Shneur Tzvi Hirsch Schneerson
Rabbi Shneur Tzvi Hirsch Schneerson (Iyar 5615 - 22 Iyar 5692 / 1855-1932), was a Chabad chasid from the period of the Rebbe Maharash, fifth generation descendant of the Alter Rebbe, and among the founders of the Chadera settlement.
Life History[edit | edit source]
Born in Amtislov in the Mohilev region of White Russia, in the month of Iyar 5615 (1855) to his father Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson and his mother Kreina, as a fifth generation descendant of the Alter Rebbe. He studied in Chassidic cheders and later in Lubavitch together with the Rebbe Rashab, and in the years that followed, he was counted among his loyal associates.
When he reached marriageable age, he married Mrs. Esther, the eldest daughter of the Chabad philanthropist R' Yaakov Hindin (owner of many forests, estates, and spirit distilleries in the Pskov region) and his wife Reiza-Rivka. After the wedding, he lived for a period in Stary and later in Toropets, Pskov region (outside the "Pale of Settlement"), engaged in trade of manufactured goods and antiques, and helped his father-in-law with his businesses in that area.
Following the pogroms that occurred in 5642 (1882), he decided to settle in Eretz Yisrael. Under his influence, his father-in-law sold one of his estates and joined the "Riga Association" to purchase land in the area designated for founding the Chadera settlement, heading the association while maintaining ownership of 2600 dunams out of the 5000 dunams allocated for the settlement.
Initially, he immigrated to Eretz Yisrael alone, and in 5656 (1896) returned to Russia to bring his family members. However, due to the deteriorating health conditions in Chadera, his relatives did not allow him to return to the Holy Land, and he remained for several years in Dvinsk, Vitebsk region, where he worked managing his brother-in-law R' Zalman Hindin's shipping business on the Dvina River. However, he could not resettle on foreign soil and in 5664 (1904) returned to Chadera with his two youngest sons, Levi Yitzchak and Mendel.
Upon his aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, he received a letter of blessing from the Rebbe Rashab congratulating him on settling in the place.
After his father-in-law's passing in 5666 (1906), who left behind an enormous inheritance of over a million rubles, he had to travel again to Russia to handle the inheritance, convert it to cash, and distribute it. This took a long time due to disputes among the heirs until the Bolshevik revolution arrived and confiscated all the property of the wealthy.
In 5671 (1911), he returned to the Holy Land and remained there until his passing.
Rabbi Shneur Tzvi Hirsch passed away on 22 Iyar 5692 (1932) and was buried in the old cemetery in the city of Chadera.
His two sons, Levi Yitzchak and Menachem Mendel, were members of the NILI underground.
His Family[edit | edit source]
- His daughter Mrs. Kreina, born in 5637 (1877). Wife of Moshe son of R' Kalman Chasidov from Poltava. They married on 13 Tishrei 5667 (1906) in Dvinsk.
- His daughter Mrs. Rosa Rivka, wife of R' TTzvi Yuval.
- His son, Baruch Schneerson.
- His daughter Mrs. Shoshana, wife of TTzvi Yuval - Chadera.
- His daughter Mrs. Chaya Dubeh (Anyuta), wife of Eliyahu Prat - Russia.
- His son, Levi Yitzchak (Luba) Schneerson - member of the NILI underground.
- His son, Menachem Mendel Schneerson - member of the NILI underground, Chadera.
- His son, Chaim Avraham Schneerson - London.
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- History of Chabad in Chadera
External Links[edit | edit source]
- Discovery: Chabad Chasid among the founders of the city of Chadera