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{{Infobox person | |||
Rabbi Schneur Zalman | | name = Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Boruchovich) | ||
[[ | | image = רבי שניאור זלמן.jpg | ||
| nickname = Alter Rebbe; Baal HaTanya; Baal HaShulchan Aruch | |||
| description = Founder of [[Chabad Chassidus]] | |||
| birth_date = [[18 Elul]] [[5505]] | |||
[[ | | birth_place = [[Liozna]] | ||
| death_date = [[24 Teves]] [[5573]] | |||
| death_place = Piena (buried in [[Haditch]]) | |||
| area = [[Russia]] | |||
| teachers = [[The Maggid of Mezritch]]; [[Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch]] | |||
| works = [[Tanya]]; [[Shulchan Aruch HaRav]]; [[Likkutei Torah]]; [[Torah Ohr]] | |||
}} | |||
[[File:ציור אדמור הזקן - שולם.jpg|thumb|A painting of the Alter Rebbe, by Shalom Feiglin]] | |||
'''Rabbi Schneur Zalman Boruchovich'''<ref>He was called by this name after his father "Boruch," as was customary in that era to add the father's name as a surname.</ref> '''of Liadi''' (18 Elul 5505 — 24 Teves 5573) is known among Chabad chassidim as the '''Alter Rebbe''' (''Der Alter Rebbe'' in Yiddish — literally, "the Old Rebbe"). He is also known as the '''Maggid of Liozna''', the '''Gra"z''', the '''Baal HaTanya''', and the '''Baal HaShulchan Aruch'''<ref>This title became attached to him following the widespread dissemination of his two central works — the [[Tanya]] and the [[Shulchan Aruch]]. The Rebbe frequently uses this title and on one occasion explained its significance: "Baal HaTanya" — a posek in the inner dimension of Torah (pnimiyus haTorah); "Baal HaShulchan Aruch" — a posek in the revealed dimension of Torah (nigleh d'Torah). There is also a further connection between the two works: the four sections of the Tanya correspond to the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav.</ref> — or simply '''The Rav'''.<ref>He was also known as ''Der Litvak'' ("the Lithuanian"), following the Maggid of Mezritch's reference to him before his disciples as "the Lithuanian gaon."</ref> | |||
He was among the greatest disciples of the [[Maggid of Mezritch]], the founder of [[Chabad Chassidus]], and the first [[Rebbe]] in the dynasty of [[Chabad Rebbeim]]. He authored the [[Tanya]] — the foundational work of Chabad Chassidus — and wrote the [[Shulchan Aruch HaRav]]. | |||
==== | == Life History == | ||
=== His Birth === | |||
[[File:אדמור הזקן - תמונה קטנה.jpg|thumb|A colorized reconstruction based on the [[portrait of the Alter Rebbe]]]] | |||
The Alter Rebbe's parents, Rabbi [[Boruch Poyzner]]<ref>Rabbi Boruch was a descendant of the [[Maharal of Prague]]. The Maharal had one son — Rabbi Betzalel Charif, born in 5316, who passed away in 5380. His son R' Shmuel was head of the Prague community and passed away in 5415. His son R' Yehuda Leib served as av beis din of the Kavili community. His son R' [[Moshe of Pozna]] (author of ''Kol Yehuda'' on the [[Shulchan Aruch]]). His son R' [[Schneur Zalman Pozner]], grandfather of the Alter Rebbe. His son R' [[Yisrael Boruch Pozner]] was the father of the Alter Rebbe. See also [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=13612&hilite=a49c5317-2495-4dab-af8b-bb8404ad75d1&st=משה+מפוזנא&pgnum=107 Kovetz Ohr Yisrael] from Kislev 5764 and the journal ''Assef Yeshurun'', 3 Elul 5757, p. 679.</ref> (a descendant of the [[Maharal of Prague]]) and [[Rivka]], were married on Friday, 17 Elul 5503. For nearly ten months they remained childless, and on the advice of Rabbi Yitzchak Shaul, a close friend of Rabbi Boruch, the couple traveled to seek the blessing of the [[Baal Shem Tov]]. In the month of Menachem Av 5504, they arrived at the [[Baal Shem Tov]], who promised them that within a year they would have a son. Rabbi Boruch and Rivka stayed for a while with the Baal Shem Tov, and at the Baal Shem Tov's birthday celebration on 18 Elul, he turned to Rabbi Boruch and said: "At this very time next year, you will be embracing a son." | |||
Before they left [[Mezhibuzh]], they went in to the [[Baal Shem Tov]] to receive a farewell blessing. Rebbetzin Rivka told the Baal Shem Tov that when Hashem would fulfill his holy blessing, she would dedicate the child to Torah and avodah in the path of the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov blessed them, and they traveled home in joy. Exactly one year later, on Wednesday, 18 Elul 5505, Schneur Zalman was born, in a small village near the town of [[Liozna]]. | |||
In the month of Adar 5505, Rabbi Boruch traveled to the Baal Shem Tov to tell him that his blessing had been fulfilled and his wife had conceived. The Baal Shem Tov inquired about the time of conception, and upon hearing the answer, instructed Rabbi Boruch to don a gartel and recite the blessing of [[Shehechiyanu]] without Hashem's Name and Kingdom. | |||
The Baal Shem Tov then gave him instructions for how his wife should conduct herself during the pregnancy and after the birth, and cautioned him not to tell anyone that a son had been born — and if asked, to say simply: "Hashem will help." | |||
On Yom Kippur of 5506, Rabbi Boruch traveled again to the Baal Shem Tov and received from him a detailed regimen for raising the child. By the age of one the child had begun to speak, and by age two his parents recognized that he possessed an extraordinary memory and comprehension, and he had already memorized many chapters of Tehillim by heart. | |||
When the | When Rabbi Boruch came to the Baal Shem Tov on Rosh Hashanah of 5507, he mentioned his intention that on 18 Elul of the coming year, when his son would turn three, the Baal Shem Tov would perform the [[upsherin]] — his first haircut. When he reached the age of three (in 5508), his parents and his aunt (his father's sister, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah) brought him to the [[Baal Shem Tov]] in [[Mezhibuzh]]. The Baal Shem Tov left him his peyos, blessed him with Birchas Kohanim, and warned his parents to return home immediately and not to reveal where they had been. When the child asked who the Jew was that had cut his hair, his mother replied that it was "Grandfather." | ||
=== His Childhood and Youth === | |||
Rabbi Schneur Zalman was known as a disciplined child, punctual and devoted in his studies. He demonstrated remarkable success in Torah knowledge and grasped even the most complex subjects in their full detail. On 17 Kislev 5510, he was accepted to serve the Chevra Kadisha in Liozna until his bar mitzvah. By the age of fifteen he had completed the entire Shas three times, and at sixteen — on the eve of 17 Kislev 5521 — he was accepted as a full member of the Chevra Kadisha.<ref>See Beis Rebbi, chapter 1, and the discussions in the footnotes there.</ref> He was thoroughly familiar with the siddur ''Sha'ar HaShamayim'' of the Shelah HaKadosh and conducted himself according to its practices. | |||
