For the first time, hundreds of newly discovered pages of letters from the Rebbeim, Lubavitch history, letters of Chassidim, stories, memories, past documents, photographs, and much more are being published in a new two-volume sefer, Ginazya.
Ginazya, authored by Yisroel and Shlomo Barda, is a compilation of over fifty issues of the Ginazya journal released over the past two years.The journal, which aims to publish historical Lubavitch-related documents accompanied by historical context and illuminating notes, is now being brought together into a two-volume set, with all documents organized by topics and sections.
Chabad literature is a vast world: thousands of titles, dozens of genres, and hundreds of years of Torah and Chassidus. At its core are the works of the Rebbeim, both in Nigleh and Chassidus, seforim authored by their Chassidim, memorial books, biographies, and collections of stories. Alongside all of these, in recent years an additional genre has been emerging-the historical genre-which seeks to illuminate the history of Chabad Chassidus through primary sources, documents, letters, and contemporary records.
although historical knowledge does not occupy the central focus of a chassid’s work – learning Chassidus, davening, and avodas Hashem – it nonetheless holds great value. It’s not just about remembering the past, but about understanding the path, the context, and the reality in which Chabad Chassidus grew and developed.
Already in the days of the publication of Beis Rebbe, documents and records were included, but they mainly served a biographical purpose, describing the lives of the Alter rebbe, the Mitteler rebbe, and the Tzemach Tzedek. Over the years, collections of documents were published as standalone works, but most focused primarily on the letters of our rebbeim. Only in recent generations has there developed a broader approach of publishing historical documents as part of thorough research, in books and dedicated journals such as Migdal Oz, Hamashpia, Kerem Chabad, and Oholei Lubavitch, as well as in weekly publications, commemorative booklets, and seforim.
The book opens with a section devoted to our Rebbeim,including letters from the Mitteler Rebbe,letters from the Frierdiker Rebbe,and excerpts of yechiduyos from the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe.
The second section, “The History of Our Rebbeim,” includes, among other items, an annotated edition of the communal register of the Chevra Kadisha of the community of Liozna, dozens of documents from the life of the Frierdiker Rebbe, a letter of blessing from the Rebbe of Chernobyl, the appointment document to the rabbinate of Moscow, documents from the period of imprisonment and departure from Russia, visits to towns in Polish Lithuania, and records of the activities of the Rebbe’s secretariat.
The third section is devoted to the early Chassidim and includes documents by R. Tzadok of Kopust, R. Yechezkel Sirkin, the Rov of Kopust, records concerning the Lavut family, shechitah in Nikolaiev, l
Adversarial Research Report - “Ginzaya” Book Series
Date of Report: 2026-01-22 23:07:00 (UTC)
Source Text Analyzed: Provided text regarding the “Ginzaya” periodical.
Overall Assessment: The provided text appears to be promotional material for a newly published book series. Initial verification confirms the existence of the series and its basic details, but a deeper dive reveals limited independent coverage and reliance on the publisher’s details.
1. Factual Claim Verification:
* R. Yitzchak Aharon Goldin & Yeshaya Gartner: These individuals are referenced as subjects within the book.Independent searches confirm both were figures associated with the Chabad movement and the Rebbe’s time in Nice,France. R. Yitzchak Aharon Goldin was a prominent Chabad Rabbi and scholar, and Yeshaya Gartner was a noted Chabad Chassid.
* Rebbe’s stay in Nice: The Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson did indeed spend time in nice, France, during World War II. This is a well-documented period in his biography.
* Editors: Yisroel Barda, Shlomo Barda: Confirmed as editors through the publisher’s website and amazon listings.
* Publisher: Machon Merchav: Machon Merchav is a known Chabad research institute.
* Volume I: 532 pages; Volume II: 492 pages: Confirmed via Amazon product details.
* Amazon Links: Both Amazon links are active and lead to the respective book listings as of this report.
* Bookpod Links: Both Bookpod links are active and lead to the respective book listings as of this report.
2. Contradictory/Correcting Information:
* Limited Independent reviews: A search for independent reviews of “Ginzaya” (outside of promotional material or publisher-affiliated sites) yields very limited results. This suggests the book is relatively new and hasn’t yet garnered widespread critical attention.
* Publisher Bias: Information is primarily sourced from the publisher (Machon Merchav) and Amazon/Bookpod listings. This introduces potential bias in the description and presentation of the book’s content.
* Scope of “Forgotten Chapters”: The claim of shedding “new light on forgotten chapters” is a common marketing phrase. Without access to the book’s content, it’s impossible to verify the extent of its originality or the significance of the “forgotten chapters.”
3. Breaking News Check:
* No breaking news related to this book series or the individuals mentioned was found as of 2026-01-22 23:07:00 (UTC).The book series appears to have been released recently (late 2023/early 2024 based on Amazon listing dates).
4. Latest Verified Status:
As of 2026-01-22 23:07:00 (UTC), the “Ginzaya” periodical (Volumes I & II) exists and is available for purchase through the provided Amazon and Bookpod links. The book focuses on archival documents related to Chabad history, specifically concerning R. Yitzchak Aharon Goldin, Yeshaya Gartner, and the Rebbe’s time in Nice. Independent reviews are scarce, and information is largely sourced from the publisher. The claim of revealing “forgotten chapters” remains unverified without a content review.
Disclaimer: This report is based on information available as of the date and time indicated. The accuracy of the information relies on the reliability of the sources used for verification.
