The Mitteler Rebbe

Rabbi Dov Ber Schneuri — the Mitteler Rebbe (in Yiddish: Der Mitteler Rebbe — literally, "the Middle Rebbe") (9 Kislev 5534 / November 9, 1773 — 9 Kislev 5588 / December 16, 1827) was the second Rebbe in the dynasty of Chabad Rebbeim and the successor to his father, the Alter Rebbe. His leadership was characterized by tremendous expansion and abundance — he composed and delivered thousands of Chassidic discourses at great length. He is widely known by the title "the Mitteler Rebbe," which became his designation after his passing, when the third Rebbe of the Chabad movement — the Tzemach Tzedek — was appointed. At that point, Rabbi Dov Ber became the middle figure among three Rebbeim.

Life History

His Birth

After fourteen years of marriage during which only daughters were born to his parents, the Alter Rebbe traveled to his teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch, to seek a blessing for a son. The Maggid promised him that if he would be meticulous in welcoming guests into his home, he would merit a son, and he alluded to this from the verse: Bameh yezakeh na'ar es orcho — "How does a youth merit his path?" — meaning: how does one merit a son? Through welcoming guests.

On Shabbos Parshas Vayishlach 5533 (1772) — the last Shabbos of the Maggid's life — he told the Alter Rebbe the inner meaning of the traditional celebrations held at the birth of a son, and at that occasion promised him that a son would be born to him, and instructed him to name the child after him (Dov Ber).

One year later, on 9 Kislev 5534 (November 9, 1773), Dov Ber was born — the Alter Rebbe's firstborn son. At his birth, the instructions of the Maggid were followed precisely.

At his birth, his father gave a piece of cloth that he had kept, to be used to swaddle the infant after his first washing.

At the circumcision celebration, several of the Maggid's great disciples were present, among them Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk.

His Education

For his son's education, the Alter Rebbe engaged a special teacher — one of the Maggid's disciples — to teach his son Torah and guide him in how to raise the child. An additional teacher was R' Avraham of Liepli.

Even from childhood, it was evident to all that he was gifted with extraordinary talents. He would learn and engage in Torah discussions with the greatest of his father's chassidim. A special interest of his in his childhood years was to record what he saw and heard in his father's presence. From childhood he was accustomed to writing quickly and fluently.

His Bar Mitzvah

For the bar mitzvah celebration, all the disciples and chassidim of his father came from across the region — even though in those years the Rebbe had forbidden chassidim from traveling in the months of Cheshvan and Kislev. For the sake of the celebration this rule was suspended.

On the day of the bar mitzvah itself — Thursday, 9 Kislev 5547 (November 20, 1786) — candles were lit throughout the courtyard of the synagogue, and the space was especially expanded for the many guests. During the Torah reading, the bar mitzvah boy did not receive an aliyah — but his father was called up third, and afterward recited the traditional blessing that a father recites at his son's bar mitzvah. After the morning prayers, the Alter Rebbe delivered a Chassidic discourse on the verse "Ki lekach tov" — "For I have given you a good teaching," and then the bar mitzvah boy delivered his own Torah talk on the verse "Maggid devarav l'Yaakov" — "He declares His word to Jacob." The Alter Rebbe was in a state of profound spiritual elevation and began to sing the melody known as the Arba Bavos — "Four Gates." The great chassidim who were present related that during the melody, they recalled everything they had experienced from the day they became conscious of themselves.

The Alter Rebbe then took a piece of honey cake and a small cup of spirits, and afterward distributed them to the other chassidim.

After the evening prayers, a festive meal was held. The Alter Rebbe delivered a Chassidic discourse, and the chassidim celebrated together until daybreak.

On the Shabbos following the bar mitzvah, Rabbi Dov Ber received his first aliyah to the Torah — at the afternoon Shabbos service, since that time is considered the most spiritually elevated moment of the entire week. During his aliyah, his father — who was also leading the Torah reading — was in a state of special spiritual elevation.

His Marriage

In 5548 (1787), when the Mitteler Rebbe was fourteen years old, his father chose as his match Moras Sheina, the daughter of R' Yaakov, a poor teacher from the small town of Yanowitz, near Liozna. This came about because Sheina's father had complained to the Alter Rebbe that his mind was preoccupied with how to arrange marriages for his five daughters who had reached marriageable age, and he was therefore unable to pray with proper focus and intention. The Alter Rebbe offered him his son R' Dov Ber — for once such a distinguished match was made with him, other chassidim would quickly seek to arrange matches with his other daughters as well.

