Yoel Kahan

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.

Early Life

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.

Education and Early Years

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.

From 5698, he studied at Yeshivas Achei Temimim in Tel Aviv under the mashpia Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, and was also influenced by the enlightened Chassid Rabbi Moshe Gurary, Rabbi Nachum Goldschmidt, Rabbi Meir Blizinsky, and other elder Chassidim.

Unlike many members of the Anash community who went to study at Ponevezh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yoel refused to consider such a proposal. Even when his friends Rabbi Baruch Dov Povarsky and Rabbi Shlomo Berman transferred from Yeshivas Achei Temimim to Ponevezh, he refused to hear anything about studying in a non-Chabad yeshiva.

As a Chozzer (Oral Transcriber)

Immediately upon arriving at 770, his exceptional talents became apparent, and he began writing hanacha (transcripts) of the Rebbe's sichos (talks). The elder Chassidim who had been chozzrim for the Rebbe Rashab were impressed by his special ability in both understanding and phenomenal memory. The Rebbe instructed him to be his chief chozzer and from then on viewed him as primarily responsible for all transcripts and publications of his teachings.

Rabbi Yoel served as the Rebbe's chozzer from the beginning of the Rebbe's leadership. A few days after the Rebbe accepted the leadership, at the farbrengen of 11 Shevat 5711, the Rebbe turned to him and requested him to prepare a hanacha of the maamar "Basi LeGani" that was said at the farbrengen. It is also known that on Shavuos 5712 in the early morning, the Rebbe held a farbrengen and waited to say the maamar until Rabbi Yoel returned from the mikvah.

Committee for Spreading Chassidus

In 5711, Rabbi Yoel joined and revitalized the Committee for Spreading Chassidus that was founded about ten years earlier in 5701, to print the Rebbe's sichos and spread Chassidus in various circles. Rabbi Yoel edited the printed material and radio lectures, during which the Rebbe edited many sichos.

Likkutei Sichos

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.

As Mashpia and Educator

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

Rabbi Yoel was known as a precise and exceptional baal menagen (singer). He received the niggunim from his father and from elder Chabad Chassidim when he studied in the Holy Land, as well as from elder Chassidim at 770. During the Seder Niggunim on Friday nights in the small zal at 770, and also at Shabbos meals in his home, he would often sing and be precise with niggunim, and sometimes taught lesser-known niggunim.

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.

Chassidic Stories and Teaching

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.

Views on Moshiach

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.

In 5753, he served as a member of the World Headquarters for Bringing Moshiach. During this period, he passionately engaged in publicizing Moshiach's identity, redemption, and "Yechi Adoneinu," through farbrengens, shiurim, lectures, and interviews for Kfar Chabad magazine. In these, he expressed his clear opinion about the certainty of the Rebbe's complete revelation as Melech HaMoshiach in our generation and the eternality of his physical life.

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.

Final Years

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.

Published Works

Sefer Ha'Erchim - Chabad (Chief Editor) - Encyclopedia of Chassidic teachings, 9 volumes
Mahusom Shel Yisrael - The essence of Israel according to Chassidic teachings
Mai Chanukah - The miracle of Chanukah according to Chassidic teachings
Ha'Moadim B'Chassidus - 2 volumes, edited by Rabbi Eliyahu Avraham Kirschenbaum
Multiple other works on Chassidic philosophy and teachings

Works Published After His Passing

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.

Notable Publications

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
Machsheves HaChassidus - Two volumes of Chassidic topics and perspectives
B'Darchei HaChassidim - Episodes of farbrengens, stories and lectures
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