Pictures and Portraits of Our Rebbes: Difference between revisions

For some of our Rebbes, the Chabad Admorim, there are '''drawings or pictures''' that have reached us: the Alter Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Rashab, the Rebbe Rayatz, and the Rebbe. Of the Rebbe Maharash there is no clear drawing or picture (there are drawings attributed to him), but his face can be drawn based on the knowledge that he closely resembled his grandson, the Rebbe Rayatz. Of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezritch, and the Mitteler Rebbe, there is not even a conjecture regarding their facial features.

==== Proper Respect for Pictures of Our Rebbes ====

To the director of an institution who printed a page with the Rebbe Rayatz's picture at the top alongside two pictures of women who helped the institution, the Rebbe wrote a stern response disapproving of this and even wrote that "I have seen many shocking things - but I admit that this matter is first in 'greatness' among them." He instructed him to remove his name from all the letters and brochures of the institution. The Rebbe also instructed him to fast several times, then go to the Ohel of the Rebbe Rayatz to ask him for forgiveness and atonement, and to regularly study the maamarim of the Rebbe Rayatz until Rosh Hashanah.

When it was proposed to issue a stamp with the picture of the Alter Rebbe, the Rebbe rejected the idea since the nature of a stamp is that the envelope on which it is affixed gets rolled around, in addition to the fact that people hit the stamp, which would cause disrespect to the picture of the Alter Rebbe.

== Drawing of the Baal Shem Tov ==

There is a famous picture attributed to the Baal Shem Tov, which was first distributed in 5663 (1903), but there is doubt about the authenticity of this attribution. The Rebbe said that this picture belongs to another Baal Shem who lived and worked in Deutschland (Germany, see below), not to the Baal Shem Tov.

In 5781 (2021), Rabbi Yechiel Ofner discovered in the estate of Mrs. Hinda Gurevich, granddaughter of Rebbetzin Beila Wells, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, and his niece, daughter of the sister of the wife of Maharyen of Nezhin, son of the Tzemach Tzedek, another copy of the original drawing, the earliest one, which apparently was drawn at the request of Maharyen himself. The copy was apparently drawn after the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek. In the drawing, the garment was corrected with the right side placed over the left side, and the book was changed to a Hebrew book, even marked with "Tzemach Tzedek." Under the drawing was written in STA"M letters (in the Alter Rebbe's handwriting): "Here is an authentic picture of our master, the righteous Rabbi Menachem Mendel, of blessed memory, from Lubavitch."

It is not known if there is a definite drawing of the Rebbe Maharash, but there are about four drawings believed to be of the Rebbe Maharash:

== Images of the Rebbe Rayatz ==

The Rebbe Rayatz, receiving American citizenship, raising his hand as a gesture of allegiance

The first photograph of the Rebbe Rayatz is from before his leadership period, in which he is seen wearing a suit and a kneitch hat. In the summer of 5751 (1991), a drawing of the Rebbe Rayatz's face from 5680 (1920) was sent to the Rebbe. The Rebbe thanked the sender and remarked that the drawing was likely made from memory, and that he especially enjoyed it since he had not been privileged to see images from this period in the life of the Rebbe Rayatz.

The Rebbe referred many times to contemplating the photograph of the Rebbe Rayatz and its influence. Among them: that the fulfillment of shlichus is through the power of seeing and not just a result of learning which is at the level of hearing.

==== Photos of the Rebbe Before Accepting the Leadership ====

The earliest photo of the Rebbe is from 5664/1904 (at age two and a half) taken in Nikolayev. The photo was discovered when Rabbi Shalom Ber Butman, following Rebbetzin Chana's instructions, visited Mrs. Rachel Schneerson, wife of Rabbi Shalom Shlomo Schneerson, and saw the photo in her home. Rabbi Chanoch Glitzenstein made a copy of the photo and sent it to Rabbi Butman, who gave it to Rebbetzin Chana. When the Rebbe later visited his mother after she received the photo, Rebbetzin Chana told the Rebbe that she had just received a new photo of him. The Rebbe responded, "I'm certainly there without a makif."

