Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
The Tzemach Tzedek
TitleLubavitcher Rebbe
Personal
Born
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn

September 9, 1789 OS
Liozna, Russian Empire
DiedMarch 17, 1866 OS
Lyubavichi, Russian Empire
ReligionJudaism
SpouseChaya Mushka Schneersohn (daughter of Dovber Schneuri)
ChildrenBaruch Shalom
Yehudah Leib of Kopys
Chaim Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Yisroel Noach of Nizhyn
Yosef Yitzchak of Ovruch
Yaacov
Shmuel Schneersohn of Lubavitch
Rada Freida
Devorah Leah
Parents
Jewish leader
PredecessorDovber Schneuri
SuccessorShmuel Schneersohn
BeganMay 5, 1831
EndedMarch 17, 1866 OS
Main workShut Tzemach Tzedek
DynastyChabad Lubavitch

Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (Yiddish: מנחם מענדל שניאורסאהן; September 20, 1789 – March 17, 1866) also known as the Tzemach Tzedek (Hebrew: "Righteous Sprout" or "Righteous Scion") was an Orthodox rabbi, leading 19th-century posek, and the third rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement.

Biography

Menachem Mendel Schneersohn was born in Liozna, on September 20, 1789 (September 9 OS). His mother Devorah Leah died three years later, and her father Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi raised him as his own son. He married his first cousin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn, daughter of Rabbi Dovber Schneuri. After his father-in-law/uncle's death, and a three-year interregnum during which he tried to persuade the Hasidim to accept his brother-in-law Menachem-Nachum Schneuri or his uncle Chaim-Avraham as their leader,[1] he assumed the leadership of Lubavitch on the eve of Shavuot 5591 (May 5, 1831, OS).

He was known as the Tzemach Tzedek after the title of a voluminous compendium of Halakha (Jewish law) that he authored.[2] He also authored Derech Mitzvotecha ("Way of Your Commandments"), a mystical exposition of the Mitzvos. He compiled major works of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi for publication, including the Siddur L'Kol Ha'Shanah (commonly known as Siddur Im Dach), Likutei Torah and Torah Ohr. He also authored a philosophical text entitled "Sefer Chakira: Derech Emuna" (Book of Philosophy: The Way of Faith).

He enjoyed close ties with other Jewish leaders. In the course of his battle against the Haskalah in Russia, he forged a close alliance with Rabbi Yitzchak of Valozhyn, a major leader of the misnagdim, which led to warmer relations between them and the Hasidim.[3]

According to Baruch Epstein, his father Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein spent six months under the Schneersohn's tutelage, and learned most of his mystical knowledge during that time. This story is disputed by Hassidic historian Yehoshua Mondshine.[4] Historian Eitam Henkin suggests that Rabbi Y. M. Epstein did meet with him, but only a few visits over a week or two, noting the testimony of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Maimon that he heard about this directly from his teacher.[5]

His close friendship with Professor J Berstenson, the Czar's court physician, often helped the delicate negotiations relating to the welfare of the community.[1] He set up an organisation called Hevras Techiyas Hameisim to assist Jewish boy-soldiers who were being recruited and converted to Christianity by the Russian army. These soldiers known as Cantonists were taken away from the Jewish community to other villages. Schneersohn arranged for his students to pay them regular visits to keep up their spirits and discourage them from converting.[1]

In 1844–45 he took steps to increase the enrollment and viability of the Lubavitch yeshivas in Dubroŭna, Pasana, Lyozno, and Kalisz, expanding their enrollment to around 600 students in total.[1][6] Repeated attempts by the authorities to entrap him using informers such as Hershel Hodesh, Benjamin the Apostate and Lipman Feldman failed.[7]

Death and legacy

He died in Lubavitch on March 17, 1866, at the age of 76, leaving seven sons and two daughters. He was succeeded by his youngest son, Shmuel[1] as the Rebbe of Lubavitch, while three of his other sons formed breakaways of the Chabad movement which continue to some extent even today.

Several of his sons established Chasidic dynasties.[1] (See #Sons.)

Sons

He had seven sons:[8]

1. Rabbi Baruch Shalom (1805–1869) did not become a rebbe in his own right; he chose to remain in Lubavitch and become a chasid of his youngest brother. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, was his great-great-grandson.

2. Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn (Maharil) (1808–1866) settled in Kopys a few months after the death of his father, where he founded the Kopust branch of Chabad. He died two months later. He had three sons:

  • Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn (1830–1900), oldest son of Rabbi Yehuda Leib, assumed his father's position in Kopust. He is the author of a work on Hasidism titled "Magen Avot" ("Shield of the Fathers").
  • Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn of Rechitsa (d. 1908), known as the Rashab of Rechitsa.[9] Succeeding his brother, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, Rabbi Shalom Dovber served as the Kopuster movement's rebbe in the town of Rechitsa.[10] Rabbi Shalom Dovber seems to have died without a successor.
  • Rabbi Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn (1842–1924), known as Shmaryahu Noah of Babruysk. Succeeding his brother, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, Rabbi Shmaryahu Noah served as the Kopuster movement's rebbe in the town of Babruysk.[11] He was rav of the chasidim in Babruysk from 1872, and founded a yeshiva there in 1901.[12] He authored a two volume work on Hasidism, titled "Shemen LaMaor" ("Light for the Luminary").[13][14][15]

3. Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman (1814–1880) was Rebbe in Lyady after his father died. He founded the Liadi branch of Chabad. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber (1835–1910) of Liadi, author of Siddur Maharid, and his son-in-law, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak (d. 1905) of Siratin, a scion of the Rebbe of Radzimin.

4. Rabbi Yisroel Noach (1815–1883) of Nizhyn founded the Niezhin branch of Chabad. Although officially a Rebbe, he had only a small following. He had no successor. His son was Rabbi Avraham Schneerson of Kischinev, whose daughter, Nechama Dina Schneersohn, married Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

5. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (1822–1876) was a Rebbe in Ovruch. He founded the Avrutch branch of Chabad. He was compelled to assume this position by his father-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas (son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe) against his father's wishes. His daughter, Shterna Sarah, married the Rebbe Rashab. Thus, he was the maternal grandfather and namesake of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

6. Rabbi Yaakov, although leaving descendants, died at quite a young age. He lived in Orsha. Little is known about him.

7. Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn (Maharash) (1834–1882) of Lubavitch, his youngest son, succeeded him as the Rebbe of Lubavitch.[1]

Ohr HaTorah

Tzemach Tzedek Responsa

Notable students

Works

  • Ohr HaTorah - Chassidic discourses
  • Sefer HaLikkutim - A Chassidic encyclopedia
  • Derech Mitzvosecha - An explanation of the mystical reasons for the Mitzvos[16]
  • "Tzemach Tzedeck Chiddushim al HaShas" commentary on the Talmud
  • Responsa Tzemach Tzedek - 8 vols.[17]
  • "Igros kodesh" - a collection of about 100 surviving non-halachik responsa
  • Sefer Chakira: Derech Emunah - exposition of Jewish philosophy
  • "Kitzurim V'Haoros" - scholarly glosses on the Tanya

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Encyclopedia of Hasidism, entry: Schneersohn, Menachem Mendel. Naftali Lowenthal. Aronson, London 1996. ISBN 1-56821-123-6
  2. ↑ "Tzemach" (צמח) has the same gematria as "Menachem" (מנחם), and "Tzedek" (צדק) has the same as "Mendel" (מענדל). The original responsa Tzemach Tzedek were those of Menachem Mendel Krochmal. Schneersohn's responsa are known as Shu"t Tzemach Tzedek Hachadashot, "the new Tzemach Tzedek responsa". Rabbi Menachem Mendil Hager, the first Viznhitzer Rebbe, called his commentary on the Torah Tzemach Tzadik (צמח צדיק), because he spelled his name with an extra yod (מענדיל).
  3. ↑ The Tzemach Tzedek and the Haskalah Movement, Official Chabad history.
  4. ↑ The claim is in Mekor Baruch, chapter 20. But see Mekor Baruch - Mekor Hakzavim by Yehoshua Mondshein.
  5. ↑ Henkin, Eitam (2018). Set a Table Before Me. Jerusalem: Maggid Books. pp. 55–58, 321–348. ISBN 978-965-526-260-5.
  6. ↑ H. Rabinowicz (1970). The World of Hasidism. Hartmore House. p. 134. ISBN 0-87677-005-7.
  7. ↑ Sefer HaToldos Rav Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn MiLubavitch, Glitzenstein, A. H.
  8. ↑ The introduction to Hayom Yom, by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
  9. ↑ a Hebrew acronym for "Rav Shalom Ber"
  10. ↑ Kaminetzky, Yosef. Y. Days in Chabad. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn, NY. (2005): p. 21.
  11. ↑ Kaminetzky, Yosef. Y. Days in Chabad. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn, NY. (2005): p. 93.
  12. ↑ Kaminetzky, Yosef. Y. Days in Chabad. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn, NY. (2005): p. 92-93.
  13. ↑ Lowenthal, Naftali. Schneersohn, Shmaryahu Noah. Encyclopedia of Hasidism, Jason Aronson Publishers. London. 1996.
  14. ↑ Schneerson, Shmaryahu Noah. Shemen La'moar. Vol. 1. Kfar Chabad, Israel. (1964): p. 1. Available at HebrewBooks.org
  15. ↑ Schneerson, Shmaryahu Noah. Shemen La'moar. Vol. 2. Kfar Chabad, Israel. (1967): p. 1. Available at HebrewBooks.org
  16. ↑ Parts of Derech Mitzvosecha in English translation : Part one Part two In Hebrew
  17. ↑ Chabadlibrary.org Online edition in Hebrew
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