Chof Av Farbrengen | Livestream with Rabbi Shais Taub and Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin

In accordance with the Rebbe’s request that gatherings be held on his father’s yahrzeit to study his teachings, this Chof Av farbrengen explores the life and Torah of Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson—from his heroic leadership under Soviet persecution to newly revealed documents surrounding a 1937 show trial. At its center is a remarkable letter thanking his son, the Rebbe, for a pair of shoes, which becomes a profound lesson about engaging with, elevating, and ultimately overcoming a hostile world. 📖 Study Companion Download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18w_CEpAty9YfMUZa5uCrZpcY… 💰 Donate to Keren Levi Yitzchak: https://KerenLeviYitzchak.org Living Torah Program 1143: Stepping into Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s Shoes: https://youtu.be/FN-ulrqZWd8?si=TtkW-GtTdrqPhbwy Brought to you by: https://www.SoulWords.org/ChofAv5786 Presented by Rabbi Shais Taub of SoulWords and Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin of Jewish Educational Media. 00:00 Introduction and background on Chof Av 01:05 The Rebbe’s 5744/1984 michtav klali and handwritten postscript 04:00 Fulfilling the Rebbe’s request: Torah and tzedakah 07:07 Understanding R' Levi Yitzchak’s distinctive style of Torah 11:40 Historical background: R' Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana 13:03 The move to Yekaterinoslav in 1909 15:43 World War I, the Russian Revolution, and Soviet persecution 18:28 Poverty and self-sacrifice for Yiddishkeit 22:28 The Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s years in Europe 33:05 The 1937 show trial and a newly discovered Paris affidavit 33:24 Soviet tax harassment targeting religious leaders 38:48 The Rebbe’s notarized affidavit supporting his parents 43:00 Inside R' Levi Yitzchak’s 1937 letter about the shoes 44:12 Pesach, shoes, and the future Redemption 48:04 The spiritual significance of shoes in Chassidus 53:13 R' Levi Yitzchak’s courageous battle over matzah 56:55 The Soviet census and standing proudly as a Jew 1:07:49 “How beautiful are your footsteps in shoes” 1:24:00 Avraham, the King of Sodom, and the merit of holy shoes 1:31:16 Transforming hardship into spiritual triumph 1:34:39 The Rebbe Rashab and the torn shoes 1:50:00 R' Levi Yitzchak’s 1943 postcard from exile 1:56:12 The redemptive power of studying R' Levi Yitzchak’s Torah 2:02:10 Closing and niggun --- *For more classes from Rabbi Shais Taub:* 🌐 *Website:* https://www.soulwords.org/ *Follow Rabbi Shais Taub:* 📸 *Instagram:* https://www.instagram.com/rabbi_shais_taub 🎥 *TikTok:* https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbi_shais_taub 🐦 *X (Twitter):* https://www.x.com/ShaisTaub 📘 *Facebook:* https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573478244968 💼 *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/shais-taub-81a95466/ 🎧 *Listen to the SoulWords Podcast:* 🎵 *Spotify:* https://open.spotify.com/show/51E7XHWFDbZCGJQz7CoAZP 🍏 *Apple Podcasts:* https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soulwords-full-libr… *About SoulWords:* SoulWords is a virtual community hosted by Rabbi Shais Taub, where people come together to explore the spiritual insights of Torah and discover their unique purpose. This platform is here to facilitate your spiritual growth by sharing the mystical teachings of Judaism in contemporary language—making deep wisdom accessible and relevant to your life.