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[[File:לערך הרבי שליט"א.png|250px|thumb|left|the Rebbe]] | [[File:לערך הרבי שליט"א.png|250px|thumb|left|the Rebbe]] | ||
= Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson = | |||
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (in Yiddish: Schneersohn; known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe and in Chabad simply as the Rebbe) was born on 11 Nissan 5662 (1902). He was a spiritual leader whose influence encompassed the entire world and particularly the Jewish people. He was the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, and is identified as Melech HaMoshiach (King Messiah) who will redeem the people in the true and complete Redemption. Among his notable activities were the establishment of the Shlichus (emissary) enterprise and the Ten Mitzvah Campaigns he initiated, aiming to bring Judaism to every single Jew. His actions, words, and influence emphasized the anticipation of Moshiach and activities to hasten the Redemption. | |||
On 3 Tammuz 5754, he was concealed from physical sight, though based on his own words, Chassidim believe in the eternity of his life in our generation. Among Chabad Chassidim there are various views and approaches to 3 Tammuz, but all believe it is part of the Redemption process and await the Rebbe's revelation as Melech HaMoshiach. | |||
== Birth and Early Years == | |||
The Rebbe was born on Friday, 11 Nissan 5662 (April 18, 1902) in the Russian-Ukrainian town of Nikolayev, to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson. His maternal grandfather was Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, the Rabbi of Nikolayev. | |||
The Bris Milah was held on 18 Nissan, Chol HaMoed Pesach, and the festive meal took place in the home of his grandfather, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, with many Jews from Nikolayev participating. During the celebration, his grandfathers and father delivered Torah discourses, with his father connecting the Bris celebration to his own birthday which fell on that day. The Rebbe was named "Menachem Mendel" after his great-grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek. | |||
After his father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, was appointed Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk (formerly Yekaterinoslav) in 1909, the family moved there. | |||
From a very young age, the Rebbe became known for his diligence and extraordinary memory. His time was mostly dedicated to a comprehensive study of all parts of the Torah—both revealed and hidden. His main guide in learning was his father. The Rebbe described his childhood years as the time when his worldview took shape, which he later applied throughout his life, especially as a Rebbe. In a rare letter to Mr. Yitzchak Ben Zvi, he described his thoughts as a child: | |||
“From the time I started going to 'cheder' and even before that, the image of the future redemption began to form in my imagination—the redemption of the Jewish people from their final exile—a redemption that will explain the suffering of the exile, the decrees, and the destructions.” | |||
— Letter from 1956 to Mr. Yitzchak Ben Zvi | |||
At the age of 18, in 1920, he was appointed to serve as a rabbi in one of the synagogues in the city. | |||
In 1923, the Rebbe met the Rebbe Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) for the first time. Shortly thereafter, he joined him in his public activities, fulfilling special roles in various fields and standing by the Rebbe Rayatz in his famous battle to preserve the sacred practices of Judaism and mitzvot in Soviet Russia. At that time, the Rebbe Rayatz referred to him as his "Minister of Education." In Sivan 1927, the Rebbe Rayatz was arrested, and the Rebbe played a central role in efforts to save him. After his release, the Rebbe Rayatz stayed in Malchovka, and only a few followers were permitted to visit him, including the Rebbe, who was invited to see him and spent long hours conversing with him daily. | |||
In Tishrei 1928, he visited his parents in Dnipro. After Sukkot, his mother accompanied him to Leningrad. From there, he left Russia with the Rebbe Rayatz, who was set to become his father-in-law, and with his entire family. The Rebbe settled in Riga with the Rebbe Rayatz’s family. However, due to financial difficulties, their planned wedding was delayed, and it was decided he would move to another city. In Tevet of that year, he moved to Berlin, Germany. | |||
== Marriage == | |||
On the 20th of Kislev, 1928, the Rebbe became engaged to Chaya Mushka Schneerson, the daughter of the Rebbe Rayatz. The wedding took place in Riga. On Shabbat Parshat Vayetze, the 11th of Kislev, the “Shabbat Kallah” took place, and the Rebbe was called to the Torah in the Rebbe Rayatz’s minyan. | |||