Rabbi Dov Ber agreed to the match on condition that it be concluded as quickly as possible, so that he would be present to hear the Chassidic discourses his father would deliver at his wedding.

And indeed — because the Alter Rebbe entered into a family connection with Rabbi Yaakov, he soon had other sons-in-law for all his other daughters: R' Yisrael the prayer leader, R' Shmarya Berlin, and R' Avigdor HaKohen Bichovksy.

Guiding the Young Chassidim

In 5550 (1789), at the age of sixteen, he was appointed by his father to guide the young scholars — both those learning in the Rebbe's court and those in correspondence with him at their places of residence — and he devoted himself to this with great energy. It is related that on one occasion when he gathered with the young men, he spoke with such great emotion that it was harmful to his health, and he was ill for several days.

That same year he also began to serve as the one who would memorize and record the Chassidic discourses his father delivered.

It is worth noting that the holy R' Avraham of Kalisk wrote to the Alter Rebbe in a letter of 5558 (1797): "I have concern for the child of the father — namely his distinguished son, our teacher R' Dov Ber — for your honor has placed him in a great trial, like a ship in the midst of the sea, requiring great advocates to be saved from the trap of pride and self-aggrandizement... and your honor has placed his son in this situation, while he is still young in years and has no weapons of battle — where is a father's mercy for his son?"

Accepting the Leadership

At the time of the Alter Rebbe's passing on 24 Teves 5573 (January 5, 1813), the Mitteler Rebbe was in the city of Kremenchug, where he had gone to prepare the community for the Alter Rebbe's arrival. Immediately after the passing, the family members traveled to Rabbi Dov Ber in Kremenchug, where he accepted the leadership upon himself.

A portion of the Alter Rebbe's chassidim chose as their Rebbe one of the Alter Rebbe's great disciples, Rabbi Aharon of Starosselje, who began to conduct himself as a Rebbe.

In the first three months following the Alter Rebbe's passing, a great awakening arose among Chabad chassidim throughout Russia. Chassidim in several major cities sent delegations to the Mitteler Rebbe requesting that he establish his residence in one of the Russian cities. The chassidim of White Russia also sent a delegation asking him to return to White Russia and settle there. In the end, the Mitteler Rebbe chose to respond to the chassidim of White Russia, and after Shavuos 5573 (1813) he departed from Kremenchug and began his journey to White Russia. This journey came to be known as the Coronation Journey — which constituted the formal acceptance of the Mitteler Rebbe's leadership.

The journey to Vitebsk lasted approximately three months. In every location he visited, he delivered profound Chassidic discourses and received chassidim for private audiences. The entourage was greeted with great honor everywhere it went — by chassidim, by the general Jewish public, and even by government officials and police who had received instructions from the Ministry of the Interior to show honor to the Mitteler Rebbe, the son of the Alter Rebbe, who had rendered great service to the homeland by assisting in the war effort against Napoleon. Throughout the journey, many chassidim joined the Mitteler Rebbe's entourage.

Lubavitch

An illustration of the town of Lubavitch

Main article: Lubavitch

The journey concluded with the Mitteler Rebbe's choice of the town of Lubavitch as his place of residence. He arrived there together with thousands of chassidim on 18 Elul 5573 (September 3, 1813). Upon his arrival, he related to the chassidim that the Alter Rebbe had studied in Lubavitch as a child under Rabbi Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch, and he added that the Alter Rebbe had appeared to him in a dream and asked him to establish his residence in Lubavitch.

Prince Tchakhovsky, who governed the town, ordered his workers to cut timber from his forests in order to build homes for the Rebbe and his chassidim.

From Lubavitch, the Rebbe's Torah — Chabad Chassidic teachings — began to spread throughout White Russia and Lithuania, and the number of those who traveled to Lubavitch grew steadily.

A year after he settled in Lubavitch, many of the elder chassidim who had gathered around his father the Alter Rebbe began to come to him to hear Chassidus. All were deeply moved by the new Rebbe's conduct and by the Chassidic discourses he delivered in great abundance — as was his way. At times he would deliver Chassidus several times on the same Shabbos, each time for several hours. On Shavuos of one year, the Rebbe delivered Chassidus eleven times in a single day — upon which his uncle, Rabbi Yehuda Leib (the Alter Rebbe's brother), said to him in Aramaic: "Lo kol mocha savil da" — not every mind can bear that.

In 5575 (1815), the Rebbe established Jewish agricultural settlements in the Kherson district, on land allocated by the government through his efforts. In 5577 (1817), he visited the settlements and remained there from Passover through the month of Elul.

During his leadership, the number of chassidim multiplied two and three times over compared to the time of the Alter Rebbe. The elder chassidim related that in the first year of his leadership alone, fifteen thousand chassidim were added in White Russia, and in the second year — 5575 (1815) — the entire Chernigov province became a center of Lubavitch Chassidus.

Chevron

Main article: Chabad Shul in Chevron

In 5583 (1823), Chabad chassidim made aliyah to Chevron (Hebron), and the Mitteler Rebbe purchased a room from the Sephardic synagogue "Avraham Avinu" and designated it as a special synagogue for Chabad chassidim. This synagogue is today the oldest Chabad house of prayer in the world.

His Imprisonment and Liberation

The gravestone of the Mitteler Rebbe in Niezhin

Main article: The Imprisonment and Liberation of the Mitteler Rebbe

In 5585 (1825), a Jew named Simcha Kissin filed an accusation with the Russian authorities claiming that the Chassidic movement under the Mitteler Rebbe's leadership was a sect that ensnared thousands of chassidim in order to collect money for the Rebbe's coffers. This accusation was based on a forgery of the Mitteler Rebbe's letter, and on the fundraising campaign that had been conducted to rebuild the courtyard following a fire during the time of the Alter Rebbe. As a result of this accusation, the Mitteler Rebbe was taken into custody on the day after Sukkos 5587 (October 1826). After interrogations and investigations, the authorities came to understand that a false accusation had been made against him, and on 10 Kislev 5587 (December 1, 1826) he was released from prison. This date was established for all generations as a day of celebration and liberation.

His Passing

The Ohel of the Mitteler Rebbe in Niezhin

Main article: The Passing of the Mitteler Rebbe

Before his passing, the Mitteler Rebbe hinted to his chassidim of what was to come, saying of the year 5588 (1827–1828) that it would bring decrees. Before the High Holiday season of 5588 (1827), he departed from Lubavitch to visit his father's gravesite in Haditch. On the return journey he became gravely ill, and the group stopped to rest in Niezhin. His condition worsened day by day, and each time he was touched he would lose consciousness. This continued until 8 Kislev. That day he wished to write Chassidic teachings on the topics of Chanukah, but since the world was in a state of sorrow he did not want to derive pleasure from writing, and so he did not write. Instead, he told his chassidim to go home in joy and to say "l'chaim." During the night he lost consciousness many times, and when he revived he asked to be dressed in a white garment. His face became flushed, and he began to praise God and to speak in defense of the entire Jewish people. He asked his chassidim once more to be joyful — for joy sweetens all harsh judgments.

At the onset of Wednesday, 9 Kislev 5588 (December 16, 1827), the Mitteler Rebbe began to deliver — with great fervor — a Chassidic discourse on the verse "Acharei Hashem teileichu" — "You shall follow the Lord your God." Toward daybreak he concluded the discourse with the words "Ki imcha mekor chayyim — meChayyei HaChayyim" — "For with You is the source of life — from the Life of all life," and passed away at the age of fifty-four. His resting place is in Niezhin.

The Mitteler Rebbe left behind a Torah scroll that was passed down by inheritance to his son Rabbi Menachem Nachum, and from him to his grandchildren of the Popka family — R' Yitzchak Chaim Popka and R' Mordechai Dov Ber Popka. Today the Torah scroll is held in the synagogue "Beis Torah Damascus Eliezer" in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

The Significance of His Passing on His Birthday

The Mitteler Rebbe passed away on his birthday — 9 Kislev. The Rebbe noted in connection with this the teaching of the Talmudic sages: "The Holy One, blessed be He, sits and fulfills the years of the righteous from day to day and from month to month, as it is written: 'The number of your days I will fill'" — from which we see that there is a special distinction when a righteous person passes away on his birthday, so that his years and days are completely fulfilled. The Rebbe adds that this distinction applies to all righteous people; only that in most cases it is not visible in an open and physical way. And this is the distinction of the Mitteler Rebbe — that in his case the matter expressed itself even on a physical level.

This is consistent with his life's work throughout all his years — to bring the loftiest Chassidic concepts into the physical world and physical matters. As his son-in-law, the Tzemach Tzedek, expressed it: "If one were to cut my father-in-law's finger, no blood would flow — only Chassidus." In the same spirit he guided his chassidim — as he expressed it, his desire was "that when two young men meet each other in the marketplace, they should speak Chassidus," and similarly, "that when young men would understand the most sublime Chassidic concepts as clearly as the five fingers of their hand, he would have satisfaction from it."

His Torah

The Mitteler Rebbe would deliver Chassidic discourses in continuous series — two or three times each Shabbos, each time lasting between three-quarters of an hour and a full hour. On Yom Kippur he would deliver Chassidus three times: on the eve of Yom Kippur in the morning after the early morning prayers, at the close of Yom Kippur, and the day after Yom Kippur before the morning prayers.

Before delivering a discourse he would commit it to writing in his own hand — and for this reason there are not many recorded notes of his discourses made by his chassidim. On those occasions when the Mitteler Rebbe did not submit his own written version but only the recorded notes of a discourse of his father the Alter Rebbe on which his own discourse was based, the innovations he added are missing — as those additions were present only in his own delivery. The Mitteler Rebbe's written style in his discourses resembles that of his father the Alter Rebbe, and among other things he would regularly add his own explanations and elaborations. His spoken style was expansive and explanatory — in contrast to his father's more concise approach.

Regarding the explanations he added to his father's discourses, the Mitteler Rebbe himself testified in many places that they were simply his father's own words from other discourses — since Torah ideas that are brief in one place are elaborated in another — even though he certainly added a great deal of his own as well.

An additional dimension of his explanations is described in the introduction to his book Toras Chaim, where his son Rabbi Menachem Nachum writes that the Alter Rebbe's custom was to teach in two modes: one for the general chassidic community — in which he concealed the deeper roots of the ideas — and a second for the inner circle of scholars, in which he revealed those roots. The Mitteler Rebbe took these two modes and wove them into a single unified teaching, making the deeper dimensions accessible to everyone.

At times he would offer an interpretation and then retract it with the words "V'dilo kein na'amar" — "and not as stated above" — yet he would not remove the interpretation he had rejected, in accordance with the principles "there are seventy faces to the Torah" and "a teaching does not leave its place."

His Books

A large portion of the Chassidic discourses the Mitteler Rebbe delivered were printed by him in books he published during his years of leadership — and they presumably underwent editing for publication. The Rebbe noted in particular the Mitteler Rebbe's tremendous effort and dedication in publishing his books, going so far as to print them in installments in order to make them financially accessible to chassidim of limited means — an approach not found among any of the other Chabad Rebbeim.

Another portion of his works was published only after his passing.

Books Published During His Lifetime

• A prayer book with Chassidic commentary, and explanations on the Zohar — the foundational text of Jewish mysticism — based on his father the Alter Rebbe's discourses, written down by him — 5576 (1815/1816).
• Pokei'ach Ivrim — guidance for one who wishes to return to Jewish observance — 5577 (1816/1817). (Originally written in Yiddish.)
• Sha'arei Teshuvah — on repentance, prayer, and free will — 5577 (vol. 1), 5578 (vol. 2).
• Derech Chaim — the third volume of Sha'arei Teshuvah. Published in subsequent editions as a standalone work — 5579 (1818/1819).
• Ner Mitzvah V'Torah Ohr — divided into two parts: on faith and Passover topics; and an elucidation of contemplative spiritual practice — 5580 (1819/1820).
• Imrei Binah — on the recitation of the Shema prayer and the unity of God, the commandment of tefillin, and the commandment of tzitzis — 5581 (1820/1821).
• Ateres Rosh — discourses for the High Holidays — 5581 (1820/1821).
• Sha'arei Orah — discourses for Chanukah and Purim — 5582 (1821/1822).
• Toras Chaim — discourses on the weekly Torah portions: Genesis vol. 1 (through the portion of Chayei Sarah) — printed by the Mitteler Rebbe himself; Genesis vol. 2 (Toldos through Vayechi) — printed in 5626 (1865/1866) by his son; Exodus — printed in 5707 (1946/1947) by the Rebbe — 5586 (1825/1826).

Books Published After His Passing

• Bad Kodesh — a letter to the governor of the Vitebsk district requesting fair judgment, written during his imprisonment.
• Peirush HaMilos — explanations on the text of the Jewish prayers.
• Piskei Dinim — halachic rulings on questions of Jewish law.
• Maamarei Admur HaEmtza'i — his remaining Chassidic discourses that were not previously published. Published in the seventh generation by directive of the Rebbe: on the Torah, on the Prophets and Writings, wedding discourses, and various pamphlets — 18 volumes, 5745–5751 (1984–1991).
• Maamarim Yekarim — handwritten manuscripts of teachings he received directly from his father the Alter Rebbe.
• Igros Kodesh (Sacred Letters) — his letters that have reached us. Published in two volumes, together with letters of the Alter Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek.

