Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson (also known as R' Levik; 18 Nissan 5638 (1878) - 20 Menachem Av 5704 (1944)) was the father of the Rebbe, Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk, a kabbalist and one of the prominent rabbis and spiritual leaders in the Soviet Union. He was arrested and exiled for his activities in spreading Judaism and passed away in exile.

Early Years

Born on Sunday, 18 Nissan 5638 (April 21, 1878) in the town of Podovronka near Homel, Belarus, to Rabbi Baruch Shneur Schneerson and Rebbetzin Zelda Rachel Schneerson. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was named after his grandfather Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, who was the son of Rabbi Baruch Shalom (son of the Tzemach Tzedek) and passed away at a young age.

His mother Rebbetzin Zelda Rachel was the daughter of the Chassid Rabbi Zalman Chaikin, who was connected to the Tzemach Tzedek and the Maharash.

In his youth, he studied Torah with his great-uncle Rabbi Yoel Chaikin, Rabbi of Podovronka. At a young age, his greatness and brilliance were already evident. In his youth, he received rabbinic ordination from leading Torah scholars of his time, including Rabbi Chaim of Brisk and Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim Meisel of Lodz. He later also received a rabbinical appointment from the city of Jaffa for the position of Chief Rabbi.

Some say he studied at the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in Lubavitch for a short time in the early years while others dispute this claim. However, the Rebbes did not mention this.

Marriage

When Rabbi Levi Yitzchak reached marriageable age, the Rebbe Rashab suggested the match between him and Rebbetzin Chana, who was the daughter of Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, Rabbi of Nikolayev. The wedding date was set for the Thursday after Shavuot, but due to the bride's illness, her father wanted to postpone the wedding. The bride's father Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky sent a special messenger to the Rebbe Rashab to get his consent to postpone the wedding, but the Rebbe instructed to hold the wedding as scheduled and gave his blessing. The wedding took place on Friday, 11 Sivan 5660 (1900) in Nikolayev at the home of a wealthy Jew named Brishkovsky.

In her memoirs, Rebbetzin Chana noted 11 Sivan as their wedding date three times.

After the wedding, the Rebbe Rashab sent a letter of blessing to the groom's father Rabbi Baruch Shneur Schneerson, in addition to the telegram he sent on the wedding day itself.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was supported by his father-in-law Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, Rabbi of Nikolayev, for 10 years until 5669 (1909), and sat and studied Torah day and night.

From 1902, he participated in public assemblies where activities for Russian Jewry were formulated. Some of these assemblies were organized by the Rebbe Rashab. During the Russo-Japanese War, he took a major part in sending matzos to Jewish soldiers on the battlefield, as well as in collecting material for Beilis's defense in the famous trial.

As Rabbi of Yekaterinoslav

In 1908, Rabbi Dov Zev Kozevnikov, the Chassidic Rabbi of Yekaterinoslav (today Dnipro), passed away. The city's "Ashkenazi" Rabbi was also elderly and frail. Due to the situation that arose, community leaders hurried to choose new rabbis. The Misnagdim took Rabbi Pinchas Gelman as their rabbi, while for the Chassidim, the Rebbe Rashab suggested appointing Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, who was serving at that time as Rabbi of Nikolayev, also in Ukraine.

Some of the Zionist movement leaders in the city were wary of him, since during those years the Rebbe Rashab had come out in sharp opposition to the Zionist movement, and they feared that the Rebbe Rashab's nominee was also part of his camp. Therefore, the Rebbe Rashab wrote a letter on 6 Adar I 5668 to the wealthy Mr. Feitel Paley, one of the respected community members in Yekaterinoslav, requesting him to work for Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's appointment as city rabbi.

At the beginning of the letter, the Rebbe Rashab expresses sorrow over Rabbi Kozevnikov's passing. The letter then deals with Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's appointment:

"And as you now have with you my relative, the famous Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, a man who has spirit within him, and as I know him well, the crown of rabbinate suits him in all required aspects. He is a great scholar and completely God-fearing, pure in thought and gentle in temperament, possessing very good and elevated character traits, and knows how to lead with knowledge and wisdom, and they have none better than him."

After listing his qualities and talents, the Rebbe adds:

"Indeed, based on the experience I have seen in several towns that cleverly did so, they caused the city's matters to be corrupted beyond possibility of repair."

The key to his acceptance as rabbi was in the hands of Shmarya, son of a Chassid who was educated in Chassidic education but after his wedding strayed from the path and changed his name to Sergey Wolfovich. He managed a large flour mill and lumber mill. Additionally, he was one of the Zionist movement leaders in the city.