At the age of eight he wrote a commentary on the Torah incorporating the commentaries of [[Rashi]], Ibn Ezra, and the [[Ramban]]. When he was ten years old, he had a dream in which Rabbi Reuven Baal Shem — a hidden tzaddik — told him that he was being summoned to a heavenly tribunal. When he entered the shul in Liozna, Rabbi Reuven Baal Shem led him to a table where the judges began to declare: "These three elders — [[Rashi]], Ibn Ezra, and the [[Ramban]] — are bringing you to a din Torah, for you wish to deprive them of the merit of enabling the many to learn through their commentaries, by composing a commentary that incorporates all three." The young Schneur Zalman was shaken by these words and promised to burn his commentary. The elders then turned to him, blessed him that he would innovate Torah teachings and paths of avodah in the service of Hashem. | |||
When the | When he awoke he fasted, and after dreaming the same dream a second time, he burned his commentary.<ref>From a record of the Frierdiker Rebbe, published in Bata'on Chabad, issues 19–20.</ref> | ||
At the age of nine, his father brought him to the town of [[Lubavitch]] to study Torah under the gaon R' [[Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch|Yissachar Dov]]. When he turned eleven — approximately two years after arriving in Lubavitch — Rabbi Yissachar Dov told Rabbi Boruch that his son no longer needed teachers, and Rabbi Boruch brought him home to Liozna. | |||
From the age of eleven, in addition to Gemara and halachic works, he began studying Kabbalah and mussar. He also began engaging in public activity, going to the marketplace in Liozna to encourage the Jewish merchants — who were struggling in trade — to take up farming instead. Many families made the transition at his urging.<ref>Sefer HaSichos 5705, p. 78.</ref> | |||
== | === His Bar Mitzvah === | ||
At the bar mitzvah celebration in 5518, the leading gaonim of that generation attended from Vitebsk, Polotsk, and Minsk. His father Rabbi Boruch and his grandfather Rabbi Moshe held seven days of festive celebration, with a seudas mitzvah each day at which much Torah was shared. The Alter Rebbe's Torah insights surpassed all others and were recorded by his brother R' [[Yehuda Leib Minowitz]].<ref>Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Vitebsk related that he possessed three manuscript volumes copied from the writings of Rabbi Yehuda Leib — the Alter Rebbe's brother — containing the Alter Rebbe's responses to all the questions posed by the gaonim present at his bar mitzvah celebrations.</ref> All the gaonim conferred upon him the titles "Gaon" and "Tanna hu u'falig."<ref>These titles were recorded in the register of the Chevra Kadisha as a memorial for future generations.</ref> | |||
Shortly after his bar mitzvah, he traveled to Vitebsk to stay with his uncle Rabbi [[Yosef Yitzchak of Shrei]] for several months. There he heard about the Chassidic approach and the path of the Baal Shem Tov — though without yet knowing that these teachings were from the Baal Shem Tov. He later recounted that during his time at his uncle's home, he felt each day the atmosphere of Yom Tov joy.<ref>Sefer HaToldos — Admur HaZaken, vol. 1.</ref> | |||
=== His Marriage === | |||
When the Alter Rebbe came of age — at fourteen — his fame as a gaon had already spread throughout the surrounding region. | |||
R' [[Yehuda Leib Segal]], one of the wealthy and respected men of [[Vitebsk]], took him as a chassan for his daughter, Moras [[Sterna]]. | |||
The wedding was initially set for the month of Elul 5519, but Rabbi Boruch, the Alter Rebbe's father, had left home at the start of Elul and the wedding was postponed. His father-in-law-to-be, R' Yehuda Leib Segal, pressed to hold the wedding in the winter of 5520, but Rabbi Boruch did not agree. After Pesach, Rabbi Boruch again left home and returned in Tammuz, at which point he set the wedding date for Friday, Erev Shabbos Nachamu, 12 Menachem Av 5520. | |||
After the wedding, he was supported by his father-in-law R' Yehuda Leib Segal in Vitebsk.<ref>Sefer HaSichos, Summer 5700, p. 79.</ref> | |||
After the | |||
One of the conditions the Alter Rebbe stipulated before agreeing to the match was that the five thousand gold coins brought as a dowry be placed at his disposal, to do with as he saw fit. Indeed, in the first year of his marriage — with the full agreement of his wife — he gave the entire sum to support families who wished to earn their livelihood from farming. With this money he helped them purchase land and agricultural equipment. Thanks to this investment, large Jewish agricultural settlements were established along the Dvina River that flows through [[Vitebsk]]. The Alter Rebbe visited these settlements many times, encouraged the Jews to set fixed times for Torah study, and would tell them stories of Torah and teachings of Chazal.<ref>Sichos 5705, p. 131.</ref> | |||
By the age of eighteen he was thoroughly versed in the entire Talmud with all its commentators, including the works of the Rishonim and Acharonim. | |||
=== In Mezritch === | |||
Although he had not met the Baal Shem Tov since his upsherin at age three, he referred to the Baal Shem Tov as his spiritual grandfather: "R' [[Baruch of Mezhibuzh]] is a physical grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, and I am a spiritual grandson." There are two ways to understand this — either through his first teacher R' [[Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch]], who was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, or through his primary teacher, the [[Maggid of Mezritch]], who was also among the greatest disciples of the Baal Shem Tov.<ref>Sefer HaZichronos, at its beginning.</ref> | |||
After Pesach of 5524, with the agreement of his wife, he set out to fulfill the teaching "exile yourself to a place of Torah."<ref>Avos 4:14.</ref> | |||
After deliberation, he chose to travel to [[Mezritch]] to study under Rabbi DovBer, the Maggid of Mezritch. His primary reasoning was that in Vilna they teach how to learn — and that he already knew — while in Mezritch they teach how to daven, and that he had not yet learned how to do properly. | |||
When he decided to remain in Mezritch, the Maggid revealed to him the words of the Baal Shem Tov — that he was a new neshamah from the world of Atzilus clothed in a body in a revealed manner, and that his task was to reveal and explain the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov in ahavas Hashem and ahavas Yisrael, and to reveal the path of Chabad Chassidus — for one must love a Jew simply because he is a Jew. | |||
The Alter Rebbe said that in Mezritch he learned: what Hashem is, what Yisrael is, and what the power of a niggun is. | |||
