The Rebbe Rayatz: Difference between revisions

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson - '''the Rebbe Rayatz''' (12th of Tammuz 5640 - 10th of Shevat 5710) (in Chabad chassidic parlance "the Previous Rebbe" and in the original Yiddish "der frierdiker Rebbe") was the sixth Rebbe in the dynasty of Chabad Rebbes, son of Rabbi Shalom DovBer ([[the Rebbe Rashab]]) and [[Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah|Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneerson]], and father-in-law of the Rebbe. His resting place is in the Ohel at Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, New York.

The Rebbe Rayatz, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, was born on 12th of Tammuz 5640 to his parents the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, who had married on 11th of Elul 5635 and had not been blessed with children for several years. On Simchas Torah 5640, when his grandfather the Rebbe Maharash was blessing the women and daughters of the household at his home, his son and daughter-in-law (the parents of Yosef Yitzchak) were forgotten. This incident greatly distressed his mother Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, and although the matter was immediately corrected and she received her father-in-law's blessing, it did not alleviate her distress. She returned home and burst into tears about not yet being blessed with children and about being forgotten from the blessings.

To fulfill the man's request for Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah to donate eighteen rubles, she had to sell one of her dresses and distributed the money to tzedakah. Indeed, nine months later, her only son, Yosef Yitzchak, was born.

==== Childhood and Education ====

He received his initial and basic education from his great father the Rebbe Rashab, who gave him a pure and authentic chassidic education, as he would later often recount. His father would tell him many stories and would sharpen his memories of things he heard or saw from the great chassidim. In 5644, the Rebbe Rayatz was first brought to cheder under Rabbi Yekusiel melamed dardaki. Rabbi Yekusiel taught the Rebbe Rayatz the alef-beis and would tell him stories about Chassidus and Chabad. In 5645, the Rebbe Rayatz entered the cheder of Reb Zusha melamed dardaki, and in 5646, the Rebbe Rashab began to educate him privately.

When he was nine years old in Elul 5649, he began learning with the melamed Reb Nissan Skobla.

== Marriage ==

For his shidduch, three matches were proposed to the Rebbe Rayatz, two of them daughters of wealthy families who committed to provide a large dowry, and the third was Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, whose parents were poor. The Rebbe Rashab specifically chose this shidduch proposal, over the other two offers, explaining that he wanted his only son the Rebbe Rayatz to marry within the family.

The tena'im between the Rebbe Rayatz and Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson were signed on 28th of Sivan 5656 in the town of Alivke. For a week, the parents of the kallah and chosson farbrenged in the month of Tammuz as a continuation of the tena'im.

==== Sixth Arrest ====

In the summer of 5680, during the morning prayer, the Rebbe Rayatz was serving as the prayer leader during the year of mourning for his father, the Rebbe Rashab. In the middle of the prayer, three policemen entered the synagogue, approached the prayer stand, and ordered the Rebbe Rayatz to remove his tallit and tefillin and come with them. The Rebbe Rayatz responded that he first needed to finish the prayer and study the Mishnayot customarily learned after the prayer, for the elevation of the deceased's soul, and only then would he attend to them.

After completing the final Kaddish following the Mishnah study, he removed his tallit and tefillin and accompanied the policemen who surrounded him - one on his right, one on his left, and the third walking behind him.

When he arrived at the "death courtyard", the Rebbe Rayatz was brought into a large hall. About fifteen people, members of the "Religious Inspection Committee", sat around a wide table, with the two most prominent sitting at the head. In front of each sitting person was a loaded gun. The Rebbe Rayatz was seated at the end of the table, with three guards standing beside him.

They turned to the Rebbe Rayatz and said they were occupied with examining the Jewish religion, and he was invited to answer several questions about Jewish law related to Kabbalah and Hasidism. The Rebbe Rayatz responded in Yiddish: "I have already informed you in the two previous times I was called before you that I will not move from my principles; and no person, or even a demon, has been born who can move me from my principles, not even the slightest bit."

One of the attendees interrupted and raised his gun towards the face of the Rebbe Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) while saying: "This 'toy' removes principles and is capable of opening the mouth even of the mute." To this, the Rebbe Rayatz responded:<blockquote>This toy makes an impression only on the faint-hearted who have but one world and many gods. But we, who have one G-d and two worlds, this toy that you are showing not only does not frighten us but also makes no impression whatsoever.</blockquote>After a brief conversation, an extended dialogue began between the Rebbe Rayatz and his interrogators. To their question whether he believes in the Jewish religion and fulfills mitzvot out of absolute knowledge or out of faith and habit, he replied - out of absolute knowledge. The interrogators asked the Rebbe Rayatz to convince them of the truth of the Jewish religion, and if possible, to bring them to the elevated moral state in which the Rebbe himself was. The Rebbe Rayatz smiled and answered them that he was ready to fulfill their request, but just as a simple person who meets an astronomer on the street and asks him to teach him the science of astronomy, the astronomer would reply that he should come with him to the observatory and there he would properly teach him the wisdom of the stars and their paths. So too I say to you, if you wish to come to absolute knowledge of the religion of G-d and His Torah, come to the house of Hashem, put on tefillin, eat kosher, observe Shabbat, and when your minds and hearts are purified, you will be able to properly understand moral matters, and slowly you will ascend the rungs of intellect on the path to intellectual recognition of the religion of G-d and His Torah.

