Yehoshua Mondshine

Rabbi Yehoshua Mondshine (9 Shevat 5707 - 2 Tevet 5775 / February 1, 1947 - December 24, 2014), was a Chabad researcher and historian. He was a senior employee at the National Library in Jerusalem. He published books and research, mainly on topics related to our Rabbeim and chassidim from the period of the Alter Rebbe until the period of the Rebbe Rashab.

Life History[edit | edit source]

Rabbi Yehoshua Mondshine was born in Tel Aviv on 9 Shevat 5707 to R' Mordechai Shmuel and Chaya Mondshine to a national religious family. Before his Bar Mitzvah, he sent his first letter to the Rebbe, asking for a blessing. The Rebbe responded with the standard blessing he would give to Bar Mitzvah boys. After his Bar Mitzvah, he began praying with the Tehillat Hashem siddur, and after noticing the differences in text between this siddur and other siddurim, he wrote to the Rebbe about it, who directed him to sources discussing this topic.

In his youth, he studied at Yeshivat HaYishuv HaChadash in Tel Aviv. During that period, he began to draw closer to Chabad Chassidus and would attend the classes and farbrengens of R' Shlomo Chaim Keselman. In 5724 (1964), after completing his studies at Yeshivat HaYishuv HaChadash, he was undecided between several yeshivas, but ultimately decided to transfer to Yeshivat Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad.

In 5728 (1968), he traveled to study at the central Yeshivat Tomchei Tmimim - 770 as part of the Kvutza year. That winter, he helped R' Yehoshua Karf in editing the book "Biurei HaTanya."

After his marriage in 5729 (1969) to Rachel Leah (daughter of Rabbi David Brawman, manager of Kehot branch in Europe, and chairman of the Kfar Chabad committee), he visited the Rebbe's court and was offered by the Rebbe to move with his wife to Crown Heights and serve as a librarian in the Lubavitch Library, and as a team member of the publication of the Rabbeim's books, but this did not materialize. In 5737 (1977), he was accepted as a librarian at the National Library in Jerusalem.

R' Yehoshua maintained a special connection with the librarian R' Chaim Lieberman, from whom he drew his extensive knowledge and worked in his spirit and method, and even published an article about him and helped him with the printing of his books.

Over the years, he published hundreds of articles that were highly appreciated both within the Chabad community and in other communities. In these articles, he systematically defended the words of our Rabbeim and stood as a strong wall against researchers who tried to refute their words. He wrote many of the articles under various pen names such as 'Yehoshua D. Levanon' or 'Y. Levnoni'. He began his work by publishing articles in the Chabad journal, and after the Rebbe instructed to close the journal after an incorrect story was found in it (and to continue publishing it only if a responsible editor was added to the editorial board), Rabbi Yisrael Leibov suggested that he serve as a reviewer for the journal (according to Rabbi Mondshine, this suggestion may have come from the secretariat), but R' Yehoshua refused, claiming that he was not suitable for this because he himself would not have found fault with the publication of the aforementioned story if he were the editor, and therefore was not suitable at all for the position.

In 5753 (1993), he published 'A Letter to a Friend' in which he criticized the issue of publicizing the identity of Moshiach. This letter received a sharp response from his friend R' Yechezkel Sofer.

Between the years 5765-5773 (2005-2013), he published a series of articles on the Shturem website called 'Stories and Their Transformations', in which he investigated the development of chassidic stories and more about their different versions.

On 2 Tevet "Zos Chanukah" 5775 (December 24, 2014), he passed away from a serious illness at the age of 67, after suffering from it for about a year. His funeral was held that same day and he was buried in the Chabad section of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

After his passing, his family and the researcher Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kastel established the "Kramim" Institute, which is responsible for publishing his books and writings.

In connection with the eighth anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Yehoshua Mondshine, the "Kramim" Institute uploaded his many publications over the years to the internet, on the website: Kramim

Exposures and Articles[edit | edit source]

Publication of an early version of the Baal Shem Tov's Letter of Redemption.
The story of the "Siddur of the Baal Shem Tov" affair.
Chapters in the life story of the Alter Rebbe, starting from his leadership after the passing of his teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch, and the dispute with R' Baruch of Mezibuzh.
Publication of the investigation files from the imprisonment of the Alter Rebbe in the Kerem Chabad journal, and additionally published a comprehensive article in the journal proving that the Vilna Gaon's opposition to Chassidus stemmed from false testimonies brought before him.
Published new Chassidic discourses (maamarei Dach) of the Mitteler Rebbe.
Chapters in the life story of the Tzemach Tzedek, his work in founding the town of Schedrin, description of the internal events in Lubavitch during the last years of his life, description of the funeral proceedings and revelation of Chassidic discourses and life stories of his sons.
Engaged in the controversy surrounding the reliability of R' Baruch Epstein's words in describing his father the Aruch HaShulchan's visit to the Tzemach Tzedek, in which he claimed that his words were fundamentally unfounded.

