Reb Nissan Nemenov
Rabbi Nissan Nemenov (also known as Reb Nissan) (13 Menachem Av 5664 - 9 Iyar 5744), was a Rav and Chassidic mashpia to thousands of students who were educated in the Tomchei Tmimim yeshivos in Tashkent and Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and in Brunoy, France, under his leadership.
He was known for his davening that would last for many hours, his self-discipline, and his explanations of the Tanya. His image was and remains a role model among Chabad chassidim.
Life History[edit | edit source]
Reb Nissan was born on 13 Menachem Av 5664 in the town of Zhelobin, Russia, to his father Reb Yitzchak and his mother Mrs. Sheina Chaya. He studied and was educated in Talmud Torah under the town's Chassidic Rav, Rabbi Moshe Axelrod. At age twelve, he traveled to Lubavitch with his future brother-in-law, Reb Yeshaya Denburg. He arrived in Lubavitch in Teves 5677 and was accepted into the class of the Rosh Mesivta Reb Shmuel Ber Nisnevitz, and was also a talmid of the mashpi'im Reb Yechezkel Feigin and Reb Zalman Moshe HaYitzchaki.
In 5685, he was appointed as mashgiach in the Tomchei Tmimim branch in Kharkov, and from there moved in early 5688 to become mashgiach of Chassidus in Tomchei Tmimim in Nevel, where he stayed until 14 Kislev 5689, when the Communists closed the yeshiva. After several months, he secretly moved to Leningrad where he served as mashpia for Chassidus. In 5688, he married Mrs. Mashe Rivka, daughter of Reb Moshe Raskin. On 8 Kislev 5690 (1929), he was arrested and sent to three years of exile in Arkhangelsk, Siberia, for teaching Torah, which was forbidden by law in the Soviet Union.
On 3 Tammuz 5687, before the Frierdiker Rebbe left by train from Leningrad to his exile city of Kostroma, where he was supposed to be exiled for 3 years - he asked his chassidim not to come see him off at the train station due to the danger from the watchful eyes of the KGB. In practice, despite the command, the chassidim came en masse to the train station since they knew that naturally, they had no chance of seeing the Rebbe's holy face in the next three years. Reb Nissan obeyed the Rebbe's instruction and stayed home. When the Rebbe saw the masses of chassidim who came to the train station, he asked one of the chassidim if Reb Nissan was there. The chassid answered: "But the Rebbe instructed not to come!" The Rebbe responded: "Nissan iz a zisser soldat" [Nissan is a sweet soldier].
Instructions from the Rebbe[edit | edit source]
He worked extensively regarding the Rebbe's acceptance of the nesius (leadership). After the Rebbe's hachtara (coronation), he became his chassid and would travel to him frequently. As the yeshiva's menahel (director), he maintained constant contact with the Rebbe, who wrote him hundreds of guidance letters, and he continuously worked to implement the hora'os (instructions) he received from the Rebbe.
Once when Reb Nissan came to 770, he farbrenged all night with the bochurim in the 'small zal.' In the morning, the Rebbe inquired from the mazkir (secretary) Reb Yudel Krinsky about what Reb Nissan discussed at the farbrengen, and the mazkir related that throughout the night he farbrenged about one point: how can a bochur stand before the Rebbe when his machshava, dibur, and ma'aseh (thought, speech, and action) are not pure? The Rebbe contemplated for a few moments, and then remarked: "Er iz gerecht" (He is right)...
The great esteem that chassidim held for him was expressed in his designation as a "beinoni" in Tanya terms. This title refers to a person whose every action, speech, or thought is done l'shem shamayim (for the sake of Heaven).
During a farbrengen in the yeshiva, he once said: While it's forbidden to take an oath, if it were permitted, I would swear on a Sefer Torah that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach!
He passed away on 9 Iyar 5744. His son, Rabbi Yitzchak Nemenov, fills his position as the yeshiva's mashpia ruchani (spiritual director).
His Seforim[edit | edit source]
- "Biurei HaRav Nissan Nemenov al HaTanya" - Published by his talmid Shalom DovBer Shanowitz, Brooklyn, 5756.
His Family[edit | edit source]
- His daughter Mrs. Rachel Leah, wife of Rabbi Shalom DovBer Pewzner who was involved in printing Chassidic seforim at Balshan Press.
- His son, Rabbi Yitzchak Nemenov - fills his position as the yeshiva's spiritual director.
- His son, Rabbi Moshe Nemenov - member of the Chabad community in Crown Heights.
- His son, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Nemenov - one of the Rebbe's shluchim in France (passed away on 18 Shevat 5748).
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- Rabbi Shalom DovBer Levin, "Toldos Chabad B'Russia HaSovietit", Kehot Publication Society, 5789.
- "Reb Nissan" - His life story, sayings and letters, and holy correspondence he merited to receive from our Rebbeim. Yisroel Alfenbein, Kfar Chabad, 5773 (950 pages).
- Yosef Ashkenazi, "Otzar HaChassidim - Their Personalities and Chassidic Teachings of Chabad Mashpi'im Worldwide", Chazak Publishing, 5774
- Rabbi Eliyahu Matusof, Reb Shneur Zalman Berger, "HaYetziah MeRussia" (book).