Undaunted: How the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn Saved Russian Jewry Reimagined American Judaism and Ignited a Global Jewish Renaissance

David Eliezrie's Undaunted chronicles the extraordinary courage of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, as he confronted the brutal oppression of both czarist Russia and the Soviet regime. While many religious leaders fled as the Communists shuttered synagogues and schools, Rabbi Schneersohn remained, risking his life to preserve Jewish life and earning the reputation of "the last man standing." Despite enduring torture, arrest, and a death sentence, his unwavering defiance and international advocacy ultimately secured his release. Drawing on historical documents and rare archives, Eliezrie details how Rabbi Schneersohn introduced Chabad teachings in Western Europe, empowered women, and established yeshivas to nurture future Jewish leaders. The book recounts his daring escape from war-torn Poland - a feat made possible through a rare collaboration between the US government and Nazi Germany - and his dramatic arrival in the United States. There, he boldly declared "America is not different," directly challenging the widespread belief that Judaism must conform to American culture. Even after his exile from the Soviet Union, Rabbi Schneersohn continued to lead Jewish resistance there and worked tirelessly to save Jews. He reenvisioned American Jewry by founding the first nationwide network of Jewish day schools, and in the postwar years, laid the groundwork for a global Jewish renaissance, inspiring generations of Chabad leaders to sustain and expand Jewish life in the face of adversity. Undaunted also explores the deep relationship between the Sixth Rebbe and his successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. In an era of unparalleled turmoil and challenge, the Rebbe emerges as one of the most consequential leaders of modern Jewry.

Rabbi David Eliezrie serves as the senior Chabad Shliach in Yorba Linda, California, and previously held the position of Jewish Chaplain at the University of Miami. He is the current president of the Rabbinical Council of Orange County and sits on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Deeply involved in both national and international Jewish affairs, Rabbi Eliezrie is recognized for his leadership and dedication to the global Jewish community. He received his rabbinic education at yeshivas in Israel and New York. An accomplished author, speaker, and writer, Rabbi Eliezrie is married and the proud father of six children, with a growing number of grandchildren. Rabbi Eliezrie is the author of Undaunted: The Life of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, published by Magid. His earlier book, The Secret of Chabad, was honored as a finalist in the prestigious 2016 National Jewish Book Awards.