Editing The Rebbe Accepting The Nesius

The Rebbe's nesius began after the histalkus (passing) of his father-in-law, the Frierdiker (Previous) Rebbe, on Yud Shvat 5710. From that day, the Rebbe began leading, but for a full year, he refused to formally accept the position. As time went on and Chassidim increasingly beseeched the Rebbe to formally accept the nesius, he gradually softened his refusal, until one year later on Motzei Yud Shvat (the night of Yud Alef Shvat), at a farbrengen marking the Frierdiker Rebbe's yohrtzeit, the Rebbe said the maamar "Basi LeGani" and thereby formally accepted the Chabad nesius.

== Background ==
After the histalkus of the Frierdiker Rebbe on Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo, Yud Shvat 5710, with the levaya taking place the next day on Sunday, Yud Alef Shvat, the prominent Chassidim were certain that the Rebbe (then known as "the Ramash") was destined to be the Frierdiker Rebbe's successor.

== Senior Chassidim's Activities for Accepting the Nesius ==
Extensive work was done by Chassidim worldwide to encourage the Rebbe to accept the nesius. This activity was led by prominent Chassidim across the globe:

In America: [[Rabbi Eliyahu Yeichil-Simpson|Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson]], Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson, [[Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary|Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary,]] Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanoff, Rabbi Shmuel Levitin, [[Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky]], Rabbi DovBer Haskin, and Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi.

In Eretz HaKodesh: Rabbi Eliezer Karasik, Rabbi Moshe Gurary, Rabbi Shmerel Gurary, Rabbi Avrohom Paris, [[Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin|Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin,]] Rabbi Avrohom Chen, and Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Naeh.

In Europe: [[Reb Nissan Nemenov|Rabbi Nissan Nemenov]], Rabbi Yisroel Noach Blinitzky, Rabbi Avrohom Sender Nemtzov, and Rabbi Saadya Liberow.

These Chassidim enthusiastically supported the Rebbe's nesius and influenced Chabad Chassidim in America, Eretz HaKodesh, and worldwide to accept the Rebbe's leadership. Simultaneously, these mentioned Chassidim worked to have Chabad institutions accept the Rebbe's nesius.

== Activities in America ==
On Motzei Yud Alef Shvat 5710, shortly after the levaya, a gathering of Chassidim took place in 770.

Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson - the Frierdiker Rebbe's gabbai - spoke about the obligation to continue the chain of Chabad Rebbes and strengthen the connection to Beis Chayeinu (770). In meetings held after the histalkus, Rabbi Simpson was among the first to encourage anash (Chassidim) to request and demand that "the Ramash" accept the burden of Chabad leadership.

In the year following the histalkus, Rabbi Simpson frequently entered for yechidus (private audience) with the Rebbe to discuss accepting the nesius, transferring the Frierdiker Rebbe's library to the Rebbe's authority, and other sensitive and crucial matters related to Beis HaRav (the Rebbe's family).

The senior Chassidim wrote to prominent Chassidim in Eretz HaKodesh: "The rabbonim of anash explained at length how all anash, regardless of age, unanimously agreed that the Rebbe Ramash shlita is worthy to fill the position of the Rebbe, to continue the nesius and lead the Chassidic community until Moshiach comes speedily in our days."

== Acceptance of Nesius by Aguch in Eretz HaKodesh ==
On Sunday evening, 11 Shvat 5710, following the Frierdiker Rebbe's histalkus, Chabad Chassidim gathered at the Chabad shul in Nachalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv. Before this assembly, a preliminary unplanned meeting was held at Rabbi Eliezer Krasik's home, attended by senior Chassidim who had merited to be in the presence of the Rebbe Rashab and Frierdiker Rebbe.

During the assembly, tears flowed freely, but discussion turned to next steps. All unanimously decided: The Ramash must be crowned as Rebbe. Rabbi Avrohom Paris stood and declared: "Rabbosai, I know the Ramash. I worked with him in the same room for ten years, desk next to desk. I barely worked - I just watched what he does. And I tell you he hides himself, he deceives us all. I tell you - he is the Rebbe!"

== The Rebbe's Initial Refusal ==
In the months following the histalkus, Chassidim worldwide wrote ksivei hiskashrus (letters of connection) to the Rebbe. Some were communal letters signed by entire communities, others were personal. Despite this, the Rebbe refused to accept the nesius. Gradually, signs emerged that the Rebbe might accept.

== Building a Bima for the Rebbe ==
In the months after the Frierdiker Rebbe's histalkus, large crowds packed the small zal to hear the Rebbe's farbrengens. Some suggested building a bima for the Rebbe's table so more could see, but feared the Rebbe wouldn't agree.

Despite concerns, Rav Simpson decided the crowd must be able to see the Rebbe. Using his golden hands (inherited from his father), he built a low bima that could be quickly assembled and disassembled to save space.

The first time the bima was set up, Chassidim worried the Rebbe would refuse to use it since he hadn't yet accepted the nesius. To their surprise, the Rebbe came to the farbrengen, went up on the bima, sat at the elevated table, and began the farbrengen.