Despite his distance from the Chassidic world, it seems that in his heart remained a warm corner for the Rebbe and Chassidism, because after receiving the Rebbe Rashab's letter, he invited Rabbi Levi Yitzchak to his home for a conversation that lasted six continuous hours. The conversation left a strong impression on him and at its end he decided to fight for his appointment as city rabbi among his Zionist friends.

His struggle, which lasted about a year, finally succeeded - and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was appointed as city rabbi. The Rebbe Rashab wrote him a thank you letter for this.

And so, at just thirty-one years old, at the end of 1909, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak came to serve as city rabbi, a position that lasted thirty years, until his arrest in 1939.

During the thirty years he served as city rabbi, he worked to fortify Jewish matters in every possible way. Right upon his arrival he gathered the community leaders and discussed with them how to strengthen the city's Jews despite the physical and spiritual difficulties. Together they made a series of decisions to strengthen the Torah institutions in the city. It was also decided on increased activity among youth and young people.

One of his first steps was to deal with the local mikvah that was no longer fit for use. He gathered the community leaders and impressed upon them the severity of the matter, but the community leaders evaded with the excuse of lack of funds in the community treasury. The young rabbi was not impressed. He stood at full height, removed his new coat that he had bought not long ago upon taking office: "Here is this coat which is worth a considerable sum, and its value will be holy as an initial contribution for building a mikvah."

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's words made a strong impression and the community leaders began dealing with establishing a new mikvah. (See many more details about Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's rabbinate in Yekaterinoslav in the article "Dnipro").

Attempted Immigration to Israel

Reb Levik tried to immigrate to the Holy Land shortly after his brother Rabbi Shalom Shlomo Schneerson immigrated to Israel. Appropriate documents were submitted to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and through them visas were approved for the Rabbi and Rebbetzin. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel announced this in a letter they sent to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak in Yekaterinoslav:

"1 Kislev 5686

To the honor of the famous Rabbi, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, Rabbi and Av Beit Din of Yekaterinoslav

Peace and blessing,

Your honor will receive, enclosed here, a letter from the District Governor, in response to our request for a visa for your honor and your family, according to which the British Affairs representative in Moscow was requested to give a visa for your honor and your family to come to Israel.

From now on your honor should approach there directly and will receive the visa without delay God willing.

We hereby note to your honor's attention that the visa period has been shortened recently, and therefore they need to be processed quickly, within the first three months after the notification about them is issued.

We inquire after their welfare and good, and await seeing you face to face in the Holy Land, soon God willing."

The immigration of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and his family ultimately did not materialize, for a reason unknown to us today.

His Arrest

After the Communist revolution, he fought with self-sacrifice for Torah observance despite the authorities' prohibition. His activities for Judaism were known to all and there were often severe friction with the authorities until it was decided to arrest him.

On the night of 9 Nissan 5699 (1939) at 3:00 AM, four NKVD (secret police) men came to his home at 13 Barrikadnaya Street with a search warrant.

When the Rebbetzin came the next day to the secret police headquarters to bring food to her husband, she was brushed off with evasions that he was not there. Only after several days was she informed that her husband was in the local prison and that she could transfer food and money to him, but every time she requested to see him, she was told he wasn't there, despite the prosecutor saying he was indeed there.

After several days, the authorities transferred Rabbi Levi Yitzchak to the Kiev prison for criminals who were convicted of serious crimes. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was arrested by the authorities, who saw him as standing in place of the Rebbe Rayatz and as one who encouraged and drove all Jewish activity in Russia.

The secret police men who arrested Rabbi Levi Yitzchak tried in every way to force him to confess that he acted against the authorities, through very harsh prison conditions, and would transfer him from one prison to another. Once they even put him in solitary confinement for 32 days, but Rabbi Levi Yitzchak stood firm and did not admit to any guilt attributed to him.

His Exile

After several months of investigation, he was sentenced to five years exile in Kazakhstan. For a month Rabbi Levi Yitzchak made his journey by prisoner train from the prison in Yekaterinoslav. Despite the difficult travel conditions, the only thing that bothered him most was the lack of water for morning hand-washing. For eleven days there was no water at all. Even drinking water was given to prisoners in small measure. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, who even in this difficult situation was careful to observe minor commandments as major ones, gave up his meager drinking water for the sake of fulfilling the commandment of hand-washing alone.