Two weeks after the engagement, on the 14th of Kislev 1929, the wedding celebration was held at the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in Warsaw. Rabbis and Rebbes from all over Poland attended the event. | |||
Due to Soviet authorities not permitting the Rebbe's parents to leave Russia and attend the wedding, they held a simultaneous celebration in Russia to mark their son's wedding. Despite their absence, many friends and supporters attended, and the joy was immense. | |||
The Rebbe remarked on his wedding day: | |||
"The day that connected me to you, and you to me, so that together we will labor and bring about the true and complete redemption." | |||
— Translation from remarks made on the 14th of Kislev 1954. | |||
After the wedding, the Rebbe and his wife lived for a short time in Riga. His father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz, instructed him to lead gatherings on Shabbat and special days, as well as directing him to handle matters of Jewish law, Kabbalah, and Chassidus, and special duties concerning the guidance of the Chassidim and community. | |||
== Berlin == | |||
On the 10th of Shvat, 1929, the Rebbe left Latvia and moved to Berlin, where he established his residence with his wife, Chaya Mushka. Following his father-in-law's instructions, the Rebbe began academic studies at the University of Berlin. | |||
During his time in Berlin, he made several trips to visit the Rebbe Rayatz in Riga. He also visited the Rebbe Rayatz’s court in Tishrei 1930, when the Rebbe Rayatz traveled to the United States, where the Rebbe met with Chassidim. | |||
In Nisan 1933, due to the worsening situation and growing anti-Semitism in Germany, the Rebbe and his wife left Berlin and immigrated to Paris. This occurred a few months after Hitler came to power. | |||
== Paris == | |||
In Paris, the Rebbe dedicated himself to Torah study with great diligence, without drawing attention to himself. | |||
Simultaneously, by his father-in-law’s instructions, he studied at the Sorbonne University. | |||
Additionally, the Rebbe worked with great dedication in matters of communal responsibility, following the Rebbe Rayatz’s guidance, who was then in Poland. He also managed the transmission of funds and contributions sent from the United States to his father-in-law’s court in Poland. | |||
He compiled Chassidic teachings at that time, including: | |||
* ‘HaTamim’ pamphlets | |||
* Talks of the Rebbe Rayatz | |||
* Letters of the Rebbe Rayatz | |||
* Indexes to the Tanya | |||
* Indexes to Torah Ohr | |||
* Indexes to Likkutei Torah | |||
* Indexes to the Ma’amarei Admor Rashab | |||
* Other Torah compilations. | |||
== During World War II == | |||
In the winter of 1939, Chabad in the United States, by the Rebbe Rayatz’s instructions, began lobbying with high-level officials to obtain entry visas for the Rebbe and his wife to the United States. The request was submitted at the American Consulate in Paris. However, due to the war, communication was difficult, and it was unclear whether the visa had been granted. | |||
In 1940, just before Shavuot (after the Germans had already entered France and the Rebbe had not yet received the U.S. visa), the Rebbe and his wife left the city and traveled to southern France, an area not yet occupied by the Germans. On the evening of Shavuot, they arrived in the city of Vichy. In late summer 1940, they moved from Vichy to Nice, where they lived for eight to nine months until the summer of 1941. Meanwhile, efforts to secure visas continued. On the 20th of Nisan 1941, the visas were received in Marseille, and from there, the Rebbe and his wife made their way to Lisbon, Portugal. | |||
On the 17th of Sivan, 1941, the Rebbe and his wife boarded the ship "S.S. Serpa Pinto" from Portugal to New York, where they arrived on the 28th of Sivan, 1941. A delegation of Chassidim sent by the Rebbe Rayatz welcomed them at the port. | |||
== In the United States == | |||
Upon his arrival in the United States, the Rebbe began assisting his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz, in all of his activities, particularly his efforts to establish America as a center of Torah and Chassidus. In 1942, the Rebbe Rayatz appointed him as the chairman of the central Chabad institutions: | |||
* Machne Yisroel | |||
* The Central Organization for Education | |||
* Kehot Publishing House. | |||
In 1943, the Rebbe was also appointed as the chief editor of Kehot's publications. | |||
During those years, the Rebbe also worked as a ship engineer in the U.S. Navy. | |||