== Newspaper Announcements ==
On 26 Teves, New York Jewish newspapers published that Chabad Chassidim had accepted the Rebbe as the Frierdiker Rebbe's successor. The articles mentioned ksivei hiskashrus given to the Ramash and that formal acceptance would be on Yud Shvat 5711. When the Rebbe learned of this, he asked Rav Chodakov to publish a denial in all newspapers. Rav Chodakov told the elder Chassidim, who pleaded with the Rebbe not to publish the denial. Only after much begging did the Rebbe agree. A week later, on 3 Shvat, official notices were published about the upcoming acceptance of nesius.

== Ksivei Hiskashrus Yud Shvat 5711 ==
On the yohrtzeit of Yud Shvat 5711, representatives of Chabad communities in America and Canada came to give ksivei hiskashrus on behalf of their communities.

Similar ksivei hiskashrus arrived from Paris, European countries, Yerushalayim, Australia, South Africa, Morocco and elsewhere.

== Congratulatory Telegrams ==
Before the acceptance of nesius, telegrams arrived from gedolei harabbonim and rabbinic organizations: Agudas HaRabbonim of America and Canada, the Chief Rabbis of Eretz HaKodesh, leaders of the Eidah HaChareidis in Yerushalayim, the Association of Russian Refugee Rabbis in Eretz HaKodesh, the Vaad HaYeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, the Gaon of Tchebin, Rav Charlap, Rav Meltzer, and Chabad institutions worldwide.

== Minyan at the Ohel ==
Senior Chassidim desperately wanted the Rebbe to accept the nesius. His continued refusal led them to hold secret meetings discussing how to arouse the Rebbe's ratzon to accept. At one meeting, they decided a minyan of anash would go to the Frierdiker Rebbe's Ohel and read a general pan on behalf of all Chassidim worldwide, requesting the Frierdiker Rebbe influence the Rebbe to accept the nesius.

The delegation traveled to the Ohel on Beis Iyar, the Rebbe Maharash's birthday. Among the elder Chassidim were: Rav Jacobson, Rav Kazarnovsky and Rav Simpson, along with prominent yungeleit including Rav Berel Baumgarten and Rav Yosef Weinberg.

Rav Simpson read the pan on behalf of the group requesting a hora'ah. Indeed, from then on they no longer heard the Rebbe say "he has no hora'ah."

== Ya'amod Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabbeinu ==
Throughout this period, Rav Dovid Raskin would call people up to the Torah. When calling the Rebbe, he would say "Ya'amod" loudly, then whisper "Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabbeinu," before continuing with the Rebbe's name aloud. On Simchas Torah, there was a change - Rav Alter Dovber Chaskind read the "Reshus for Chosson Bereishis." When he reached the words "V'ata Kum," he burst into tears and called out loudly "Ya'amod Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabbeinu HaRav..." saying the Rebbe's name.

In Kislev and Teves, hints could be found in the Rebbe's sichos and conduct that he was willing to accept the nesius, though not very overtly.

Rav Groner in his letter from those days lists several behaviors showing progress toward accepting the nesius:

* Accepting people for yechidus
* Agreeing to be called to Torah as "Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabbeinu"
* Not protesting when Chassidim write "K'vod K'dushas Admur Shlita"
* Mofsim occurring in healing and other matters
* Answering questions on gashmius and ruchnius
* Farbrengening every Shabbos Mevorchim, and from Shabbos Mevorchim Cheshvan every second Shabbos

== Formal Acceptance Event ==
On Motzei Yud Shvat 5711, at 9:45, the Rebbe entered the farbrengen marking the first yohrtzeit of the Frierdiker Rebbe. The Rebbe began with words about strengthening hiskashrus to the Frierdiker Rebbe. In the second sicha, the Rebbe hinted at accepting the nesius, speaking about the American custom when starting something new - to make a "declaration." Related to this, he gave a "declaration" about ahavas Hashem, ahavas haTorah, and ahavas Yisroel.

About an hour after the farbrengen began, Rav Avraham Sender Nemtzov, an elder Chossid, stood and announced: "The olam is thirsty for a maamar Chassidus from the Rebbe. The Rebbe should say a maamar Chassidus!" A maamar symbolizes formal recognition of accepting the nesius, since only a Rebbe says maamarim.

At 10:40, the Rebbe began the maamar "Basi LeGani," based on the maamar the Frierdiker Rebbe had published for his yohrtzeit the year before. In this maamar, the Rebbe explained according to Midrash and Chassidus the task of the seventh generation (of Chabad Rebbes) to spread Yiddishkeit throughout the entire world, through which the Shechina would be drawn down to this world, making this the generation to bring the geulah.

The maamar was said in three parts. During the two breaks, the Rebbe instructed to sing nigunim from our Rebbeim in order, starting with the Beinoni nigun cherished by the Frierdiker Rebbe. Right after the first part, Rav Nemtzov jumped on the table from great joy and announced: "Chassidim, repeat after me! We must make the bracha 'Shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higiyanu lazman hazeh,' that Hashem helped us that we have a Rebbe!" He made the bracha with Shem uMalchus and the entire kehilla answered Amen. The Rebbe smiled broadly and asked him to get down from the table.

