Menachem Mendel Schneerson (cousin of the Rebbe)

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (28 Elul 5676 - 14 Elul 5747 / 1916 - 1987) was the only first cousin of the Rebbe from both his father's and mother's side: His father R' Shmuel was both the brother and brother-in-law of R' Levi Yitzchak, and his mother Rebbetzin Miriam Gittel was the sister of Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe's mother.

Life History

Menachem Mendel was born on 28 Elul 5676 (1916) in the city of Nikolayev. His father was R' Shmuel, and his mother was Rebbetzin Miriam Gittel. On 13 Teves 5701 (1941), he married Mrs. Genia from the Geller family. The wedding took place in the city of Odessa, and his father, R' Shmuel, was mesader kiddushin.

When the Nazis invaded Ukraine, the family fled to the city of Chardjou in Turkmenistan. His father, R' Shmuel, came to live with them after being released from prison.

In 5705 (1945), R' Menachem Mendel Schneerson's family moved to the city of Zaporozhye in Ukraine. After the histalkus of his uncle Rabbi Levi Yitzchak on 20 Menachem Av 5704 (1944) in Alma-Ata, Rebbetzin Chana contacted them and asked to come live with them in Zaporozhye, as they were her only remaining relatives in the Soviet Union.

The Schneerson family prepared an apartment for her near their home. However, at the last moment, Chabad chassidim managed to arrange her transfer to Moscow, from where she left the Soviet Union. Rebbetzin Chana passed on her nephew Menachem Mendel's address to the Rebbe, who was then in New York, and from that point on, Menachem Mendel's family began receiving letters and postcards from the Rebbe.

The Rebbe's correspondence with the Schneerson family continued until 5709 (1949) - when it became dangerous to receive letters from abroad and the Rebbe stopped sending letters.

R' Menachem Mendel was a mathematics professor at many universities throughout the Soviet Union. He had two sons, one of whom he named Lev, after his uncle R' Levi Yitzchak. In the final decades, the Schneerson family lived in the city of Ivanovo not far from Moscow, where R' Menachem Mendel passed away on 14 Elul 5747 (1987).

Several years ago, the family immigrated to New York.