While in [[Mezritch]] he studied as a chavrusa with Rabbi [[Avraham the Malach]] — the Maggid's son. | |||
After a year and a half in Mezritch, he returned home to [[Vitebsk]] and began disseminating the Chassidic approach founded by the [[Baal Shem Tov]]. The Alter Rebbe made a revolution in Vitebsk — even the gaonim of Vitebsk were deeply moved by his immense genius. When his father-in-law, the wealthy R' Yehuda Leib Segal, saw that his son-in-law had "been captured" by the Chassidic path, he began to make his life difficult. He even pressured his daughter to accept a divorce, and when she refused, he drove her from his home. | |||
At the age of twenty-two — in 5527 — the Alter Rebbe was appointed as the maggid of the city of [[Liozna]]. | |||
At the age of twenty-five — in 5530 — at the instruction of the Maggid, he began composing the Shulchan Aruch known as the "[[Shulchan Aruch HaRav]]." When the Maggid commanded him to compose the Shulchan Aruch, he stood to his full height, placed his hands on the Alter Rebbe's head, and blessed him with Birchas Kohanim.<ref>HaTamim, p. 72.</ref> | |||
In 5531, he traveled on a secret mission from the [[Maggid of Mezritch]] to Rabbi [[Yosef Kolbo]] of [[Shklov]]. | |||
== The Founding of Chabad Chassidus == | |||
{{Main|The Founding of Chabad Chassidus}} | |||
When the Alter Rebbe returned from [[Mezritch]] for the first time, he related that the Maggid had revealed to him that one of his tasks in this world was to reveal the path of [[Chabad Chassidus]]. In 5532, when the Russians conquered the entire region of [[Vitebsk]] and [[Liozna]] from the Poles,<ref>Chabad Chassidus could only have been founded in [[Russia]] — see the sicha of the Rebbe, 12 Tammuz 5713.</ref> he established the path of Chabad Chassidus — the service of Hashem through Chochma, Bina, and Da'as.<ref>Sichos 5709, p. 293; Shalshalas HaYachas — Admur HaZaken.</ref> | |||
As the approach spread through the Alter Rebbe's efforts and those of his emissaries, hundreds of young scholars joined the movement. At the Alter Rebbe's side in establishing Chabad Chassidus stood his brother Rabbi [[Yehuda Leib Pozner]]. Over the following four years, Chabad Chassidus spread among hundreds of additional devoted seekers, and after the passing of the [[Maggid of Mezritch]] and the journey of the leading disciple Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]] to [[Eretz HaKodesh]], when the leadership of Chassidus in Lithuania passed to the Alter Rebbe, thousands of additional families joined Chabad Chassidus. By 5540, Chabad chassidim numbered approximately 15,000 families throughout Russia. | |||
During this year — 5532 — he conducted efforts to convince the Jews living in [[Vitebsk]] to move across the border into Russia proper.<ref>Shalshalas HaYachas.</ref> | |||
== Nasi of Chabad Chassidus == | |||
=== The Histalkus of the Maggid of Mezritch === | |||
[[File:ציון המגיד ממעזריטש.jpg|thumb|The gravesite of the [[Maggid of Mezritch]], the Alter Rebbe's teacher]] | |||
{{Main|Asifos Talmidei HaMaggid}} | |||
On 18 Kislev 5533, the [[Maggid of Mezritch]] asked his disciple the Alter Rebbe to do everything in his power to ensure that his son Rabbi [[Avraham the Malach]] would succeed him — and if he was unwilling, that Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]] would take his place. The following day, 19 Kislev 5533, the Maggid passed away, and his great disciples dispersed to different countries to spread the teachings of Chassidus. Rabbi Avraham "the Malach" settled in Volhynia and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in Russia. The Alter Rebbe and the other disciples of the Maggid immediately submitted a letter of attachment (kesher) to Rabbi Avraham the Malach, the son of the Maggid of Mezritch. | |||
In those years, the opposition to Chassidus was at its height, and meeting this challenge required a steadfast leader capable of standing firm against the opponents. For this purpose, an assembly was convened under the leadership of Rabbi Avraham the Malach, at which it was decided to establish a leadership committee — whose chairman would be empowered to issue directives to all Chassidic centers as he saw fit, for the good of the movement's growth. The Alter Rebbe was chosen as chairman. In this capacity he served for three years, traveling extensively to strengthen the disciples of the Maggid in their respective locations. | |||
In 5536 (1776), the Alter Rebbe established the [[chedarim]] in Liozna, to which young scholars gathered from across the region and dedicated themselves to Torah study according to the approach and schedule he laid out for them. During this period, the character of Rabbi Schneur Zalman's leadership began to take on its distinctly Chabad flavor, which sharpened over the years. Within a short time it became known throughout the Chassidic world that a new stream had emerged — the Chabad stream. | |||
In 5537,<ref>Shalshalas HaYachas.</ref> Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]] traveled with three hundred people to Eretz Yisrael. The Alter Rebbe deliberated greatly whether to join. At first he thought not to go, reasoning that "upon whom can I leave our brethren, the Jewish people," and recalling the Maggid's teaching that the Baal Shem Tov had not been able to make aliyah because "there are souls that specifically need Eretz Yisrael and there are souls that specifically need the Diaspora."<ref>[[Igros Kodesh (Alter Rebbe)]], vol. 1, p. 202. From his letter to Rabbi Yisrael of Polotsk.</ref> At the last moment — after Rabbi Menachem Mendel had already departed — he decided to join, and traveled with several of his disciples to Mohilev, where the group had stopped. He sent word that he wished to join the journey. Rabbi Menachem Mendel and the leading disciples tried to persuade him to remain in White Russia and take upon himself the leadership of the Chassidic community. The Alter Rebbe did not agree. Only after the Maggid appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to remain — and after he spent an entire week in private session with Rabbi Menachem Mendel, several hours each day — did he resolve to stay in Russia. After the group continued on its journey, Rabbi Menachem Mendel continued to lead the chassidim through letters and emissaries that arrived frequently from Eretz Yisrael. During this time the Alter Rebbe went to stay in Mohilev. | |||
=== The Move to Liozna === | |||
During this period, the Alter Rebbe received offers of rabbinical positions from both [[Vitebsk]] and [[Liozna]], and he chose Liozna after they agreed to his condition: that they provide for the material needs of himself, his three brothers and their families, the scholars and students of the chedarim, and the chassidic guests arriving from Russia and Lithuania. In the month of Elul 5536, the Alter Rebbe set out for Liozna, and in the month of Shevat 5538 he arrived there. | |||
