Editing Rabbi Shneur Zalman Fradkin (section)

== Early Life ==
Rabbi Shneur Zalman Fradkin was born in Adar 1830 in the town of Lyadi to his father Rabbi Shlomo and his mother Mrs. Eidel. His father served as a shochet and bodek in Beshenkovitch in the Mohilev region.

His birth was rooted in the blessing of [[the Alter Rebbe]] to his maternal grandfather [[The Mitteler Rebbe]], after his son passed away: "I will comfort you that your daughter will have a son who will illuminate the eyes of Israel."

On another occasion, when all members of Rabbi DovBer's family passed by the Alter Rebbe, Sarah was missing, and the Alter Rebbe asked: "Where is she? From her will emerge a great light."

In another account: The Toras Chesed's father, Rabbi Shlomo Fradkin, was a builder, and once while building a house for the Tzemach Tzedek, the Tzemach Tzedek suddenly came out of his room. Rabbi Shlomo startled backwards, and when the Tzemach Tzedek noticed him, he asked: "Am I a bear?" and blessed him that he should merit "rabbinic sons."

However, Rabbi Shneur Zalman was born mute, without the power of speech. His parents sought doctors but found no cure for his condition. Suddenly, at age three, words of Torah began flowing from his mouth. It became clear that during those three years he had been absorbing Torah but couldn't speak, and only at age three did he begin speaking. Moreover, his first words were an explanation of the Targum Onkelos on the verse "living soul."

People came from all corners of the region to witness this wonder - a three-year-old child already proficient in Chumash with Rashi and Onkelos.
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