Upon arriving in Alma-Ata, the prisoners were given restrictive rules for their stay in the place. Immediately upon arrival, the prisoners were sent walking in groups to remote places in Kazakhstan, where they were sentenced to live several years in exile. On 19 Shvat 5700 (1940) Rabbi Levi Yitzchak arrived at his place of exile in Chi'ili in Kazakhstan. In the first days he stayed with a non-Jew who took pity on him together with another Jew who was sent to the place.

The tortures he underwent in his imprisonment, the hardships of the journey, the harsh conditions of the place and his loneliness greatly undermined his health. His situation improved when Rebbetzin Chana arrived in Chi'ili.

Even while in Chi'ili he continued spreading Judaism, ensuring Jewish burial for many Jewish deceased and also for prayers with a minyan.

His Passing

For over four years Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was in his exile in Chi'ili. After Passover 5704 (1944) Rabbi Levi Yitzchak arrived exhausted and weak from his place of exile in Chi'ili to the city of Alma-Ata, capital of Kazakhstan. There too he worked extensively to make Jewish life flourish and even served as rabbi in the local synagogue.

After a short time a malignant disease broke out in him (which had nested in him for many years), his condition deteriorated day by day until on Wednesday 20 Menachem Av 5704 his soul ascended heavenward. The funeral was held the next day, with the participation of a small crowd, due to fear of the authorities. On his grave, a tombstone was erected with an especially brief text, and over the years the tombstone was replaced in a special operation.

The Rebbe explained that the day of 20 Menachem Av is the day of wood offering to the altar by the family of "sons of Pachat Moab son of Judah", and to help the Jewish people atone for their sins, and that work was done with great joy like a holiday, despite the difficulty in finding kosher wood in this season. And this type of work suits the work of the hilula owner, who despite his tremendous greatness in the revealed Torah and inner Torah devoted himself to spreading Torah and maintaining Judaism even among simple people, and with joy.

Another aspect of this day is that it is forty days before Rosh Hashana, and serves as preparation for it - just as the first of Elul is forty days before Yom Kippur (which is also called Rosh Hashana in the book of Ezekiel), and in it begins the appropriate work.

The Ohel

In 1989, Rabbi David Nachshon and R' Avi Taub built an ohel around the tombstone. The preparations took time, and the two visited the gravesite several times, until they built the ohel in practice in Elul 1989.

A few days after building the ohel they came to Beit Chayeinu and before leaving handed the ohel key to the secretariat to transfer to the Rebbe, but when they intended to leave for the airport, they were called urgently from the secretariat and instructed to come to 770 because the Rebbe requested that they deliver the key. Rabbi David Nachshon and R' Avi Taub were brought into the 'yechidut' room, and delivered the key and report on building the ohel. The Rebbe held the key well, looked for a moment at the key holder, where Rabbi Nachshon wrote on a note that this is the key of the ohel in Alma-Ata, and the Rebbe asked: What is this? And Rabbi Nachshon said: This is the key of the ohel in Alma-Ata. The Rebbe looked upward and said emotionally: "This is the key of the ohel". And then blessed the two:

"Fortunate is their portion, great is their reward, great is their merit, for awakening Russian Jews and working with them, and dealing with the ohels of the Rebbes tzaddikim and holy ones. And that we should not need to come to this - through 'Awaken and sing, you who dwell in the dust'."

In recent years the emissaries in the city renovated the gravesite and access to it and gave it a renewed appearance befitting this holy place.

Commemorating His Memory

Over the years, various initiatives were established to commemorate him. Some were initiated by the Rebbe himself, while others received the Rebbe's special affection. Among these activities and initiatives are:

• Network of Kollelim 'Tiferes Zekeinim Levi Yitzchak'
• Levi Yitzchak Library - A Chassidic library in Crown Heights for reference and lending
• Kehillas Levi Yitzchak Lubavitch, Hallandale Florida
• The charity fund established by the Rebbe in his name that assists and supports kosher Jewish education - "Keren Levi Yitzchak"
• Yarchei Kallah - Annual Torah gathering in memory of Reb Levi Yitzchak held every summer at Camp Gan Israel in the United States

Memories of Reb Yosef Nimotin

Reb Yosef Nimotin, son of the chassid Reb Shmuel Nimotin, lived in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan during World War II and was involved in saving lives. He merited to serve and care for the mekubal Reb Levi Yitzchak Schneerson and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the Rebbe's parents. During the 'Great Escape from Russia' in 1946, he entrusted to R' Simcha Gorodetzky the shofar used by the Rebbe's father, which was inherited from the Tzemach Tzedek, to be delivered to the Rebbe. R' Nimotin remained in the Soviet Union until 1979 and maintained R' Levi Yitzchak's holy gravesite, ensuring its cleanliness and upkeep. After leaving Russia, he settled in Crown Heights and received special attention from the Rebbe due to his closeness and assistance to his father.

