Reb Tuvia tells us how in Siberia the Litvishe bochurim found excuses and reasons why they were exempt from mitzvos. The Matzos wouldn't have a shiur and it would be too cold to sit in the Sukkah. [He was the pride of Kamenetz and Baranovich before being exiled to Siberia by the Russians in Vilna.] The Chassidim did not seek such excuses and had mesirus nefesh for mitzvos even while in Siberia. He would sing a niggun that he learned from the Lubavitcher Chassidim from Nevel, the Jews who knew not of a reason not to sit in the sukkah, now matter how cold. Reb Tuvia tells us how the Litvishe Bochurim האבען זיך געפטר'ט מיט לומדות.... The Chassidim didn't know of such heterim. He also tells us how the Gr"A and the first misnagdim would never have made the "cherem" if they had seen the (Chabad) Chassidim in Siberia and the mesirus nefesh they had. Something tells me this book doesn't sit well with some in the Misnagdic community.
the cover of the new book
the cover of the new book