Yehoshua Mondshine

Yehoshua Mondshine (; 1947–2014) was an Israeli rabbi, scholar, researcher and historian associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch, Hasidic movement. Mondshine worked as a librarian and bibliographer at the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Mondshine authored over twenty works on Chabad Hasidic social and intellectual history,

Mondshine studied at Yeshivas Hayishuv Hachadash in Tel Aviv and later at Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad where he studied under the Mashpia Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman. In 1968, Mondshine studied at the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. his work was especially well received by the Lubavitcher Rebbe who encouraged his literary work. Along these lines, Mondshein also collected statements from Rabbi Shneur Zalman’s responsa that indicate the preoccupations with the conflict that interfered with his writing responsa.

Immanuel Etkes in turn cites Mondshine's identification with Chabad Hasidism as limiting the critical viewpoint necessary for such research.

Commissioned work for the Lubavitcher Rebbe In the 1970s, the Lubavitcher Rebbe requested Mondshine to compose an introduction and indexes to the surviving writings of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father.

Works Mondshine authored over twenty books including: Hama’asar Harishon (The First Imprisonment) – a historical work on the imprisonment of the first Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, published by Knizhniki Publishing, Moscow; Ha’masa Ha’aharon (The Final Journey) – a historical work on the journey of the Rabbi Shneur Zalman during the Napolenonic War with Russia, published by Knizhniki Publishing; Kerem Chabad (The Chabad Vineyard) – a scholarly journal on Chabad and Hasidic topics; Migdal Oz – a memorial volume incorporating many previously unpublished Hasidic texts with sections devoted to Jewish law, Chabad philosophy, Hasidic tales and memoirs, published in 1980; Otsar Minhagei Chabad (A Treasury of Chabad Customs) – a two volume work on Chabad customs; Sipurim U'gilgulaihem – a series of over seventy articles published online combining scholarship and wit to challenge conventional thinking concerning popular Hasidic tales.

Other works include studies on various aspects of Hasidic Judaism: Mondshine, Y. (1982). “Al ha-Tikkun ha-Kelali shel Reb Naḥman mi-Breslav ve-Yaḥaso le-Shabta’ut,” Zion, 47(1), 201-45.

Commemorative works Following Mondshine's death, Chabad scholar, Elie Matusof, published a short book of letters titled Tzidkoscha Omedes Lo'ad from Mondshine's correspondence with him in 1987.