His memories about Reb Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe's parents, were published in HaTamim issue 54, Beis Moshiach supplement Sukkos 2024.

Likkutei Levi Yitzchak

Likkutei Levi Yitzchak is a collection of Torah teachings by Reb Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father, written with mesiras nefesh under substandard conditions during his exile in Chi'ili, Kazakhstan.

After R' Levi Yitzchak's passing, his wife Rebbetzin Chana succeeded in leaving the Soviet Union. Before this, she entrusted the precious manuscripts to faithful people in Moscow.

Over the years, several chassidim undertook the task of bringing R' Levi Yitzchak's manuscripts, and in cooperation with Torah-observant Jews traveling to the Soviet Union, a heroic and dangerous operation was carried out to rescue the writings. Under the nose of KGB detectives, the manuscript bundle was transferred from the trusted Jew who was appointed to guard them to the Israeli embassy, which quickly sent the writings via diplomatic mail to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. After several days, the writings reached the Rebbe.

In Beis Moshiach issue 1423, dedicated to the 80th yahrzeit, the Rebbe's letters to the activist R' Pinchas Althaus regarding bringing out the Zohar books from the Soviet Union were published for the first time.

A select team of chassidim sat down to edit the manuscripts into books, with the Rebbe personally supervising the editing and arrangement of the books.

His Photograph

The first photograph from exile in Chi'ili was printed in 1970 when his first two books were published - "Likkutei Levi Yitzchak" on the Zohar and Tanya. It was smuggled from Russia in passport photo size. When this photo was brought before the Rebbe, he wrote on the back of the chrome page "אאז"ל?" [My father, of blessed memory?]. Many claim this writing expressed the difficulty in identifying Reb Levi Yitzchak after the many sufferings he endured in Chi'ili. However, some claim that simply the Rebbe was noting who was photographed (his father's name - the person in the photo), and the 'question mark' was about the year the photo was taken.

The second photograph was obtained when a delegation was sent to Russia in 1991 by the Rebbe, among other things to redeem the Rebbes' seforim, including R' Levi Yitzchak's books. The delegation members succeeded in obtaining R' Levi Yitzchak's investigation file, which contained two photos of him from two angles taken in 1939, as was customary in those days to photograph every prisoner upon admission to prison. The photos were taken only after the investigators managed to forcefully remove R' Levi Yitzchak's yarmulke, and copies were sent to the Rebbe on the last night of Pesach and later officially transferred to the Rebbe in Elul of that year along with the investigation file in the Rebbe's room by R' Yosef Yitzchak Aronov and R' Shlomo Cunin. The Rebbe remarked that in this photo too "he looks unwell."

His Holy Customs

In 2012, with the publication of Rebbetzin Chana's writings, published by Vaad Hanachos B'Lahak, many customs of Reb Levi Yitzchak were revealed. Additionally, some of his holy customs were collected and published in Kovetz Haoros HaTemimim V'Anash Lod issue 90 that appeared for Yud Alef Nissan 2011.

His Seforim

• Likkutei Levi Yitzchak, Kehot, 1970 onwards; New corrected edition - 2022
• Toras Levi Yitzchak - Insights on Shas, Mishna and Gemara, Kehot, 1971; New corrected edition - 2022
• Pninei Levi Yitzchak - Arranged pearls from his teachings, edited by R' Alter Eliyahu Friedman
• Toras Menachem Tiferes Levi Yitzchak - The Rebbe's explanations on his teachings, Kehot, 1990; New edition 2020 - 5 volumes
• Yalkut Levi Yitzchak - On Torah, edited by R' David Dubov, as of 2021 4 volumes published
• Tipa Min HaYam - Arranged and adapted ideas from Reb Levi Yitzchak's teachings, edited by R' Eliyahu Wolf
• Likkutei Levi Yitzchak Reshimas Reb Levi Yitzchak with collection of explanations and possible notes - 2019

