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{{Infobox
Rabbi '''Chaim Avraham Schneuri''' ([[Elul]] 5537<ref>Or 5538.</ref> – [[29 Sivan]] 5608<ref>Beis Rebbi, p. 114.</ref>) was a son of the [[Alter Rebbe]], gifted with remarkable perception. He never occupied himself with anything outside of [[Torah]] study and divine service, was an exceptionally diligent scholar, and would extend his prayers at great length. He always received every person with a warm and pleasant countenance.
| name =Rabbi Chaim Avraham Schneuri
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| description =Son of [[the Alter Rebbe]]
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| birth_date = 1777
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| passing_date = 1848
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{{Beis HaRav}}
'''Rabbi Chaim Avraham Schneuri''' (Elul 1777 - 29 Sivan 1848) was the son of [[the Alter Rebbe]] and possessed remarkable talents. He never showed interest in anything outside of Torah and avodah and was a great masmid who would spend long periods in davening. He always received everyone with a pleasant countenance.


== Life History ==
== Biography ==
He was born to [[the Alter Rebbe]] in Liozna. After his bris milah, the Alter Rebbe said that he named him Avraham after his teacher Rabbi Avraham HaMalach and after his maternal grandfather Rabbi Avraham.


When he was three years old, he became ill and was considered dangerously sick. The Alter Rebbe called four of his choicest talmidim and told them that his teacher Rabbi Avraham HaMalach came to him in a dream and asked why he wasn't davening for the child who carries his name. He told him there was a kepida from his maternal grandfather because his name was not prominently known that the child was named after him. The Alter Rebbe responded that he acted according to halacha, since it states in Shulchan Aruch that between honoring one's teacher and father, honoring one's teacher takes precedence, particularly regarding names which are known to benefit the neshama and its expansion in the nefesh of the one named. However, once the Alter Rebbe learned that his maternal grandfather's name was Chaim Avraham, he called his talmidim to add the name Chaim.
Chaim Avraham was born to the [[Alter Rebbe]] in [[Lyozna]]. Following the celebration of the bris (circumcision), the Alter Rebbe explained that he had named the child Avraham in honor of his own teacher, Rabbi [[Avraham the Angel]], and in honor of his maternal grandfather, [[Chaim Avraham of Lyozna|Rabbi Avraham]].


Reb Chaim Avraham was tall and his appearance resembled that of his father the Alter Rebbe. A spirit of grace was always upon his face and when people would look at Rabbi Chaim Avraham - the Rebbetzin Rivka related - it would make their hearts feel good. He was wise and pleasant and would speak minimally.
When he was three years old he fell dangerously ill. The Alter Rebbe summoned four of his finest students and told them that his teacher Rabbi Avraham the Angel had appeared to him in a dream and asked why he was not praying on behalf of the child who bore his name. The angel told him there was a grievance on the part of the child's maternal great-grandfather, since his name had been incorporated quietly and it was not widely known that the child was named for him. The Alter Rebbe replied that he had acted correctly, since the ruling in [[Shulchan Aruch]] is that honor of one's teacher takes precedence over honor of one's father — and this is especially so in the matter of names, where it is known that being called by a name is for the benefit of the soul and its expression in the person who bears it. Nevertheless, once the Alter Rebbe became aware that his maternal grandfather's name had been Chaim Avraham, he gathered his students in order to add the name Chaim.<ref>So recorded in [http://chabadlibrarybooks.com/pdfpager.aspx?req=15824&st=&pgnum=243&hilite= Otzar Sipurei Chabad]; however, in the [[Sefer HaToldos]] of the [[Maharash]] it is written that the name Chaim was added because the Alter Rebbe wanted the child to have a neshamah (soul) and not become an angel — a play on the word ''chai'' (living).</ref>


After the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, he accepted the leadership of his brother - the Mitteler Rebbe and afterwards of the Tzemach Tzedek.
Rabbi Chaim Avraham was tall in stature and his appearance resembled that of his father the Alter Rebbe. A spirit of grace always rested on his face — [[Rebbetzin Rivkah]] related that whenever one looked at Rabbi Chaim Avraham, one's heart felt glad. He was wise and refined, and spoke sparingly.