By then the Alter Rebbe was already leading thousands of chassidim, though he had not yet assumed the formal title of "Rebbe." The deep longing of his chassidim for a living Rebbe in their midst grew steadily more intense, and they expressed this desire to Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]]. He instructed them by letter that although they remained bound to him, they were permitted to seek wisdom and guidance from "the tzaddikim, chassidim, rabbis, and complete ones... whose every word is like burning coals of divine counsel and knowledge" — "the great ones of the community, renowned in Torah and fear of Hashem, who are present with them in their places of residence." This was a reference to three tzaddikim: Rabbi Yisrael of Polotsk, Rabbi Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch, and "the honored Rav, our teacher R' Schneur Zalman (the Alter Rebbe) — may Hashem protect him and may his name endure forever. And the threefold cord, etc. In whose hands, with Hashem's help, lies their good — from the great goodness that is hidden and concealed — to illuminate their eyes and give them life, and their faith and deeds are true." | |||
This letter granted Rabbi Menachem Mendel's chassidim in Russia permission to seek counsel from these three leaders. This arrangement continued for a period, with Rabbi Menachem Mendel as the undisputed leader while the three tzaddikim served as his deputies in guiding people in the way of Hashem on various spiritual matters. Over time, Rabbi Menachem Mendel perceived that despite his efforts to lead the community from afar, some chassidim had begun to seek Torah guidance from various tzaddikim in Eastern Europe. There were those who sought to bring the "Chozeh" of Lublin from Poland and crown him leader of the chassidim in Russia. | |||
When Rabbi Menachem Mendel saw that this trend was growing, he resolved to appoint the Alter Rebbe as the undisputed leader of the chassidim in Russia. | |||
=== The Journey to the Vilna Gaon === | |||
After the histalkus of the [[Maggid of Mezritch]], the Misnagdim intensified their battle against Chassidus. Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]] and the Alter Rebbe traveled to [[Vilna]] in 5534, seeking to meet with the [[Vilna Gaon]] and persuade him that the chassidim had not departed from the path of Torah — thereby bringing an end to the Misnagdim's campaign against the Chassidic movement. However, the Gr"a refused to receive them and left Vilna, returning only after the Alter Rebbe and Rabbi Menachem Mendel had departed. | |||
The Alter Rebbe writes:<ref>[[Igros Kodesh — Alter Rebbe]], letter 34.</ref> | |||
<blockquote>"From the very beginning we informed them and went to the Gaon the Chassid, may his light shine, to his home to debate with him and remove his complaints against us — when I was there together with the Rav the Chassid, our teacher R' Mendel of Horodok, of blessed memory — and he shut the door before us twice... And when they began to press him greatly, he departed and left the city and remained there until the day of our departure from the city... and the war of the Misnagdim continued with full force."</blockquote> | |||
Rabbi Menachem Mendel and several of the Maggid's disciples, seeing that they could not quiet the Misnagdim's battle, resolved to travel to [[Eretz Yisrael]].<ref>[[Beis Rebbi]].</ref> | |||
=== Debates with the Opponents of Chassidus === | |||
{{Main|The Great Debate in Minsk (5543)}} | |||
During the five years in which the Alter Rebbe served as the general organizer of the Chassidic movement — from the aliyah of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk until 5543 — he conducted a number of debates against the leading Misnagdim. For this purpose he traveled specifically to the strongholds of the opponents of Chassidus, demonstrating the chassidim's mastery of revealed Torah and the righteousness of their path and approach. | |||
The most well-known of these debates was the "Shklov Debate" and the "Great Debate in Minsk" in 5543. Following these encounters, hundreds of scholars drew closer to Chassidus, and the genuine opposition from the great Torah authorities among the Misnagdim diminished considerably — for they saw with their own eyes that the leader of the Chassidic movement was an immense gaon and scholar, and that his entire path was founded on pure faith in Hashem without any deviation from traditional Jewish practice. What remained was only the factional opposition of the extremists among the Misnagdim, who were unwilling to accept that the Alter Rebbe had decisively defeated them in debate. | |||
=== His Appointment as Rebbe === | |||
In 5546, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk sent a special letter to the Alter Rebbe<ref>The opening of the letter contains praises of a kind not found in his other letters: "Light is sown for the tzaddik, going and shining, the dew of lights is your dew for Yisrael. He will flourish like the rose and his roots like Lebanon, from him fruit is found, all who find him find life and peace — his honor, our beloved, the beloved of Hashem and the beloved of my soul, the desire of my heart, the Rav, the luminary, the wondrous light, and the treasured storehouse in the abode of wisdom, mighty before G-d, this is Sinai — our holy master R' Schneur Zalman, may he live."</ref> announcing and demanding<ref>"And I have come only to add my love with this letter in my own hand, to arouse his righteousness and the Torah of his G-d in his heart, that his steps shall not waver. Why would you say that your path is hidden from Hashem — to provide for Yisrael before their Father in Heaven, to show the way, and who like him is a teacher in all their provinces, for a candle of mitzvah and Torah is light, going and shining until the day is established — and they do not require a prophet or seer, for I am no prophet or seer, and Hashem is his light. Only be strong and courageous, trust in Hashem and tend faithfully, for Hashem has given him as a shepherd."</ref> that the time had come for him to accept the leadership of the chassidim in Russia, to be a "Rebbe," and not to evade the mission placed upon him — promising him blessing and success.<ref>"Go in this your strength and save Yisrael, to lay upon them the yoke of Torah and mitzvos. And thereby will be fulfilled in them: one who accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah has removed from himself the yoke of government and the yoke of worldly concerns, etc."</ref> In the remainder of the letter he outlines the principles by which he should lead the chassidim.<ref>"The main thing is to distance them greatly from the customs and laws of the non-Jews — very far indeed — and not to be defiled by any of these, for this is primary, and it is the beginning of impurity and the drawing down of the kelippos, as explained in my longer letter. Light of life for those who ascend. And my intent was not that they pursue greatness and wonders from themselves, but only to broaden the heart of the reader to distance themselves greatly from the impurity of the nations."</ref> | |||
