The Light of Slonim: Introducing the Weekly Teachings of the “Netivot Shalom”

A Life of Devotion to Torah and the Land of Israel

Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky (August 8, 1911 – August 8, 2000), author of the beloved Netivot Shalom series, was the seventh-generation leader of the Slonim Chassidic dynasty. Born in Belarus in 1911, he moved to the Land of Israel in 1935 at the instruction of his Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Weinberg (the Beit Avraham), and settled in Tiberias.

Rabbi Berezovsky had a deep, unwavering love for the Land of Israel. He never left, not even once. Even when diagnosed with tuberculosis, and despite doctors recommending treatment in Switzerland, he refused to leave, saying he could not bear to part from the cherished land.

After the Six-Day War, the Rebbe delivered a stirring reflection on the return to the Western Wall:

“How fortunate we are to live in this extraordinary moment, when Hashem once again shines His face upon us with a light and clarity that no previous generation has merited. The place of our Holy Temple has been returned to us, a place from which the Divine Presence has never departed. The greatest joy a Jew can feel in this world is sensing closeness to Hashem. And the place most suited for that is the Western Wall... Even if our mouths were filled with song like the sea, it would not be enough. This is truly Hashem’s doing. It is wondrous in our eyes.”

The Netivot Shalom: Deep Ideas in Clear Language

Rabbi Berezovsky's Netivot Shalom series is a cornerstone of contemporary Chassidic thought. The set includes:

• Five volumes of Chassidic commentary on the five books of the Torah

• One volume on the foundations of Jewish faith through the lens of Chassidut

• One volume on Shabbat, holidays, and festivals

The Torah volumes are based on teachings delivered during tish gatherings when the Rebbe served as Admor. The other two volumes stem from student notes taken during his decades as a rosh yeshiva (1942–1982).

The Netivot Shalom emphasizes themes of faith, Shabbat, and personal spiritual growth. What sets it apart is its clarity, elegant language, and accessible style, making profound Chassidic insights available not only to scholars but to everyday readers too.