Baruch Shimon Schneerson

Rabbi Baruch Shimon Schneerson was a Torah genius, head of the Tcheibin Yeshiva, and member of the Council of Torah Sages. He served for a period as the head of Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Lod. He was born on the 25th of Menachem Av 5673 (1913) and passed away on the 25th of Sivan 5761 (2001), and is honorably laid to rest on Har Hamenuchot in Jerusalem.

Life History

Rabbi Baruch Shimon Schneerson was born in Krakow on the 25th of Menachem Av 5673 (1913) to Rabbi Yosef Moshe Schneerson (who was a descendant of the Tzemach Tzedek and was married to a descendant of the Mitteler Rebbe). At his bris, he was named "Baruch" after Yisrael Baruch Posner, the father of the Alter Rebbe, and "Shimon" after his grandfather (his mother's father). At the age of thirteen, he traveled to receive a blessing from the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, who drew him close and allowed him to be called up for maftir in the large synagogue, something that was very unusual for him.

In his youth, he studied in various yeshivas: Radomishla under Rabbi Chaim Engel, the "Keser Torah" yeshiva of the Radomsk Chassidim, and under the Gaon Rabbi Shaul Ze'ev Ettinger. In 5691 (1931), he arrived at "Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin" and was one of the distinguished students of Rabbi Meir Shapira. While studying at Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, he became known as a Torah genius and great masmid (diligent student) and was appointed by Rabbi Shapira to examine new students on the two hundred pages they were required to be tested on, each in the tractates they had studied.

During World War II, he wandered to Russia, where he lived in an abandoned hut and engaged in Torah study. When he tried to cross the border from Lvov to Vilna, he was caught and imprisoned for about a year, after which he was exiled to the Ural Mountains in Siberia, where he suffered greatly from hunger while doing hard physical labor in the Siberian cold. One day he became ill with typhus and was certain his end was near. Suddenly, he saw his Rebbe in a dream saying to him, "Hold onto my gartel (belt) and you will be saved," and indeed he was saved. When he completed his exile in Siberia, he moved to Bukhara and continued to study Torah, despite the difficult conditions that prevailed there as well. While in Bukhara, he met Rabbi Dov Berish Widenfeld, the Av Beis Din of Tcheibin, who knew him from Lublin, and there he decided to take him as a son-in-law for his daughter. At the end of the war, he returned to Krakow and found his Torah novellae and those of his grandfather (the "Baruch Ta'am") which he had hidden before fleeing.

In the summer of 5707 (1947), he immigrated to Eretz Yisrael without having the permits from the British government and was forced to hide from the British police. After the British left the country, he was able to continue studying in peace, which he did under his father-in-law.

In 5712 (1952), he was crowned as the head of Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Lod and held the position for about four years. Afterward, at the request of his father-in-law, he moved to serve as the head of the Tcheibin Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He held this position for nearly fifty years, during which he taught Torah to thousands of students. Simultaneously, he also served as a member of the Council of Torah Sages.

In 5759 (1999), he became ill and suffered for two years. During a certain period, he strengthened somewhat and continued to deliver shiurim (lessons) in the yeshiva, but in the middle of 5761 (2001), the illness worsened, and on Shabbos Parshas Shelach, on the 25th of Sivan 5761 (2001), he passed away and is honorably laid to rest on Har Hamenuchot, close to his father-in-law.

His Connection with the Rebbe

Rabbi Baruch Shimon Schneerson speaking at a Rambam completion event Title page of his book "Birkat Shimon" on Tractate Pesachim

Rabbi Baruch Shimon was very close to the Rebbe. In 5708 (1948), even before the Rebbe assumed leadership of Chabad Chassidut, Rabbi Schneerson wrote an article about the Kehot Publication Society which was under the Rebbe's management. In his article, he describes the uniqueness of the publications by Kehot:

"One of the effective tools used by Chabad chassidim in their work for Judaism is the publishing company called 'Karnei Hod Torah' (Kehot) under the management of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson (son-in-law of the Lubavitcher Rebbe). It is remarkable how these new immigrants grasped American psychology at first glance, and penetrated into the souls of both young and old generations, adapting their publications according to the reader's spirit, in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English. Through these, one acquires extensive Torah knowledge, and most importantly, is drawn to an authentic Jewish atmosphere. It makes no difference whether it's a monthly publication for youth, an address to the Jewish woman, a yearly calendar, or articles and talks from the Lubavitcher Rebbe. All paths lead to one goal: to elevate the honor of Torah and Judaism."

He continues by referring to the responsa of the Tzemach Tzedek that were edited by the Rebbe:

"A great and very important work was done by the brilliant Rabbi Menachem Schneerson shlita, gathering one by one from all the manuscripts in the possession of his father-in-law the Rebbe shlita, and also from what was printed in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek in various places... He also made 'ears for the Torah' by creating indexes for the collected topics, alphabetical subject indexes, bibliographical notes, and remarkably precise editing. From every small and large detail, the hand of a distinguished master craftsman is evident."

Rabbi Schneerson frequently studied the writings of the Tzemach Tzedek after they were published by Kehot and corresponded with the Rebbe about the topics discussed there. Regarding Rabbi Schneerson's articles about Kehot Publications, the Rebbe once inquired: "I would be interested to know if Rabbi Baruch Shimon published any more articles regarding Kehot, Machne Israel, etc."

Rabbi Schneerson visited Chabad Torah institutions in Jerusalem, tested the students there, and reported the examination results to the Rebbe. In response, the Rebbe thanked him for the report.