His name appears as a signatory on the haskama of the Tanya and in the introduction to the Shulchan Aruch.
After the histalkus (passing) of the Alter Rebbe, Chaim Avraham accepted the leadership of his brother the [[Mitteler Rebbe]], and afterward that of the [[Tzemach Tzedek]].


He passed away on 29 Sivan 1848 and is buried in Lubavitch.
His name appears among the signatories of the approbation to the [[Tanya]], as well as in the introduction to the Shulchan Aruch. The [[Rebbe]] explained the precise differences between his signature and those of his brothers, noting among other things that they reflect the fact that Rabbi Chaim Avraham served as a halachic decisor.
 
He passed away on [[29 Sivan]] 5608 (July 1, 1848) and is buried in [[Lubavitch]].


== Family ==
== Family ==
* His son, Rabbi DovBer Schneerson
* His son, Rabbi Baruch Shmuel Schneerson, became a mechutan with Reb Hillel Paritcher when his son Reb Refael Mordechai married Reb Hillel's daughter
* His daughter, Maras Gita Rachel Ginzburg, wife of Rabbi Nechemia Ginzburg of Dubrovna, author of Shu"t Divrei Nechemia and additions to Shulchan Aruch, who engaged in halachic discourse with the Tzemach Tzedek and Rabbi Eisel of Homil
* His daughter, Maras Mussia Hinda Feigelson, wife of Reb Shneur Zalman Feigelson
* His daughter, Maras Beila Reiza Schneerson, wife of Reb Baruch, son of his brother the Mitteler Rebbe


== Additional Reading ==
* '''Son''' — Rabbi [[DovBer Schneersohn (grandson of the Alter Rebbe)|DovBer Schneersohn]]
* Dov Ber Zakles, "Sod HaChaim: Biography of Rabbi Chaim Avraham son of the Alter Rebbe", in Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov, Issue 43, pp. 337-365.
* '''Son''' — Rabbi [[Baruch Shmuel Schneersohn]], who was a mechutan (in-law) of Rabbi [[Hillel of Paritch]]; his son Rabbi [[Raphael Mordechai Schneersohn|Raphael Mordechai]] married a daughter of Rabbi Hillel
* '''Daughter''' — Moras Gita Rachel Ginsburg, second wife of Rabbi [[Nechemia Ginsburg of Dubrovna|Nechemia Birech Ginsburg of Dubrovna]], author of the responsa work ''Divrei Nechemia'' and addenda to the Shulchan Aruch, who engaged in halachic correspondence with the [[Tzemach Tzedek]] and with Rabbi [[Aizik of Homel]]
* '''Daughter''' — Moras Mussia Hinda Feigelson, wife of Rabbi [[Schneur Zalman Feigelson]]<ref>The book ''Toldos Mishpachas HaRav MeLiadi'' gives his name as Rabbi Zalman Penikelson; however, ''Sefer HaTze'etzaim'' records his name as '''Schneur''' Zalman and his family name as '''Feigelson''', and notes that this version was conveyed by his grandson, as distinct from what appears in ''Toldos Mishpachas HaRav MeLiadi''.</ref>
* '''Daughter''' — Moras [[Beila Reiza Schneersohn]], wife of Rabbi [[Baruch (son of the Mitteler Rebbe)|Baruch]], son of his brother the [[Mitteler Rebbe]]<ref>Source for family names: ''Sefer HaTze'etzaim'', pp. 104–105.</ref>


* [https://anash.org/he-looked-just-like-the-alter-rebbe-without-the-scar/ Anash.org article on physical similarity to the Alter Rebbe]
== Further Reading ==


[[he:חיים אברהם שניאורי]]
* The student Dovber Zakles, '''Sod HaChaim: Toldos HaRaHaK Rabbi Chaim Avraham ben Admur HaZaken''' (The Secret of Life: A Biography of the Holy Rabbi Chaim Avraham, Son of the Alter Rebbe), in [[Heichal HaBesht]], issue 43, pp. 337–365
 
== Notes ==
<references/>


[[Category:Beis HaRav]]
[[Category:Beis HaRav]]
[[Category:Family of the Alter Rebbe]]
[[Category:Descendants of the Alter Rebbe]]
[[he:חיים אברהם שניאורי]]
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