By this time the Alter Rebbe was already leading thousands of chassidim, with hundreds of brilliant scholars in his chedarim. Nevertheless, he was reluctant to formally accept the title of "Rebbe" with all that it entailed. In a letter of reply,<ref>Written in 5548, approximately four months before the histalkus of Rabbi Menachem Mendel.</ref> the Alter Rebbe writes that he trembled upon hearing that he had been anointed to lead the chassidim of Russia, and that the burden was heavy upon him and he could not bear it alone.<ref>"May he receive a blessing from Hashem. The one who ascends the mountain of Hashem and stands in His holy place — behold his holy honor, my soul is bound to his soul. Man of G-d, etc. — our teacher and master, the Rav R' Menachem Mendel, may he live forever, in the Holy City of Tiberias, may it be built and established. After inquiring after the wellbeing of his holy honor as befits those who love his name. Behold I have heard and trembling and terror seized me at the sound of the call of your holy honor's words, may his light shine, in his letter to our dear community, may they live forever — that he has chosen and anointed me to be a faithful shepherd and guide and righteous teacher for the holy flock; may our teacher and master, may his light shine, turn this over in my merit, for I am not capable. Who am I that this holy burden has been placed upon me — how shall I bear it alone?"</ref> Yet he did not wish to defy his master's will, and he agreed to accept the role on condition that Rabbi Menachem Mendel mention him daily and bless him with all blessings.<ref>"But to defy the will of his holiness I also cannot. Therefore only with this do I agree — that every single day he will call me to mind and elevate each one at his camp and at his standard. And from the day I receive your holy reply with the blessings of our teacher, may he live, from that day forward I will carry this holy burden upon my shoulder. And may He Whose peace is His bring upon us peace and love and brotherhood and friendship, and let their hearts be with my heart as my heart is with theirs."</ref> | |||
Rabbi Menachem Mendel in turn sent letters to the chassidim in Russia urging them to accept the leadership and nesichus of Rabbi Schneur Zalman. In an additional letter written in 5548, shortly before his own histalkus, he sent his final communication in which he crowned Rabbi Schneur Zalman as the sole and undisputed leader of the Chassidic community in Russia.<ref>"...All of you are obligated to honor him, for he has labored greatly and worn out his feet in distant wandering, moving about for a long time for the sake of hearing the words of the living G-d... who cast his soul behind him and wore out his feet to seek Hashem, and became dust beneath the feet of tzaddikim to hear the precious word of Hashem."</ref> Following this, the Chassidic community of Russia formally accepted the nesichus of the Alter Rebbe. | |||
Only fifteen years after the histalkus of the Maggid — in 5548 — did the Alter Rebbe formally accept upon himself to be the Rebbe and official leader of the chassidim. | |||
== With the Haskalah Movement == | == With the Haskalah Movement == | ||
== The | The Maskilim (proponents of the Haskalah — Jewish Enlightenment) of that era had successfully penetrated [[Vilna]], the greatest Torah center of the time and also the center of opposition to Chassidus. The Torah scholars of Vilna, led by the Gr"a, viewed favorably the pursuit of secular studies alongside Torah study — particularly the study of Hebrew grammar. The Maskilim exploited this opening to penetrate the leading circles of Torah scholarship and draw their sons toward a secular education, which led many young men to intensive study in Berlin and from there toward the Enlightenment. An active role in this was played by Shimon Lilienfeld (Shimon the Apikores), who posed as a G-d-fearing teacher and led many children into the path of the Haskalah. Shimon sought to influence the Chassidic community as well, and for this purpose undertook a long journey to White Russia, where he even met with the [[Alter Rebbe]] — but despaired when he saw the depth of the chassidim's faith and their bond with their Rebbe.<ref>The Frierdiker Rebbe, [https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://w3.chabad.org/media/pdf/899/WqPJ8993112.pdf Reshimas Divrei Yemei Admur HaZaken], pp. 32 and onwards, Kehot, 5771.</ref> | ||
== Sefer HaTanya == | |||
[[File:ספר התניא.jpg|thumb|The cover of the [[Tanya]]]] | |||
{{Main|Sefer HaTanya}} | |||
The Tanya is the foundational work of [[Chabad Chassidus]] and one of the foundational works of the Chassidic movement as a whole. The book surveys the human soul and analyzes its processes in a way that guides a person toward the service of Hashem — while providing practical tools for overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way. It is related that the Alter Rebbe wrote the Tanya with answers to all the questions of all generations until the coming of Moshiach. | |||
In 5532 (1772), after founding the path of Chabad Chassidus, the Alter Rebbe began guiding his chassidim in yechidus on matters of avodas Hashem. These teachings were recorded by the chassidim and compiled as booklets that were studied among themselves. These booklets were published in 5744 as the sefer "[[Tanya Mahadura Kamma]]."<ref>By directive of the Rebbe.</ref> In 5535 (1775), the Alter Rebbe began writing the [[Tanya]] as a formal work, and over the course of twenty years brought it to completion in 5555 (1795), at which point he authorized it to be copied. The Misnagdim, fearing the work's influence, produced falsified copies with deliberate distortions. When this became known to the Alter Rebbe, he resolved to have it printed officially to prevent further forgeries. In 5556 (1797), he sent the Tanya to the printing house in Slavita, accompanied by the approbations of disciples of the [[Maggid of Mezritch]]: R' [[Meshulam Zusya of Anipoli]] and R' [[Yehuda Leib HaKohen]]. The first copies of the Tanya arrived from the press to the Alter Rebbe on 26 Kislev 5557. | |||
Initially the book was met with resistance even from some Chassidic leaders, due to its intellectual character — but when they saw that it led to an increase in the service of Hashem, they ceased their opposition and ultimately embraced it. Today the Tanya is considered the foremost among the foundational works of the Chassidic movement. It is revered across all branches of Chassidus and studied throughout the Jewish world. | |||
