18Forty Podcast Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change (Teshuva Re-Release)
Dec 30, 2025
Joining the discussion are Rabbi Pini Dunner, a historian and author known for his insights into Jewish history, and Rav Moshe Weinberger, an Orthodox rabbi offering pastoral perspectives on teshuva. They delve into the astonishing life of the Yabloner Rebbe, who strayed from his faith before making a remarkable return. The conversation highlights themes of personal transformation, the struggle of diaspora identity, and the profound impact of community support in the journey of teshuva. Their reflections illustrate how the Rebbe’s story resonates deeply across generations.
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Failure Shapes Identity
- Failures can become the catalysts that define and drive our identity rather than erase it.
- David Byshevkin frames the Yabloner Rebbe's failures as the friction that created his unforgettable legacy.
The Rebbe Who Became George Nagel
- Rabbi Pini Dunner recounts meeting a man in LA introduced as a Hasidic rebbe who lived anonymously as George Nagel.
- The man initially refused to give blessings but ultimately blessed the visitor in full Hasidic style.
Recognition Unlocks Teshuva
- Rav Moshe Weinberger emphasizes that the core of teshuva is recognizing one's enduring worth despite failure.
- He argues that being told "you didn't fail us" can break the wall of shame and enable genuine return.