Kol Menachem

Kol Menachem is an independent Jewish publishing house based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. It was established in 2000 by philanthropist Meyer Gutnick and Rabbi Chaim Miller with the stated purpose of organizing the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and making them broadly accessible and useful. Its publishing program focuses on presenting Chabad thought, Torah commentary, Jewish practice, and related religious learning in formats intended for both experienced students and readers with limited formal background. The publisher's first major project was The Gutnick Edition Chumash, a bilingual Hebrew-English edition prepared by Rabbi Chaim Miller and sponsored by Meyer Gutnick. The work incorporates an English translation alongside a running selection of classical rabbinic commentary and interpretations connected with Schneerson's treatment of Rashi. It also includes haftarot, explanations identified as Sparks of Chassidus, mitzvah summaries based on Sefer ha-Chinuch, an essay on public Torah reading, and summary charts. The first volume, Shemot, appeared in November 2002, and the five-volume series was completed in 2006. The edition was designed to avoid inserting transliterations into the translation, while retaining Rashi's words in parentheses and distinguishing them from the translation itself. Kol Menachem has presented the Chumash as a bridge between traditional Jewish learning and readers seeking an approachable introduction to Torah study and Chabad teachings. The series was particularly suited to Chabad houses, families, adult learners, and people returning to Jewish practice. Accounts associated with the project describe strong public interest and demand for completion of the remaining volumes, although the available reference material does not provide independently verified sales figures. The publisher expanded into other liturgical and educational works. In 2006 it released a book of haftarot containing commentary drawn from Schneerson's teachings. In 2008 it published the Slager edition of the Kol Menachem Haggadah in both Nusach Ashkenaz and Nusach Ari versions. Its commentaries adapt and annotate material from Schneerson's public addresses, while Miller supplies an English question-and-answer commentary that places the Haggadah alongside classical Jewish commentators. The Haggadah received a Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association in 2009. Other initiatives have included a series on Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith, assembled from a broad range of Jewish textual traditions including Talmud, Midrash, Jewish philosophy, halachic literature, Kabbalah, and Chassidic works. Kol Menachem has also developed the Hebrew-language Leviev edition of the Gutnick Chumash, sponsored by Lev Leviev, with volumes reported for Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, and Devarim. In addition to print publishing, the organization launched Torah in Ten, an online weekly classroom offering short discussions of the Torah portion. The program is facilitated by Rabbi Chaim Miller and is aimed at Jewish learners seeking concise instruction that can fit into contemporary schedules. Kol Menachem's positioning combines traditional religious scholarship, Chabad interpretation, editorial accessibility, and educational outreach. Rather than functioning primarily as a general trade publisher, it has concentrated on reference works, liturgical editions, Torah study aids, and digital learning connected to Chabad teachings. The supplied sources do not establish a precise current corporate structure, revenue profile, employee count, or ownership arrangement beyond its description as an independent publishing house.

Kol Menachem was founded in 2000 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, by philanthropist Meyer Gutnick and Rabbi Chaim Miller. The organization emerged as an independent Chabad publishing house with a focused religious and educational mission: to collect, organize, edit, and disseminate the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Its work has generally sought to combine fidelity to traditional Jewish sources with clear English presentation for readers at different levels of Jewish learning. Its first major publication was The Gutnick Edition Chumash. Rabbi Chaim Miller prepared a bilingual Hebrew-English edition that incorporated a translation of the Torah with a running selection of classical rabbinic explanations and material reflecting Schneerson's distinctive interpretations of Rashi. The work also added haftarot, a section presenting mystical and Chassidic insights, mitzvah summaries based on Sefer ha-Chinuch, an essay on the public reading of the Torah, and summary charts. The edition's editorial approach was intended to be readable without diluting its traditional framework. In particular, it avoided scattering transliterations through the English translation and separately marked Rashi's words in parentheses. The first volume, Shemot, was published in November 2002 to correspond with the annual Torah-reading cycle. The remaining volumes followed, and the five-volume project was completed in 2006. The Chumash became the central expression of Kol Menachem's publishing strategy: a substantial reference work that could serve established students while also introducing Chabad ideas and Torah study to newcomers. The publisher's account of the project's reception describes substantial interest from readers and institutions, but the available material does not establish audited circulation or sales data. Kol Menachem broadened its catalogue in 2006 with a volume of haftarot featuring commentary from Schneerson's teachings. It then entered the Passover publishing market with the Slager edition of the Kol Menachem Haggadah, released in 2008 in both Nusach Ashkenaz and Nusach Ari forms. The Haggadah's Chabad commentaries were adapted from Schneerson's public addresses and supplied with identification and annotation. Rabbi Miller contributed an English question-and-answer commentary that connected the liturgical text to classical commentators and made the work useful for guided family or individual study. In 2009, the Haggadah received a Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association. The organization has also developed thematic and educational projects. A series addressing Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith draws on sources ranging from Talmud and Midrash to Jewish philosophy, halachic codes, Kabbalah, and Chassidic literature, with particular emphasis on Chabad teachings. Kol Menachem further developed the Leviev edition of the Gutnick Chumash, a Hebrew rendition sponsored by philanthropist Lev Leviev; the reference material identifies volumes for Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, and Devarim. Kol Menachem's work eventually extended beyond physical books. Torah in Ten is an online weekly classroom built around short discussions of the weekly Torah portion. Facilitated by Rabbi Chaim Miller, it combines historical and contemporary perspectives with questions intended to encourage reflection and participation. The format reflects the publisher's broader effort to make Jewish learning practical for people with limited time and for audiences connected to Chabad institutions around the world. Across these projects, Kol Menachem has remained specialized rather than becoming a general-interest publishing company. Its catalogue centers on Jewish scripture, liturgy, religious commentary, Chassidic thought, and accessible educational material. The supplied references do not provide definitive information about its current legal structure, ownership, financial performance, staffing, or the present status of every individual publishing series.