The Tanya has several names: "Likkutei Amarim" — the official name given by the Alter Rebbe himself; "Sefer Shel Beinonim" — named for the Tanya's central theme; "Tanya" — after the first word with which the book opens; and "Torah Shebichsav of Toras HaChassidus" — reflecting the precision of every letter in the text, comparable to the Written Torah of nigleh. | |||
The Tanya is divided into five parts: | |||
# '''Likkutei Amarim''' — the first and primary section. | |||
# '''Sha'ar HaYichud VeHaEmunah''' (also known as ''Likkutei Amarim Part II'') — a rational explanation of the unity of Hashem. | |||
# '''Igeres HaTeshuvah''' — an elucidation of the nature of teshuvah according to Chassidus. | |||
# '''Igeres HaKodesh''' — a collection of thirty-two letters from the Alter Rebbe. | |||
# '''Kuntres Acharon''' — the Alter Rebbe's explanations of several topics discussed in the first section. | |||
Many segulos have been attributed to the study of the Tanya by the Chabad Rebbeim and other great Torah authorities — and accordingly, many are accustomed to memorize sections of the Tanya by heart. The work also carries decisive influence on Jewish faith, particularly in explaining the Baal Shem Tov's teaching of divine [[hashgachah pratis]]. Today the Tanya is considered the foundational work of avodas Hashem — Chabad chassidim study a daily portion of it according to the enactment of the Frierdiker Rebbe, completing the entire work over the course of a year. | |||
Over the years, dozens of commentaries and elucidations have been written on the Tanya — some by the Chabad Rebbeim and some by chassidim. As of 5770, the Tanya had been printed in over five thousand editions. | |||
== His Imprisonments == | |||
[[File:מבצר פטרופבלסקי.jpg|thumb|The Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg]] | |||
{{Main|The Imprisonment and Liberation of the Alter Rebbe|The Second Imprisonment of the Alter Rebbe}} | |||
After the Alter Rebbe's formal appointment as Nasi of [[Chabad Chassidus]] and the dissemination of his approach to avodas Hashem, he encountered fierce opposition from two directions: the Misnagdim on one side, and the Maskilim on the other. | |||
After the Alter | |||
On | In 5559 (1798), the Misnagdim informed the Tsarist authorities that the Alter Rebbe was collecting money for the benefit of the Turks — who then controlled Eretz Yisrael — with the aim of undermining Russian rule. In truth, the funds were being gathered to strengthen the chassidim in Eretz Yisrael. On 24 Tishrei, the Tsarist government arrested the Alter Rebbe and sentenced him to death as a rebel against the crown. For fifty-three days he sat in prison in the Peter and Paul Fortress in [[Petersburg]], until he was ultimately able to prove his innocence. On Tuesday, 19 Kislev 5559, in the late afternoon, he was released. When the news of his liberation was brought to him, he was holding a Tehillim open to the verse "Padah v'shalom nafshi" — "He redeemed my soul in peace." | ||
The day of his liberation — 19 Kislev — became "Chag HaGeulah" (the Festival of Liberation) among Chabad chassidim, and is celebrated to this day. | |||
The Alter Rebbe's imprisonment had been due to take place many years earlier, but when R' [[Zusha of Anipoli]] heard of it, he declared: "Zusha does not want this." And so the imprisonment was delayed until 5559.<ref>Cited in Sefer Padah B'Shalom, p. 83.</ref> | |||
On 24 Tishrei 5561, the [[Alter Rebbe was imprisoned a second time]] — this time under better conditions, though the charges against him were more severe. He was released from this imprisonment on 27 Kislev (the third night of Chanukah) according to one version, or 29 Kislev (the fifth night) according to another.<ref>Regarding both dates, the Rebbe writes: "It may be said that in both there were elements of liberation (even literally)." In Kerem Chabad, Rabbi [[Yehoshua Mondshein]] published documents indicating that on 27 Kislev the Alter Rebbe was transferred from prison to house arrest, and on 29 Kislev was released entirely.</ref> | |||
== In Liadi == | |||
After the Alter Rebbe's second imprisonment, the authorities requested that he reside in Petersburg. The chassidim who did not live in the area were deeply pained by the distance from their Rebbe. At that time, the prince Lyubomirsky ruled in Petersburg, and he wished to meet the Alter Rebbe. One of the chassidim told the prince of the Alter Rebbe's greatness — the admiration of thousands of followers, and the suffering of the chassidim at the authorities' decree that he live in Petersburg. | |||
When Lyubomirsky and the Alter Rebbe met, the prince told him that if he agreed to settle in one of the towns under his jurisdiction, he would arrange permission from the authorities. The Alter Rebbe agreed to settle in the town of Liadi, and the prince ordered that homes be built for the Alter Rebbe and his chassidim. | |||
On Friday, Erev Shabbos Nachamu, 14 Menachem Av 5561, the Alter Rebbe arrived in Liadi together with five thousand chassidim and settled there. From that time forward, the Alter Rebbe and his chassidim lived in tranquility, relieved of the pressures from the Misnagdim. The Alter Rebbe's communal activities spread throughout White Russia and Ukraine, and during this period tens of thousands of additional chassidim joined the movement.<ref>According to Kuntres Limmud HaChassidus, pp. 12–13.</ref> | |||
== The Napoleonic War == | == The Napoleonic War == | ||
{{Main|The Napoleonic War}} | |||
When the [[Napoleonic War]] against the Russian Empire broke out, the Alter Rebbe expressed his view to his chassidim: if Napoleon were to win, it was possible that the material situation of the Jews would improve — but spiritually, heresy and licentiousness would spread, G-d forbid. He therefore did everything in his power to assist the Russian army. Immediately after Napoleon's forces invaded Russia on 14 Tammuz 5572 (1812), the Alter Rebbe sent several chassidim on intelligence missions for the Russian army within the French military command. The most notable of the chassidim who undertook such missions was Rabbi [[Moshe Meizels]]. | |||
The Alter Rebbe sent a sacred letter to all the Jews of Russia, calling upon them to stand in support and assist the Russian government with their money, their labor, and all that they had. He concluded the letter with the words: "And let not your hearts falter, and pay no heed to the enemy's temporary victories — for the final victory will belong to the side of the Tsar of Russia." | |||