From before the wedding, there is another photo taken for issuing the Rebbe's passport, and another photo taken for the Rebbe's university studies in Berlin. An additional photo of the Rebbe was taken during the wedding period, and from the time the Rebbe lived in Berlin and Paris, there are several more photos of the Rebbe, some taken while he was beside the Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak). After the Rebbe's arrival in the United States, there are many photos of the Rebbe until his acceptance of leadership, which were taken due to his closeness to the Previous Rebbe and the Chabad community.

==== After Accepting Leadership ====

In 5711/1951, a photo of the Rebbe was published that served as the Rebbe's official photo in Chabad publications in the press. Over the years, this photo was changed to another one. This photo was the only one the Rebbe authorized for publication in the early years. On the night following Yom Kippur 5729/1968, during a meal in the Previous Rebbe's house, Rabbi Chaim Baruch Halberstam photographed the Rebbe, but later in the meal, the Rebbe sent a messenger with a message to Rabbi Chaim Baruch that the photography downstairs (in the main hall) was sufficient. In 5730/1970, a Chabad Chasid from London prepared a photo album of the Rebbe called "Challenge" and published two new photos of the Rebbe. When the album was sent to the secretariat, Rabbi Chodakov sent a message to that Chasid stating that: "In all publications printed after receiving our permission, there is only one photo of the Rebbe that we permit to be published, and therefore there should be no change regarding the 'Challenge'."

==== 10 Shevat 5730/1970 ====

In the early years, the Rebbe opposed being photographed during farbrengens, and photos and videos that were taken were done secretly. Only toward the farbrengen of 10 Shevat 5730/1970 did the Rebbe give official permission to photographer Yitzchak Braz to photograph the event, and he seized the opportunity and photographed continuously. Several Chasidim who noticed him tried to rebuke him, but the Rebbe instructed them to leave him alone. He also appeared at the farbrengen held on Saturday night, and in the middle of one of the songs, the Rebbe said with a smile (and immediately the crowd stopped singing): "For every picture he takes, he will need to say l'chaim again. It's endless, he keeps taking pictures." When the Rebbe heard that a total of about one hundred and twenty photos were taken, he remarked: "I thought he would take two or three photos, not one hundred and twenty..."

==== Photographing the Rebbe at Weddings ====

When photographer Harry (Tzvi Reuven) Triner wanted to photograph the Rebbe during weddings and the marriage ceremony – the Rebbe would cover his face. When Harry complained that this was affecting his livelihood, the Rebbe stopped covering his face, though it was evident that he was not comfortable with it. Since then, Harry was careful to take only one photo. When Chasidim pressed at one of the weddings to take more photos of the Rebbe, Harry took three photos and prepared to take a fourth, when the Rebbe noticed and remarked that he thought three photos were enough, and from then on, the arrangement was that Harry would take three photos.

In 5714/1954, when the Rebbe began conducting weddings only in the yard of 770, Harry received a message from the secretariat that he was permitted to take only one photo. When he later commented that one photo was not enough, he was again allowed to take three photos. At one of the weddings, when the photographer wanted to take a fourth photo of the Rebbe in the lobby, the Rebbe covered his face with a siddur (see photo).

When Rabbi Berel Yunik showed his wedding album to the Rebbetzin, she was impressed by the photo of the Rebbe standing in front of Rabbi Chodakov who was reading the ketubah, and asked for a copy, which she placed on a dresser in the Rebbe's library in his home. This was the only photo of the Rebbe in his home. The Rebbetzin also mentioned that she did not allow the cleaner who worked in the Rebbe and Rebbetzin's home to clean the photo, and she was careful to clean it herself.

==== The Rebbe's Encouragement to Photographers ====

Despite the Rebbe's sharp attitude toward those engaged in photography in an inappropriate manner, the Rebbe had a relationship of affection for photographers whose photographs were intended for increasing the spreading of the wellsprings and publicity of Chabad Chassidus and its teachings, when they received the Rebbe's permission and consent to photograph him.

== External Links ==

* Pictures and Drawings - about photographing the Rebbe in the early years, by Rabbi Mordechai Menashe Laufer

* The Rebbe's attitude to photographing his pictures ** • ** Fascinating overview

* '''When the Rebbe explained: Why do Chassidim need pictures of the Rebbe?'''

* '''Photographing the Rebbe? Not taken for granted. Depends who you are and why you're photographing'''