In 5727 (1967), he visited the Rebbe at 770 for the first time. During the visit, the Rebbe spoke with him about the need for yeshiva students to set aside time for studying Chassidut. In another visit, they discussed the "Shabbat generator" that was installed in Kfar Chabad, and the Rebbe asked him to encourage the installation of similar generators in other neighborhoods and Torah institutions. The Rebbe also requested that he publish his Torah insights. Several years later, Rabbi Mordechai Menashe Laufer visited him while he was proofreading his new book. Rabbi Schneerson commented: "Right now I am busy fulfilling the Rebbe's instruction to publish a book of lectures and insights I have written."

On 4 Elul 5749 (1989), he arrived at 770 with two escorts, appearing visibly moved, and asked where the office of secretary Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner was. He entered through there to the "Lower Gan Eden" where he spoke with the secretaries, and after a few minutes entered alone to the "Upper Gan Eden" for a half-hour private audience. At the end of the audience, the Rebbe accompanied him to the door of the room, and he again exited through the back door. When he came out, he appeared twice as emotional as when he entered. Immediately upon exiting, many of the students surrounded him thinking he would share something, but he was unwilling to reveal anything and barely uttered a word before immediately entering his car, so the content of the audience remained unknown.

Rabbi Schneerson signed the petition supporting the Rebbe's Tefillin campaign. He participated in Chabad Torah gatherings, including: Rambam completion events, a Torah convention held on 20 Menachem Av 5744 (1984) in Kfar Chabad in memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father, and at the "Shloshim" (thirty-day memorial) gathering for Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, the Rebbe's wife.

Quotes about the Rebbe

During one of Rabbi Baruch Shimon Schneerson's speeches at Torah gatherings, he said: "Many ask themselves, what is the secret behind the great success of the Chabad movement, its prosperity and development in Israel and worldwide in an extraordinary manner. Our Sages revealed the secret to us: 'Whoever fulfills the Torah in poverty will eventually fulfill it in wealth.' The Chabad chassidim are those who fulfilled and continue to fulfill the Torah in poverty. With self-sacrifice and under the most difficult conditions of distress, behind the Iron Curtain. They, under the leadership of the holy Rebbes, constituted the vanguard before the camp of those who preserved the holy flame. None are more worthy and deserving of fulfilling the Torah in wealth than they."

In 5752 (1992), they gave him the book "Sha'arei Emunah" published by the Heichal Menachem Institute. In a thank-you letter, he wrote about the methods of the Rishonim on the topic of Divine Providence discussed in the book. Regarding the request to give an approbation for the book, he wrote: "I hereby thank you for the important book 'Sha'arei Emunah' that you sent me, and with this publication comes the blessing that Hashem should bless your efforts to increase and glorify Torah, and may you go from strength to strength, Amen. And regarding your request to write words of appreciation about the book, surely you don't mean about the content of the discourses in the book, for these are the Rebbe's words, may Hashem heal him soon, and his words do not need my evaluation."

In one of his articles about the Rebbe, he wrote: "To speak about the virtues and greatness of the Rebbe seems impossible. Just as it is impossible to assess the intensity of his self-sacrifice for all of Israel. Anyone who knew firsthand about the self-sacrifice in Russia, and anyone who knows what is happening today throughout the world, knows and understands that there are simply no words that can describe it. I am the man who has seen the affliction of my people. When we were in Russia during difficult times, and I saw the self-sacrifice of the chassidim, who were sanctified and purified through suffering and torture and maintained their faith. And all from the power of the Rebbe... No matter how much we say, we will not reach even the tiniest fraction of the Rebbe's greatness."

On the 15th of Elul 5757 (1997), a celebration was held to mark the centennial of the founding of Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim by the Rebbe Rashab. Rabbi Schneerson participated in the celebration and in his speech said: "Now when there is so much talk about preparations for the coming of Moshiach, one must know that the students who study Torah are the main preparation of the world for the coming of Moshiach, because all learning in the present time is preparation for 'a new Torah will come forth from Me,' when there will be a revelation of the inner dimension of Torah, and all our actions in exile are preparation for learning Moshiach's Torah. Tomchei Tmimim went through very difficult times in Russia, and the students learned day and night with self-sacrifice Torah for its own sake, without expecting greatness and without receiving prizes... And through the merit of the founders of the yeshiva, the Tmimim will merit to connect with the Holy One, blessed be He. Thank G-d that I also merited to be for a certain period close to the yeshiva, and I served as a link in the golden chain, and the students of that time became great in Torah and Chassidus for the glory of the House of Israel and the glory of Chabad Chassidus. May it be G-d's will that the yeshiva continues to produce fruits and fruits of fruits, and may we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days, Amen."

His Books

• Birkat Shimon - Torah novellae on the Talmud.
• Notes on the book HaRokeach HaGadol.
• He has a book on the Torah and also a composition on the Or HaChaim HaKadosh.

Further Reading

• Shalom DovBer Wolpo, Shemen Sasson Meichaveirecha, Part 4, pp. 225-230.
• Birkat Shimon, in the 'HaMevaser' Torah supplement, Erev Shabbat Parshat Shelach 5781.

External Links

• Books of Birkat Shimon: On Tractates Bava Kamma and Bava Metzia ** • ** On Tractates Shabbat and Pesachim.
• "In Lubavitch they love a true chassid and not a shmateh!", in the journal 'Iberleben', The Shluchim Students of Tomchei Tmimim Netanya, Iyar 5780.
• Kovetz Pardes HaTmimim that he edited in 5714 (1954) at the yeshiva in Lod.