachic debate regarding the printing of his books, specifically whether it was permissible to print things that were edited from his public lectures and farbrengens, despite his explicit wishes against it. The Chabad Rabbinical Court and other prominent poskim sided with prohibiting this, allowing only his authorized students to print his books.

* He'emanti Ki Adaber (2nd Edition) - Collection of speeches, farbrengens, and interviews from 5751-5754, focused on Moshiach and the Rebbe as Melech HaMoshiach. Published Kislev 5781 by Machon 'Chutza'.

* Shamanu MeReb Yoel - Published by Chazak, 5781, one month after his passing

* L'Havin U'L'haskil - Explanation of four of the Rebbe's maamarim

* Chinuch Chabadi Mahu? (What is Chabad Education?) - Published by Igud HaMelamdim, Sivan 5783