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Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe
“An extraordinary book.”
—The Jerusalem Post
“A transformative masterpiece.”
—The San Diego Jewish World
“The Rebbe’s powerful guidance, related beautifully in this book, is sure to enrich the emotional life of all who read it.”
—Dr. Edith Eva Eger
Clinical psychologist and bestselling author of ‘The Choice.’
“Human life on this earth is unfortunately not free from various factors that bring about unhappiness,” the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote frankly in a letter. But how can we cope with the inevitable challenges that threaten our peace of mind?
The Rebbe, the preeminent Jewish leader of modern times, was confronted with this question every day. Lonely teenagers, elderly seniors, Holocaust survivors, incarcerated individuals, and anyone in between, would pour out their hearts to him and ask for direction. Drawing from 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom, the Rebbe would firmly and lovingly advise each of them how to attain inner health, harmony, and wholeness.
This treasure of guidance has been largely inaccessible to the broader reading public. Letters for Life changes that.
After years of studying the Rebbe’s vast correspondence, conducting interviews, and sifting through the archives, Levi Shmotkin shares with us twelve themes on emotional wellness from the Rebbe’s counsel. They are clear, sensible, and sometimes surprising tools for building a strong and resilient self despite life’s setbacks.
Through poignant excerpts from letters, compelling stories, and practical takeaways, Letters for Life makes the Rebbe’s wisdom accessible to all. It is an enlightening and enthralling read for any person seeking emotional equilibrium in an off-balanced world.
—The Jerusalem Post
“A transformative masterpiece.”
—The San Diego Jewish World
“The Rebbe’s powerful guidance, related beautifully in this book, is sure to enrich the emotional life of all who read it.”
—Dr. Edith Eva Eger
Clinical psychologist and bestselling author of ‘The Choice.’
“Human life on this earth is unfortunately not free from various factors that bring about unhappiness,” the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote frankly in a letter. But how can we cope with the inevitable challenges that threaten our peace of mind?
The Rebbe, the preeminent Jewish leader of modern times, was confronted with this question every day. Lonely teenagers, elderly seniors, Holocaust survivors, incarcerated individuals, and anyone in between, would pour out their hearts to him and ask for direction. Drawing from 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom, the Rebbe would firmly and lovingly advise each of them how to attain inner health, harmony, and wholeness.
This treasure of guidance has been largely inaccessible to the broader reading public. Letters for Life changes that.
After years of studying the Rebbe’s vast correspondence, conducting interviews, and sifting through the archives, Levi Shmotkin shares with us twelve themes on emotional wellness from the Rebbe’s counsel. They are clear, sensible, and sometimes surprising tools for building a strong and resilient self despite life’s setbacks.
Through poignant excerpts from letters, compelling stories, and practical takeaways, Letters for Life makes the Rebbe’s wisdom accessible to all. It is an enlightening and enthralling read for any person seeking emotional equilibrium in an off-balanced world.
- GenresJudaism
352 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2024
52 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 20, 2025
It is a collection of letters and anecdotes from the Lubavitcher Rebbe offering emotional wellness. Make the world a better place. You get what you give. You are never alone. G-d is always with you. Change the world from brokenness to wholeness. You were endowed to uplift and sanctify your own mind and body. Think about your talents and knowledge. You have a purpose. Reflect upon it. I am engrossed and trying to absorb every word so that I can apply them to myself and lead a life where I give and take. EXCELLENT READ
This is a collection of letters and anecdotes from the Lubavicher Rebbi that offers guidance for emotional wellness. Increase good in the world just by daily living. Move in the right direction to begin leading a productive live. Everyone should acquire the knowledge to use his unique talents. Have a purpose. Think about your talents, expertise and knowledge that were given to you to uplift your mind and succeed at tasks. Remember G-d is always with you. You are never alone. This advice is practical, relatable and easily understood. I am reading it slowly and processing every word, so I can apply it to my life.
This is a collection of letters and anecdotes from the Lubavicher Rebbi that offers guidance for emotional wellness. Increase good in the world just by daily living. Move in the right direction to begin leading a productive live. Everyone should acquire the knowledge to use his unique talents. Have a purpose. Think about your talents, expertise and knowledge that were given to you to uplift your mind and succeed at tasks. Remember G-d is always with you. You are never alone. This advice is practical, relatable and easily understood. I am reading it slowly and processing every word, so I can apply it to my life.
May 15, 2025
Phenomenal, inspiring read, especially given what I'd been through the last few years. While maybe not a book for everyone, certainly a book for Jews and one I plan to add to my personal library.
June 8, 2025
A lot to take away from this and apply in my own life, even though I’m not a very religious person
December 21, 2025
Great book. Very inspirational.
December 31, 2025
That the Lubavitcher Rebbe was one of the most remarkable minds of the last 100 years is not news. However, Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Ezra Press), written by Levi Y. Shmotkin, reveals that the Rebbe was not just a world-class Talmudic scholar and philosopher, but a man of profound thoughts and common sense.
In the incredible book Nafshi BiShe'elati: The Halakhot of Mental Health, authors Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig and Dr. Shmuel Harris, MD, write that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach said that “When I was growing up, a sick person needed warmth, food, and drink.
In the numerous letters in the book, not only did the Rebbe offer warmth, but he also shared deep insights into the human psyche, the nature of human spirituality, and much more. While he was not a mental health professional, the Rebbe understood intimately well the human condition.
The quest for peace of mind is a universal phenomenon. Perhaps the best example is Israelis who finish their army service and go to the Far East for peace of mind and discovery of their inner selves. The quest for peace of mind spans every age, class, culture, and background.
Positive psychology demonstrates how our outlook, combined with positive spiritual practices, can positively impact a person's overall well-being. It became a new domain within psychology in 1998, 4 years after the death of the Rebbe.
The book demonstrates how the Rebbe grasped the essence of positive psychology nearly a half-century before it became an official domain within the American Psychological Association.
Shmotkin shares many examples of people suffering from loneliness, anxiety, shame, and more. They often poured their hearts out in letters to the Rebbe. He replied kindly, sharing his deep insights. He had a laser-sharp understanding of the problem and practical advice on how to overcome their mental quandaries.
The Rebbe was ahead of his time. And in Letters for Life, we see that the advice he shared was timeless.
In the incredible book Nafshi BiShe'elati: The Halakhot of Mental Health, authors Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig and Dr. Shmuel Harris, MD, write that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach said that “When I was growing up, a sick person needed warmth, food, and drink.
In the numerous letters in the book, not only did the Rebbe offer warmth, but he also shared deep insights into the human psyche, the nature of human spirituality, and much more. While he was not a mental health professional, the Rebbe understood intimately well the human condition.
The quest for peace of mind is a universal phenomenon. Perhaps the best example is Israelis who finish their army service and go to the Far East for peace of mind and discovery of their inner selves. The quest for peace of mind spans every age, class, culture, and background.
Positive psychology demonstrates how our outlook, combined with positive spiritual practices, can positively impact a person's overall well-being. It became a new domain within psychology in 1998, 4 years after the death of the Rebbe.
The book demonstrates how the Rebbe grasped the essence of positive psychology nearly a half-century before it became an official domain within the American Psychological Association.
Shmotkin shares many examples of people suffering from loneliness, anxiety, shame, and more. They often poured their hearts out in letters to the Rebbe. He replied kindly, sharing his deep insights. He had a laser-sharp understanding of the problem and practical advice on how to overcome their mental quandaries.
The Rebbe was ahead of his time. And in Letters for Life, we see that the advice he shared was timeless.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews