Yehuda Leib Schneerson (Son of the Tzemach Tzedek)

The gravestone of the Maharil in Kapust, erected by the "Ohalei Tzaddikim" organization, Kislev 5770 (2009).

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn (known as the Maharil of Kapust; 1808 – 3rd of Cheshvan, 1866) was the second son of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek, the third Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, and the founder of the Kapust dynasty.

Life

Early Years

Rabbi Yehuda Leib was born in Liadi in 1808, or according to another opinion in 1811, the second son of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. He was named after Rabbi Yehuda Leib.

The Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch) served as sandek (the one who holds the child) at his bris milah (circumcision). During the bris the infant cried a great deal, and the Alter Rebbe remarked that through this crying his mind was being refined and a blessing of spiritual light was drawn down.

During the Alter Rebbe's flight with his family from Napoleon's advancing army, he noticed that the infant Yehuda Leib was missing and instructed the party to turn back and search for him. They found him crying by the roadside, and the Alter Rebbe took him and brought him back into the carriage.

On the 14th of Cheshvan, 1824, he married the daughter of the chossid (devoted Chassidic follower) Rabbi Shlomo Freides of Shklov, one of the leading Chabad chassidim. In a second marriage he wed Sara.

With His Grandfather, the Mitteler Rebbe

As a child, Rabbi Yehuda Leib formed a strong bond of hiskashrus (devoted attachment) with his grandfather, the Mitteler Rebbe (Rabbi Dovber Schneersohn, the second Rebbe of Chabad), and studied under him. His grandfather was very fond of him, would wait for him before delivering maamarim (Chassidic discourses), and called him "mein shtender" (my lectern) — because he would lean on him while speaking. The style of the Maharil's own Chassidus closely followed that of the Mitteler Rebbe's discourses.

His bond with his grandfather was so strong that even after the Mitteler Rebbe's passing, he initially refused to attach himself to his father, the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek.

With His Father, the Tzemach Tzedek

In 1843, Rabbi Yehuda Leib joined his father at the Rabbinical Assembly of 5603, a government-convened gathering of Jewish leaders in St. Petersburg. Witnessing his father's decisive role at the assembly moved him deeply, and he began to forge a bond with the Tzemach Tzedek. Upon returning, the Tzemach Tzedek turned to his wife and said: "Prepare a feast — in Petersburg I acquired a man; I have brought home a new chossid: our son Rabbi Yehuda Leib has become my chossid."

Together with his brother Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman Schneersohn, he assisted his father in printing the Likkutei Torah. It is told that the Maharil once asked his father about the redemptive significance of the year 1848, and his father replied that in that year the light of Moshiach (the Messiah) had begun to shine through the printing of the Likkutei Torah.

At his father's direction, he served as a chazara (one who reviews and transmits Chassidic discourses from memory) and guided the chassidim in their avodas Hashem (divine service).

Founding of Kapust Chassidus

Main articles: Kapust Chassidus and Fragmentation of Chabad (1866)

On the 3rd of Elul, 1866 — approximately half a year after his father's passing — Rabbi Yehuda Leib left Lubavitch, and his chassidim settled him in the town of Kapust, where he assumed leadership. In a letter to the Rebbe Maharash (the fourth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch), he wrote: "I was compelled to assume the leadership." A Chassidic tradition records that as the chassidim drove him toward Kapust, he cried out at them: "Murderers!"

The Maharil was the oldest of the Tzemach Tzedek's sons willing to lead his own court, and he had personally known the Alter Rebbe — which drew the majority of the chassidim to him. Nevertheless, a rabbinical court convened to rule on the question of the Tzemach Tzedek's successor determined that the Rebbe Maharash was the rightful heir.

On Simchas Torah 1866 he fell ill, and passed away on the 3rd of Cheshvan of that year. He was buried in Kapust. The Rebbe Maharash made efforts to reunite the two courts, but without success; the Maharil's place was filled by his son, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn, author of the Magen Avos.

His Prayer

His manner of davening (prayer) was characterized by deep devekus (cleaving to G-d), outpouring of the soul, and great length. The young scholars of his court told him they could not pray at such length, and each time he promised not to extend it — but once he began to pray, he forgot the condition.

Once, having promised again not to pray at length, he said: so that he would not forget the condition, they should tie him to the shtender (lectern). But in the intensity of his devekus he dragged the shtender all the way to the western wall of the shul (synagogue). When the time came for the chazaras hashatz (the cantor's repetition of the Amidah), the scholars moved the shtender back toward the eastern wall — and Rabbi Yehuda Leib was pulled along after it.

Family

• Son: Rabbi Shlomo Schneur Zalman Schneersohn, author of the Magen Avos.
• Son: Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn of Rechitsa, who passed away around Tishrei 1909, or according to another version on the 16th of Tishrei 1908.
• Son (from second marriage): Rabbi Shmarya Noach Schneersohn of Bobruisk.
• Daughter: Rochel, wife of Rabbi Menachem Manish Munson.
• Daughter: Rivka — passed away on the eve of Shavuos 1852 in her youth.

Further Reading

• "Gibor K'Ari: Admur Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn of Kapust," Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov, issue 16, pp. 151–180.

External Links

• Two melodies of the Maharil.