His Family

Wife: Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson,

Sons: The Rebbe, R' DovBer Schneerson and R' Yisroel Aryeh Leib Schneerson

Granddaughter: Mrs. Dalya Rotman

Further Reading

• Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Gottlieb, Toldos Levi Yitzchak, three volumes published by Kehos, released in several editions, with the latest renewed edition including additions by Rabbi Eli Wolf.
• Avraham Shmuel Bukiet, Pe'er Levi Yitzchak, published by Igud HaShluchim L'Eretz HaKodesh.
• Menachem Zigelboim (editor), HaRebbe Mokir Todah, articles and writings about Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, mesiras nefesh, exile, ohel, miracles at the ohel and current shlichus in Kazakhstan. Writers include: Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen - Head Shliach of Kazakhstan, Menachem Zigelboim, Shraga Krombi, singer Benny Friedman and others. Av 2023.
• United States Honors the Rav, It's an Honor for Us, about the recognition of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's tziyun as a national heritage site, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1871 page 73
• Adoni Avi Mori V'Rabbi, collection of pictures of the Rebbe from farbrengens he conducted in honor of his father, in the "V'habet Pnei Meshichecha" section, Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 1224 page 40
• Bold Operation to Rescue the Holy Seforim, Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 1224 page 44
• Ten Facts About Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 1224 page 47
• Father of the King, supplement focusing on his character and thought, included with Beis Moshiach Weekly before 20 Menachem Av 2020
• Chacham HaRazim, interview with Rabbi Alter Eliyahu Friedman, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1870 page 25
• His Face Lit Up, in the 'Chayei Rebbi' section, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1870 page 32
• Tasting the Revelations of the Geulah, interview with Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1870 page 40
• The Angel Gabriel, about the renovation of the matzeivah and the identity of the Yid who merited to be involved with it, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1919 page 23
• Zalman Ruderman, Chassidim Anshei Maaseh book, pages 67-84.

External Links

Life History

• Memoirs of Rebbetzin Chana on the Vaad Hanachos b'Lahak website. (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• Investigation File Documents
• Vaad Chayalei Beis Dovid, Life History of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneersohn. (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• 'Gaon Yaakov' of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak • Fascinating collection of captivating episodes about the Rebbe's father on Chabad Info website.
• The Rebbe and His Father's Attempted Aliyah to the Holy Land • Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson's Aliyah File
• With Dedication and Determination Life history on Chabad House website

His Torah

• Overview of R' Levi Yitzchak's Torah, Yerchei Kallah Collection 5773 p. 14, Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Kfar Chabad (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• Rabbi David Dubov, The Shliach Who Makes Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's Torah Accessible, in a Special Interview (English)
• How Rabbi Levi-Yitzchak's Books Were Burned • Special
• Rabbi Moshe Kornovitz, Israel, Torah and the Holy One Blessed Be He Are All One HaTamim Issue 53 p. 42
• Rabbi Yehuda Leib Weisglass, A Son Honors His Father, HaTamim Issue 53 p. 50
• Rabbi Asher Farkash, 20 Av – General Overview of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak's Torah, on Chabad YouTube filtering website

Stories

• A Summer Night in Yekaterinoslav • A Moving and Relevant Story, special article on Chabad Info website in honor of his birthday on 18 Nissan. (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)

His Picture

• Shneur Zalman Berger, Investigation: Who Brought the Rebbe the Picture of His Father Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson?
• "My Master, My Father, My Teacher, and My Rabbi of Blessed Memory?" by Rabbi Mordechai Menashe Laufer on website

Miscellaneous

• Get (divorce document) written in Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson's Beis Din (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• News about a memorial monument in his memory (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• Shneur Zalman Berger, Why Didn't the Rebbe's Father and His Family Come to Eretz Yisrael?, in Beis Moshiach Weekly, Parshas Lech Lecha 5778
• Mayanosecha Issue 34. Chabad Torah for Yeshiva Students, 5772. (Link inactive, 18 Menachem Av 5781).
• Mendy Goldman, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak in the Cycle of the Year, Beis Moshiach Weekly, 19 Av 5773 (07/26/2013) (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• How Rabbi Levi-Yitzchak's Books Were Burned • Special (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• Menachem Ziegelboim, 500 Times Like This, Special edition in honor of the Yahrzeit 5781, published by Chabad-Lubavitch Kazakhstan
• Revealing a Rare Letter from R' Levi Yitzchak Schneersohn, on 'Lachluchus Geulati' website

Media

• These are the Generations of Levi Yitzchak: A Moving Journey Through the Places Where He Lived and Worked Video production for the Yahrzeit on 20 Menachem Av 5780, Fleishman and Kaminetzky
• The Rebbe Leads the Prayers on His Father's Yahrzeit Video from 20 Menachem Av 5735, 17 Shevat 5774 (Link inactive, 28 Iyar 5783/2023)
• The Rebbe Tells About His Father From JEM's weekly video magazine
• The Character of a Man of Self-Sacrifice