The Alter Rebbe did not wish to leave his home in Liadi during the war — primarily so as not to demoralize the Jews of White Russia. However, when Napoleon's army advanced rapidly toward Liadi, the Alter Rebbe ordered all the Jewish residents to leave the city as quickly as possible. This was on Friday, 29 Menachem Av, Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul 5572. The Alter Rebbe, together with his household and approximately three hundred Chassidic families, departed in great haste from Liadi, which was in immediate danger of invasion by Napoleon's forces. | |||
Before the Chassidic families left their homes, the Alter Rebbe instructed them to take all their household possessions — their beds, their tables, even their fixed prayer stands (shtenders). He ordered all old items to be burned. After everyone had departed and traveled a considerable distance, he instructed them to return to the city and check whether any item or garment had been left behind. To their great surprise, the chassidim found a worn pair of slippers — whereupon the Alter Rebbe ordered the entire house in which they were found to be burned. | |||
Shortly after the Alter Rebbe left Liadi, Napoleon himself arrived in the city and hurried to the Alter Rebbe's home. Seeing that the house was in flames, he ordered his soldiers to extinguish the fire — but the blaze had spread too widely for them to approach. When Napoleon realized that nothing could be salvaged from the Alter Rebbe's home, he turned to the townspeople and asked them to bring him any object belonging to the Alter Rebbe — a coin, a vessel, anything. Napoleon promised enormous sums to whoever could bring him such an item — but nothing was found. | |||
''" | For one hundred and forty days, the Alter Rebbe and the three hundred families were displaced on a difficult journey, accompanied by Russian soldiers, until they reached the village of Piena where they found rest. When they arrived at Piena, the Chassidic families were informed that the Alter Rebbe's words had been fulfilled — Napoleon's army was beginning to suffer defeats. As the Mitteler Rebbe writes: "And on 19 Kislev we heard that the enemy had suffered a defeat near Krasna and they were fleeing him like a dog — and we were filled with joy, for everything had come to pass, not a word had failed..." | ||
When the Alter Rebbe left the city of Liadi, the seat of the Chabad dynasty moved from Liadi to its new home in the town of [[Lubavitch]], where the [[Mitteler Rebbe]] — his son and successor — settled approximately a year later. | |||
== His Histalkus == | |||
[[File:אוהל אדמוהז.jpg|thumb|The renovated [[Ohel of the Alter Rebbe]] in [[Haditch]] (5754)]] | |||
[[File:פנים אוהל אדמור הזקן.jpg|thumb|The interior of the Alter Rebbe's tziyun]] | |||
=== His Final Days === | |||
On Friday, 8 Teves 5573, the Alter Rebbe arrived at the village of Piena.<ref>[https://www.google.com.ua/maps/place/Peny,+Kurskaya+oblast',+Russia Location of the village] on Google Maps; [https://ssl.panoramio.com/photo/46542781 Photo of the village] on Panoramio.</ref> There he learned of the destruction of White Russia.<ref>There is a version that also mentions the capture of Moscow by Napoleon — and there are those who dispute this.</ref> On Thursday, 21 Teves 5573, the Alter Rebbe davened his final Maariv — at length.<ref>See in detail regarding all the events surrounding the histalkus in the sefer HaMasa HaAcharon by Rabbi [[Yehoshua Mondshein]], and in the article ''HaShavua HaAcharon'', Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 1891, p. 36.</ref> | |||
The Alter Rebbe's sons related that this tefillah was "with clear, settled mind and wondrous deveikus." Before his histalkus he said: "Whoever holds onto my 'handle' — I will do good for him in this world and the next world."<ref>[[Sefer HaSichos (Frierdiker Rebbe)]] 5699, p. 338. The Frierdiker Rebbe adds that "there are eight interpretations of this saying from the [[Tzemach Tzedek]]" and cites one of them.</ref> | |||
The | He also said:<ref>Appears in a record of the Frierdiker Rebbe, who heard it from his father, the Rebbe Rashab.</ref> "The passage from this world to the next world is an easy matter — it depends only on the one who effects the transition. There are those who are dying for a prolonged time — it appears that their 'transporter' is among those who are negligent. There are those who are dying for only a few moments — it appears that their 'transporter' is among the good emissaries. And the manner of separation from the body depends on how one lived in the body. The verse explains 'Tov mosi michayyai' — that the good and the life after death comes from the life of the body, according to the manner in which the neshamah lived in the body — and this is what moves me." | ||
Moments before his histalkus, the Alter Rebbe wrote on a note the discourse "The lowly soul": "The truly lowly soul in its root — its avodah is physical Torah."<ref>[[Likkutei Diburim]], vols. 3–4, Likkut 32, at its conclusion.</ref> | |||
The Alter Rebbe instructed that the room where he lay be closed, and that only those who wished to pray be admitted. He also requested that if two Jews who were lax in their observance happened to come, the host should try to bring them to teshuvah — and in the merit of this he promised the (non-Jewish) host length of days.<ref>From the records of Rabbi [[Azriel Zelig Slonim]] — Migdal Oz, pp. 174–175, in the name of the emissary R' Yechiel Heilperin, who saw it in the city register of [[Haditch]]. In Shivchei HaRav it is mentioned that the room was closed, but it is not stated that this was at the Alter Rebbe's instruction.</ref> | |||
[[ | |||
==== | === The Histalkus === | ||
On Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Shemos, 24 Teves 5573, immediately<ref>According to the letter of the Mitteler Rebbe, winter 5573. Igros Kodesh (Mitteler Rebbe), p. 234.</ref> after Maariv and Havdalah over coffee<ref>Over which the Rebbe made Havdalah, and which spilled on him several times during the ceremony. ("Leket Hanhagos U'Minhagei Shabbos Kodesh" (Kehot, 5756), chapter 10, p. 63.)</ref> — at 22:22 — the Alter Rebbe was nistalek. | |||
=== His Resting Place — Haditch === | |||
After the burial, the Tzemach Tzedek moved to live | {{Main|Ohel of the Alter Rebbe|Haditch}} | ||
The village of Piena had no Jewish cemetery. The Alter Rebbe was therefore transported the following day on a horse-drawn sleigh to the town of [[Haditch]], approximately 300 kilometers away, where there was a Jewish cemetery.<ref>During the journey the wagon stopped at an inn, and robbers who were there planned to seize the wagon. Miraculously, the escorts overheard the robbers' plans and rushed the wagon away.</ref> | |||