Criticism[edit | edit source]

Due to his tendency to investigate only according to clear sources, he also approached Chassidic stories when they did not have a clear tradition, and thus refuted many Chassidic stories while showing how they were changed and distorted over generations from various sources. He wrote his refutations regarding stories in the "Stories and Their Transformations" section on the Shturem website, where he presented his claims regarding various Chassidic stories. His refutations also created a kind of support for various opinions regarding the reliability of Chassidic stories. According to Rabbi Aharon Dov Halperin, there is a bias in his research to "refute" and "correct" things said by our Rebbes, as part of his opinions and methods for investigating the truth. In 5773 (2013), a public controversy erupted between him and the editor of the Kfar Chabad weekly, Aharon Dov Halperin, which was conducted through Chabad internet sites. In response to claims raised against him, R' Yehoshua counter-attacked his opponents and answered the claims one by one.

During that period, he prepared an article for publication on the Shturem website, and beforehand sent this article to the Kfar Chabad editorial staff in order to respond. When time passed and they did not publish it, R' Yehoshua chose to open an independent blog. Only three articles were published on this blog.

His Books and Publications[edit | edit source]

Likutei Reshimot U'Maasiyot (Collection of Chassidic stories from manuscripts), 5729 (1969), 56 pages.
Maftechot L'Likutei Levi Yitzchak (Index of topics, verses and Rabbinic sayings etc. for 'Likutei Levi Yitzchak'), 5733 (1973) (also printed at the end of "Likutei Levi Yitzchak - a) Compilations on verses from Tanach and Chazal b) Igrot Kodesh" - Kehot, 5782), 125 pages.
Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov (Photocopy from the only known manuscript and its textual variations compared to the printed version), 280 pages, 5742 (1982).

Igrot Baal HaToras Chesed, gift for the wedding celebration of his daughter with R' Shneur Zalman Segal. 5761 (2001).
Otzar Minhagei Chabad, Volume 1 - Elul-Tishrei - 5755 (1995), Volume 2 - Nissan Iyar Sivan - 5765 (2005).
Migdal Oz - in memory of Rabbi Azriel Zelig Slonim, (biography and Chassidic stories, and writings in Nigleh and Chassidus of our Rebbes), 643 pages, 5740 (1980).
Toras Chabad - Bibliography Volume 1 - The Tanya and its editions (5742/1982), Volume 2 - Halachic books of the Alter Rebbe (5744/1984).
Masa Berditchov - 5770 (2010). Second edition - 5777 (2017).
Derech HaMelech - translation of the Rebbe's passport during his journey from Russia and Europe.
HaTzofeh L'Doro - biography of Rabbi Yekutiel Aryeh Kamelhar, 5747 (1987).
'Brit Menachem', compilation on matters of Brit Milah. Gift from the Brit celebration of Menachem Mendel Mondshine, 24 Kislev 5755 (1994) (page 151 and onwards).
Teshurah - from the Bar Mitzvah celebration of his grandson Menachem Mendel Mondshine of Moscow, including some of the Rebbe's letters to him over the years, particularly regarding his work on books, and a collection of stories, sayings, parables and aphorisms compiled from the Rebbe's 'Igrot Kodesh', as well as the 'Brit Menachem' gift (see previous book). 17 Kislev 5768 (2007).
HaMaasar HaRishon - The first imprisonment of the Alter Rebbe, conflicts between Mitnagdim and Chassidim in Vilna in light of documents and records, 5772 (2012).
HaMasa HaAcharon - Two hundred years since the journey of the Alter Rebbe during the height of Napoleon's war in light of documents and records and also: stories and traditions, 5772 (2012).
Shu"t Shaarei Deah - Halachic responsa written by Rabbi Chaim Leib of Sosnitze, a Chassid of the Tzemach Tzedek and Rabbi of Smargon city, 5772 (2012).
Teshurah - from the Bar Mitzvah celebration of his grandson Menachem Mendel Mondshine of Smolensk. 15th of Av 5773 (2013).

Books He Edited[edit | edit source]

Likutei Biurim B'Sefer HaTanya - Explanations compiled for the Tanya by Rabbi Yehoshua Korf (5728/1968).
Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov manuscript (5742/1982).

His Family[edit | edit source]

His wife, Mrs. Rachel Leah Mondshine - passed away on 21 Menachem Av 5765 (August 26, 2005).

His brother-in-law Rabbi Eliyahu Yochanan Gurarye
His brother-in-law Rabbi Yosef Simcha Ginzburg
His brother-in-law Rabbi Dov Elrai - passed away on 5 Nissan 5763 (April 7, 2003)
His brother-in-law Rabbi Yitzchak Meir HaCohen Sosover

His Sons[edit | edit source]

Rabbi Dovid Mondshine - Moscow, CEO of Or Avner - Chabad
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Mondshine - Shliach to Smolensk
Rabbi Hillel Mondshine - Jerusalem

His Sons-in-law[edit | edit source]

Rabbi Yitzchak Aharon Axelrod - Rosh Yeshiva of Bukharian Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad
Rabbi Shneur Zalman Segal - Mashpia and Spiritual Director at Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Brunoy, France