His Enactments and Innovations

He was the first to initiate the home charity boxes that are today found in virtually every Jewish home. At the beginning of his leadership he expanded and increased donations to support the Jewish community in the Land of Israel by distributing home charity boxes through traveling emissaries, with the accumulated funds collected periodically. The heads of other charitable funds of that era observed the great success of this initiative and began to adopt the idea — and within a short time home charity boxes spread throughout the Jewish world.

Main article: Choir of the Mitteler Rebbe's Chassidim

The Mitteler Rebbe established the field of Chabad music by founding the Choir of the Mitteler Rebbe's Chassidim — known as the "Kapelye" (the Chapel) — a choir that operated in his court and was devoted to singing and composing deep Chassidic melodies.

In addition, it is related that at times he would instruct several of his designated chassidim to ride horses while the Kapelye played in the background, and the Mitteler Rebbe would observe them. On one occasion, his son Rabbi Menachem Nachum fell from his horse and lost consciousness.

His Appearance

The Mitteler Rebbe is the only one among the Chabad Rebbeim of whom no portrait or painting exists — and there is no way of knowing what he looked like.

At one of his gatherings, the Rebbe cited the teaching of the Talmudic sages that during Torah study "one should see the author of the teaching as if he were standing before him," and explained that with all our Rebbeim this can be fulfilled by mentally picturing the Rebbe's appearance. Yet even with the Mitteler Rebbe there is no deficiency in this matter — for he placed himself entirely within his Torah (as the sages say of the Holy One, blessed be He, that He placed His very essence within the Torah). Therefore, through studying his Torah in a deep and immersive way, one does not merely see the teacher "as if he were standing before him" — the teacher is truly standing before him.

His Family

• His son, Rabbi Menachem Nachum.
• His son, Rabbi Boruch.
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Sarah Darbermadiker — married Rabbi Eliezer Darbermadiker, son of Rabbi Meir of Pikov, son of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Beila Wols — married Rabbi Yekusiel Zalman Wols, in 5567 (1806/1807).
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn — married the Tzemach Tzedek, on 5 Kislev 5564 (November 9, 1803).
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Twersky — married Yaakov Yisrael Twersky, on 6 Shevat 5571 (January 31, 1811).
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Bracha — married R' Yona of Zhitomir, on 14 Shevat 5568 (February 3, 1808). They lived their entire lives in Lubavitch.
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel — married Rabbi Yaakov Kuli Slonim.
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Esther Miriam — no further details are known about her.
• His daughter, Chaya Sarah — married in her first marriage to Rabbi Aharon Aleksandrov of Shklov, on 15 Menachem Av 5586 (August 19, 1826). After her husband passed away on 24 Iyar 5597 (May 8, 1837), she married in her second marriage R' Aharon Zaslavsky of Kremenchug, son of Rebbetzin Freida (daughter of the Alter Rebbe), in 5603 (1842/1843).
• His daughter, Rebbetzin Sterna Freida.

Further Reading

• Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Levin, Toldos Chabad B'Russia HaTzarit, Kehot, New York, 5770 (2010).
• Sefer HaToldos — Admur HaEmtza'i, Rabbi Chanoch Glitzenstein, Kehot.
• Beis Rebbi, Rabbi Chaim Meir Heilman, Kehot.
• Menachem Ziegelboim, the passing of the Chabad Rebbeim, p. 95, 5773 (2013).
• The Passing of the Mitteler Rebbe, Ohalei Lubavitch, vol. 4, p. 13, Machon Ohalei Shem.
• Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Levin, The Imprisonment and Liberation of the Mitteler Rebbe.
• Damamah So'eres — the nature of the Mitteler Rebbe's approach in guiding and directing his chassidim, Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 1933, p. 51.

External Links

• The Rebbe speaks about the Mitteler Rebbe — audio file, Chabad Info
• The secret of the Mitteler Rebbe's soul — a story by Menachem Ziegelboim, Chabad B'Yisrael
• R' Schneur Zalman Berger, Why Niezhin? A special overview for 9 Kislev
• A comparison of the passing of the Mitteler Rebbe and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, journal Ki Karov, issue 39, Lag B'Omer 5780 (2020)
• "Redeemed in Peace": The Life and Liberation Story of the Mitteler Rebbe
• Yehoshua Mondshein, The publishing project of the Mitteler Rebbe's books
• Rabbi Naftali Loewenthal, An interview on the foundational books of the Mitteler Rebbe, their content and significance in the history of Chabad Torah, 5785 (2025) — Chassidus channel on Sinun Chabad (Yiddish)
• The Mitteler Rebbe's gravesite on Google Maps: Photos, Location