• 2009

  Haggadah receives a Benjamin Franklin Award

  [1]Kol Menachemen.wikipedia.org

  The Independent Book Publishers Association recognizes the Kol Menachem Haggadah with a Benjamin Franklin Award.

• 2008

  Slager edition of the Kol Menachem Haggadah is released

  [1]Kol Menachemen.wikipedia.org

  The Haggadah is issued in Nusach Ashkenaz and Nusach Ari editions.

• 2006

  Chumash series is completed

  [1]Kol Menachemen.wikipedia.org

  Kol Menachem completes the five-volume Gutnick Edition Chumash and releases a haftarot volume with Schneerson-related commentary.

• 2002

  First Gutnick Edition Chumash volume appears

  [1]Kol Menachemen.wikipedia.org

  The Shemot volume launches the bilingual Hebrew-English Gutnick Edition Chumash series.

• 2000

  Kol Menachem is founded

  [1]Kol Menachemen.wikipedia.org

  Meyer Gutnick and Rabbi Chaim Miller establish an independent Chabad publishing house in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Jewish publishing house focused on making Chabad-Lubavitch teachings, Torah commentary, Jewish liturgy, and religious education accessible to broad English-speaking audiences.

• Bilingual Torah edition · 2002

  The Gutnick Edition Chumash

  Kol Menachem's first major publication, this five-volume Hebrew-English Chumash was prepared by Rabbi Chaim Miller and sponsored by Meyer Gutnick. It combines an English translation with a running selection of classical rabbinic commentary and interpretations associated with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's treatment of Rashi. The edition also includes haftarot, Chassidic insights, mitzvah summaries based on Sefer ha-Chinuch, material on public Torah reading, and summary charts. The first volume, Shemot, appeared in 2002 and the series was completed in 2006.

• Passover Haggadah · 2008

  Kol Menachem Haggadah, Slager edition

  Released in 2008 in Nusach Ashkenaz and Nusach Ari versions, the Slager edition presents annotated commentaries adapted from Rabbi Schneerson's public teachings. Rabbi Chaim Miller's English question-and-answer commentary adds explanations drawing on classical Jewish interpreters. The Haggadah was designed to support both traditional liturgical use and accessible study, and it received a Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association in 2009.

• Jewish liturgical book · 2006

  Haftarot with Chabad commentary

  A volume of haftarot released by Kol Menachem in 2006, incorporating commentary drawn from the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

• Jewish religious education

  Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith series

  An educational series organized around Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith. The project draws on a wide range of Jewish sources, including Talmud, Midrash, Jewish philosophy, halachic works, Kabbalah, and Chassidic literature, with special attention to Chabad interpretations. The available reference describes a 28-lesson, 446-page compilation.

• Hebrew Torah edition

  Leviev edition of the Gutnick Chumash

  A Hebrew-language rendition of the Gutnick Chumash sponsored by philanthropist Lev Leviev. The reference material reports published volumes for Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, and Devarim, while not specifying the complete publication status of the project.

• Online Jewish education

  Torah in Ten

  A weekly online classroom built around approximately ten-minute discussions of the Torah portion. The program combines classical and modern perspectives with questions intended to make Torah learning practical and engaging for people with limited time. It is facilitated by Kol Menachem Editor-in-Chief Rabbi Chaim Miller.

1. 1Kol Menachemen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kol Menachem official websitekolmenachem.com