In the sicha right after the maamar, the Rebbe spoke about the importance of each Chossid's personal avodah, saying:

"Now listen Yidden!

In general, in Chabad the demand was that each person should do their own avodah, and not rely on the Rebbes.

This is the difference between Polish derech and Chabad derech - the Polish way is 'v'tzadik be'emunaso yichye,' don't read it as yichye but as yechaye, but we in Chabad must all work ourselves, with the 248 limbs and 365 gidim of the body, and with the 248 limbs and 365 gidim of the neshama.

'Everything is in the hands of Heaven except fear of Heaven.' I'm not removing myself chas v'shalom from helping, to help as much as possible, but since everything is in Heaven's hands except yiras Shamayim, if there won't be personal avodah, what help will it be that they give 'writings,' sing nigunim and say l'chaim."

In another sicha later in the farbrengen, the Rebbe said that the Frierdiker Rebbe related that when discussing accepting aspects of his father the Rebbe Rashab's nesius, he requested it should be with chesed and rachamim.

The farbrengen ended at 12:25. The Rebbe left the beis medrash with the singing of "Ki B'simcha Teitzeiu." The entire kehilla and elder Chassidim danced with great joy to the nigun "Ki B'simcha" for a long time.

When the Rebbe left the zal, Rav Kazarnovsky said "A dank Rebbe!" The Rebbe smiled and asked "Now you're satisfied?!" (Rav Kazarnovsky was among those working energetically for the Rebbe's acceptance) and went into his room.

Afterwards in the zal there was tremendous simcha, as everyone danced and rejoiced that "we have a Rebbe."

== The Day After Accepting Nesius ==
On Thursday Yud Alef Shvat, the Rebbe arrived at 770 wearing a sirtuk. After davening, the Rebbe asked Rav Yehuda Leib Groner to call secretaries Rav Chodakov and Rav Mindel to his room. The Rebbe said they needed new letterhead and asked for suggestions. They proposed replacing the Frierdiker Rebbe's name with the Rebbe's, but the Rebbe said this wasn't enough change. The Rebbe wanted 770's address to appear at the top, in Yiddish and English. The final text read: "Office of K'vod K'dushas Admur Menachem Mendel Shlita Schneerson."

Shortly after, Rabbis Simpson, Jacobson, Levitin and Kazarnovsky were called to the Rebbe's room. The Rebbe asked them to arrange transfer of the Frierdiker Rebbe's library to his authority, explaining the nesius wasn't complete without this. Weeks later, Rav Simpson arranged a meeting to tell the Rebbe they'd gotten him a key to access the library. The Rebbe struck the table in disapproval saying, "This you call an achievement?! Until the library is under my authority, my leadership isn't complete!"

== The Rebbe as Nosi of the Institutions ==
After formally accepting the nesius on Yud Shvat 5711, Chabad institutions sought the Rebbe's leadership. A special meeting was held in New York with senior Chassidim including Rabbis Jacobson, Ashkenazi, Gordon, Simpson, Kazarnovsky, Haskin, Zalmanoff and Mentlik. They decided all institutions should be under the Rebbe's nesius and created general regulations stating: "The Nosi is K'vod K'dushas Admur Shlita and documents should be printed with: Founded by K'vod K'dushas Admur Rabbi Shalom DovBer and his son K'vod K'dushas Admur Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, under the nesius of K'vod K'dushas Admur of Lubavitch Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shlita Schneerson."

== Establishing New Organizations ==
After accepting nesius, the Rebbe founded new organizations and mosdos in multiple countries:

* Tzeirei Chabad in Eretz HaKodesh and New York
* N'shei Chabad in Eretz HaKodesh and United States
* Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchak network in Eretz HaKodesh, Morocco, and Australia
* Shluchim - in early years many received directives directly from the Rebbe, who decided who would go where
* New Yeshivos

All these institutions operated under the Rebbe's nesius.

== Leadership Style After Accepting Nesius ==
The Rebbe began saying maamarim - a practice reserved only for a Rebbe in Chabad. Unlike previous Chabad Rebbeim, the Rebbe didn't write his maamarim himself. From the first "Basi LeGani," he instructed Rav Yoel Kahan to transcribe and submit for editing. Chassidim would review and write down the maamarim themselves. The Rebbe only edited some of the maamarim and sichos, with the editing schedule changing several times over the years.

In the early years after accepting nesius, the Rebbe maintained close personal connection with talmidei hayeshiva learning in the Rebbe's court, giving personal guidance, participating in their simchas, and more. This approach evolved as Chabad expanded, with the Rebbe's leadership taking on more of a malchus (kingship) character.

Each year, a crown design is updated showing the current year of the Rebbe's nesius (counted from 5710 - when the Frierdiker Rebbe was nistalek).
Description	What you type	What you get
Italic	''Italic text''	Italic text
Bold	'''Bold text'''	Bold text
Bold & italic	'''''Bold & italic text'''''	*Bold & italic text*