==== Leaving Russia ====

After Simchat Torah 5688 (1927), the Rebbe Rayatz left Russia for Latvia, moving Chabad's center from Russia to Latvia.

On Simchat Torah before the departure, many chassidim came to the Rebbe's home in Leningrad to bid farewell. After Simchat Torah, he boarded a train leaving Russia, with thousands of chassidim at the station knowing communication would be limited under Communist rule.

On the 16th of Menachem Av 5689, he concluded his visit and a farewell ceremony was held beginning in Tel Aviv, from where 15 buses departed to accompany the Rebbe Rayatz to the train station in Lod, where about five hundred people from around the country gathered in a special hall provided by the railway management for the Rebbe Rayatz and his escorts. When the train arrived, the Rebbe Rayatz stood on the train steps, turned to the crowd and said:<blockquote>"A person should not depart from his friend except with a matter of halacha, and since time does not permit to speak, I have hereby delivered a long discourse - entitled 'A person should not depart from his friend except with a matter of halacha.'"</blockquote>The Rebbe Rayatz traveled by train from Lod together with a group of Chabad rabbis and elders who accompanied him to the train station in Rehovot, from where he departed by another train to Egypt on his way to visit the United States.

Just one week after his departure, the 1929 riots broke out, which he had foreseen during his visit, as he wrote about it:<blockquote>"Scenes of sorrow my heart told me, and spots of blood I saw hovering in the air of Eretz Yisrael, and to the grief of all Israel and my heart, what happened, happened not upon us, and may Hashem have mercy on His people and His inheritance, and send us the righteous redeemer and gather our dispersed from the four corners of the earth, speedily in our days, Amen." — Letter dated 28th Sivan 5690 (1930)</blockquote>

On Monday, the 27th of Tevet, the Rebbe Rayatz left for a short visit to Washington, and on the 4th of Shevat, a farewell gathering was held for him where the city residents and leaders thanked him for the visit. The next day, on the 5th of Shevat, he returned to New York and stayed at the Newton Hotel on Broadway at the corner of 94th Street in Manhattan.

On Sunday, the 11th of Shevat, the Rebbe traveled by train from New York to Chicago. There too, a festive reception was held for him with about 5,000 city residents from all backgrounds and types. The Rebbe stayed in the city for about two months, including Purim and Pesach.

The Rebbe also stayed in the cities of St. Louis and Milwaukee, and on the 19th of Sivan 5690 (1930), he began his visit to Massachusetts when he arrived at its capital, Boston, where he stayed until the 3rd of Tammuz.

On his way back, he stopped in the city of Worcester, where rabbis from the nearby city of Springfield came to greet him. From there, he traveled to New York.

The money collected was transferred to Russia for maintaining chadarim and yeshivas, as well as for supporting rabbis-temimim who were in their towns spreading Judaism. A special department was established for building mikvaot in the Soviet Union. The Rebbe Rayatz also organized prayer gatherings and declared public fast days several times for the Jews of Russia.

The Rebbe's secretaries, Rabbi Yechezkel Feigin and Rabbi Chaim Lieberman, were the ones who coordinated the activities for the Rebbe Rayatz in Poland. When he arrived in the United States, Rabbi Israel Jacobson coordinated the fundraising efforts.

In 5699 (1939), a few days after the outbreak of World War II, the Rebbe left Otwock and returned to Warsaw, where he was forced to flee from house to house due to German bombings. After the Nazis captured Warsaw, he stayed in the home of Rabbi Yechiel Tzvi Gurary. During that time, reports were published, based on rumors, that the Nazis had captured the Rebbe Rayatz and executed him. Of course, this was a mistake, and denial notices were immediately issued to the press announcing that "His Holy Honor the Lubavitcher Rebbe Shlita is safe and well."

Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States worked continuously in attempts to smuggle the Rebbe Rayatz out of Poland. They made contact with officials in the American government, who approached the head of German military intelligence, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, who worked toward smuggling out the Rebbe Rayatz. Despite the dangerous situation, the Rebbe Rayatz requested that twenty additional people, besides his family members, leave with him. On the 2nd of Tevet 5700 (1939) - the Rebbe Rayatz and his family were smuggled out of Poland, along with twenty people, via Berlin to Riga. After three days, on the 5th of Tevet, they arrived in Riga, and on the 24th of Adar 5700 (1940), they left Riga for Stockholm (Sweden).

