Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman of Liadi

Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman Schneerson (1814 - 4th of Teves 1880) was the third son of the Tzemach Tzedek. In 1866, when a dispute arose regarding who would succeed the Tzemach Tzedek in leading Chabad Chassidus, Rav Chaim Shneur Zalman traveled to the city of Lyadi, where he lived for about a year until the chassidim of the town requested him to be their Rebbe. Thus, Chabad-Lyadi was established there.

Life History

Rav Chaim Shneur Zalman Schneerson was born in Lubavitch in 1814 to his father, the Tzemach Tzedek, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. He was their third son and was born one year after the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, after whom he was named (the name 'Chaim' was added during his childhood due to illness). He married Rebbetzin Chaya, daughter of Rav Yeshaya HaLevi.

After the histalkus of his father, the Tzemach Tzedek, he remained in Lubavitch for three years, and in 1869 he relocated to the city of Lyadi, where he served as Rebbe for eleven years under the name "Chabad-Lyadi." Upon arriving in Lyadi, he said: "And the fourth generation shall return here..." (he was the fourth generation from the Alter Rebbe who had lived in Lyadi).

On the 4th of Teves 1880, he was nistalek and was laid to rest in Lyadi.

In Beis Rebbi, it is written about him and his similarities to his grandfather - the Alter Rebbe, noting that he was born in the first year after the Alter Rebbe's histalkus and was named after him. He also lived in Lyadi for eleven years - like the Alter Rebbe, passed away at age 66 - like the Alter Rebbe, and his date of passing was also in the month of Teves - like the Alter Rebbe.

After his passing, the chassidus split into two groups, with the majority of chassidim accepting the leadership of his son, R' Yitzchak DovBer Schneerson, author of Siddur Maharid, while some chassidim accepted the leadership of his brother-in-law Rav Levi Yitzchak of Siratin (a descendant of the Rebbes of Radzimin in Poland, who had joined Chabad chassidus) who moved the center of the chassidus to his city of Siratin. However, at the end of his life, he moved to Warsaw, Poland, where he passed away in 1905. After the passing of the Maharid, there was no successor to the chassidus, and most followers transferred their allegiance to the Rebbe Rashab.

Family

• His son, Rabbi Yitzchak DovBer Schneerson
• His daughter, Sterna Schneerson, who was the first wife of the Rebbe Maharash
• His daughter, Mrs. Rada, who was married first to R' Shneur Schneerson, son of his brother Rabbi Yaakov Schneerson, and in her second marriage to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Siratin

See Also

• Michtav L'Rebbi (Nigun)