On Monday, 8 Adar II 5700 (1940), after twelve days of sailing, the Rebbe Rayatz arrived on the ship "Drottningholm," together with his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson and his mother Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneerson, at a port in the United States (on West 57th Street in New York, Pier 97). Since United States law at that time did not allow passengers who arrived after 4 PM to disembark, the passengers were forced to wait until the next morning to leave the ship.

On Tuesday, thousands of Chassidim came to greet the Rebbe Rayatz. When he exited the ship, the crowd loudly proclaimed "Shalom Aleichem," and some of the crowd even recited the "Shehecheyanu" blessing. Among those welcoming him were delegations from Jewish organizations in the United States, and even the mayor sent a representative to greet the Rebbe Rayatz. After a brief reception in the port hall, the Rebbe Rayatz went to the Greystone Hotel in Manhattan, where he stayed during his first period in the United States.

==== Founding of Tomchei Tmimim ====

Upon arriving at the hotel, another reception was held, this time in a more limited format. In the middle of it, the Rebbe Rayatz suddenly announced: "I have the pleasure to publicize the decision that was accepted at the special meeting of the select individuals of Anash, which took place a few hours ago, that in the 'Oneg Shabbat' synagogue, tomorrow with God's help, 'Yeshivat Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch' will open in America!" He did not stop at the announcement and asked for the help of those present: "I hope to Hashem that the great Rabbis, Torah institutions and supporters of Torah with fear of Heaven together with my beloved friends Anash, may Hashem be upon them, at the forefront, will come to my aid in continuing my work in spreading Torah and fear of Heaven and in community service."

==== 770 ====

On the 12th of Av 5700 (1940), the building at 770 Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood was purchased to serve as the Rebbe's residence and synagogue. About a month later, on the 19th of Elul, the Rebbe Rayatz moved in to live in the building. On the 21st of Elul 5700, a house dedication ceremony was held.

The living room of the Rebbe Rayatz's apartment on the second floor of 770. In this place, the Rebbe held holiday meals, even after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz.

==== Receiving Citizenship ====

On Thursday, the 16th of Adar 5709 (1949), a special delegation from the United States government arrived at the home of the Rebbe Rayatz to grant him American citizenship. This was preceded by the passage of a special law allowing citizenship to be granted to a person in their home, without them having to appear at government offices.

The delegation was received in the Rebbe Rayatz's room while he was dressed in silk garments and wearing a shtreimel. First, the Rebbe Rayatz delivered a short talk for the occasion, clarifying that Divine Providence had led him specifically here, because from this place, from the United States, it was fitting that the dissemination of Judaism and the spreading of Chassidic teachings should be conducted. After the talk, the Rebbe Rayatz signed the documents and expressed his allegiance to the country by raising his hand, and citizenship was granted. At the end, the Rebbe Rayatz bid farewell to the delegation members with a smile and a handshake. His son-in-law, the Rebbe, accompanied the meeting and helped as needed. The Rebbe also arranged for two of the highest quality photographers of those days to document the event from two angles, and even invited a color video photographer.

Shortly before his passing, the Previous Rebbe initiated a mission to Morocco, and even chose Rabbi Michael Lipsker to be the first emissary to Morocco, but this did not materialize and Rabbi Lipsker was not even informed about it. After the passing, the Rebbe sent Rabbi Michael Lipsker and later Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, Rabbi Shalom Edelman, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Raskin, and additional emissaries to Morocco to establish educational institutions under the Ohale Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch (Morocco) network, named after the Previous Rebbe.

==== School Network Named After the Previous Rebbe ====

In 5712 (1952), the Rebbe instructed Rabbi Zusha Wilmovsky to establish in Israel a network similar to what they had established in Morocco, called the Ohale Yosef Yitzchok network. Over the years, many institutions have been named after the Previous Rebbe.

== Works ==

The Rebbe Rayatz wrote extensively, documenting what he heard from his father, family members and elder chassidim, some as "Reshimos" and some as stories like "Sefer HaZichronos":

* [[Sefer HaMaamarim - Friediker Rebbe|Sefer HaMaamarim]]

* Sefer HaSichos

== Secretaries ==

* R' Alter Dober Chaskind

* R' Chaim Lieberman

* R' Elchonon Dov Morozov

* R' Yechezkel Feigin

* R' Eliyahu Kvint

* Menachem Bronpman, "Why in the Rebbe's eyes is he one of the most heroic Jewish figures at the turn of the 20th century?", on the Alei Sefer website

[[Category:Chabad Rebbes]]