As the Alter Rebbe was being brought for burial in Haditch, the wagon stopped along the way and it appeared as though the Alter Rebbe had raised himself up and was lying suspended in the air. Those accompanying him were frightened, and then noticed that a non-kosher animal had crawled beneath the wagon. They chased it away, and the Alter Rebbe's body settled back as before. | |||
The Alter Rebbe was brought to his eternal rest in the Jewish cemetery of Haditch, and an [[Ohel of the Alter Rebbe|ohel]] was later built over the gravesite. | |||
After the burial, the [[Tzemach Tzedek]] moved to Haditch to live near the holy tziyun. | |||
== His Family == | == His Family == | ||
* His daughter, [[ | * His daughter, [[Rebbetzin Freida]] — married Rabbi Eliyahu Klotzker. | ||
* His daughter, [[ | * His daughter, [[Rebbetzin Devorah Leah]] — married Rabbi Shalom Shachna Altshuler. | ||
* His daughter, Rebbetzin Rachel | * His daughter, [[Rebbetzin Rachel]] — married Rabbi Avraham Sheines. | ||
* His son, Rabbi | * His son, [[Rabbi Dov Ber Schneuri (Mitteler Rebbe)|Rabbi Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe]] — married Rebbetzin [[Sheina Schneuri]]. | ||
* His son, [[ | * His son, [[Rabbi Chaim Avraham]]. | ||
* His son, [[ | * His son, [[Rabbi Moshe]] — married Moras [[Shlomit|Shlomit Schneuri]], of the Rivlin family. | ||
== His Lineage == | == His Lineage == | ||
== | The Alter Rebbe's lineage traces back to the [[Maharal of Prague]], who himself was descended through Rav Hai Gaon, the son of [[Rav Sherira Gaon]], the son of Rav Chanina Gaon — all of whom were from the family of the Exilarchs and the Nesi'im, going back to the kings of Yehudah and King David.<ref>See also [http://old2.ih.chabad.info/#!g=1&url=article&id=63386 the article by Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Wolpa].</ref> | ||
[[File: | |||
* [[ | The Frierdiker Rebbe writes<ref>Sefer HaZichronos and Hayom Yom at the beginning of the Shalshalas HaYachas.</ref> that the Alter Rebbe was the son of Rabbi [[Yisrael Boruch Pozner]], the son of Rabbi [[Schneur Zalman Pozner]],<ref>See [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=31632&st=&pgnum=8 the introduction to Igros Kodesh — Alter Rebbe].</ref> the son of Rabbi [[Moshe of Pozna]], the son of Rabbi Yehuda Leib, the son of Rabbi Shmuel Charif, the son of Rabbi Betzalel Charif — the only son of the Maharal of Prague. | ||
* [[ | |||
According to the sefer [[Beis Rebbi]]<ref>Chapter 1.</ref> — Rabbi [[Moshe of Pozna]] (the grandfather of the Alter Rebbe's father) was the son of Rabbi Yehuda of Kavli,<ref>Author of ''Kol Yehuda'' on [[Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim]].</ref> who was the son of Rabbi Moshe, who was the son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch, who was the son of the gaon R' Yosef Yaski, av beis din of the Lublin community (and some say av beis din of Lvov), and the son-in-law of the Maharal of Prague. However, in recent years, academic research has raised questions about whether a lineage to the Maharal can be established through Rabbi Yehuda of Kavli.<ref>For a clarification of the lineage of the Alter Rebbe, see the note of Rabbi Shlomo Englard in [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=13611&pgnum=128 Sefer Ohr Yisrael, 33, p. 128 and onwards]; [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=13612&pgnum=102 ibid., 34, p. 99 and onwards].</ref><ref>And the word of the king stands above all. And although the holy words of the Frierdiker Rebbe require no strengthening or support.</ref> | |||
== The Portrait of the Alter Rebbe == | |||
[[File:רבי_שניאור_זלמן.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The portrait of the Alter Rebbe]] | |||
{{Main|Portrait of the Alter Rebbe}} | |||
In 5559, while the Alter Rebbe was in prison, he was painted by the nobles of [[Petersburg]], and is depicted at the age appropriate to that period. The existence of this portrait became known through a chassid who heard, in 5622, the [[Tzemach Tzedek]] mention it to his son, the [[Rebbe Maharash]]. | |||
It is not known with certainty whether the original portrait was rendered in black pencil — as it is known from the printed copies — or in color. The earliest known surviving copy of the original portrait is an impression from its first large-format printing, made by R' Shmarya Schneersohn. It is preserved today in the [[Lubavitch Library]]. | |||
== His Works == | |||
* [[Igros Kodesh (Alter Rebbe)]] | |||
* [[Amira L'Akum (sefer)]] | |||
* [[Biurei HaZohar (Alter Rebbe)]] | * [[Biurei HaZohar (Alter Rebbe)]] | ||
* [[Hilchos Talmud Torah]] | * [[Hilchos Talmud Torah]] | ||
* [[Likkutei Torah]] | * [[Likkutei Torah]] | ||
* [[ | |||
* Sefer HaMaamarim (Alter Rebbe) | [[File:לקוטי תורה דפוס ראשון.jpg|thumb|Title page of the first printing of [[Likkutei Torah]], 5608]] | ||
* [[ | |||
* [[ | * [[Mah Shearim (sefer)]] | ||
* [[Sefer HaMaamarim (Alter Rebbe)]] | |||
* [[Siddur Admur HaZaken]] | |||
* [[Sefer HaTanya]] | |||
* [[Piskei HaSiddur]] | * [[Piskei HaSiddur]] | ||
* [[Kuntres HaRav]] | * [[Kuntres HaRav]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Sheailos U'Teshuvos Admur HaZaken]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Sheailos U'Teshuvos HaRav]] | ||
* [[Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZaken]] | * [[Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZaken]] | ||
* [[Torah Ohr]] | * [[Torah Ohr (sefer)]] | ||
* [[Boneh Yerushalayim]] | * [[Boneh Yerushalayim]] | ||
* [[Maamarei Admur HaZaken | * [[Maamarei Admur HaZaken — HaKetzarim]] | ||
* [[Luach Birchos HaNehenin]] | * [[Luach Birchos HaNehenin]] | ||
== His Innovations and Enactments == | == His Innovations and Enactments == | ||
The Alter Rebbe was a trailblazer not only in Chassidus, but in halacha and minhag as well. In addition to the Shulchan Aruch he composed, the Alter Rebbe instituted ten<ref>Ten merits — these are what the first chassidim attributed to Rabbeinu HaZaken. Likkutei Diburim, vol. 5, p. 918.</ref> enactments and innovations: | |||
* '''[[Sefer HaTanya]]''' — a path of avodas Hashem. | |||
* '''[[Nusach HaTefillah]]''' — the Alter Rebbe's siddur, equally accessible to all. | |||
* '''[[Polished Knives]]''' — polishing the slaughtering knife on both sides of the blade. | |||
* '''[[Kesav Admur HaZaken|Kesav Stam]]''' — a new form of the letters of the Aleph-Beis that harmonizes Kabbalah and halacha. The story goes that the Maggid summoned the Alter Rebbe and told him that there was a heavenly complaint that the revealed Torah and Kabbalah disagreed regarding the form of Stam letters, and asked him to compose a script that would unify nigleh and Kabbalah. Thus was created the Alter Rebbe's kesav, with which the Maggid was pleased. | |||
* '''[[Division of the Shas]]''' — completion of the entire Shas each year, divided among all Chabad communities. | |||
* '''[[Mikveh According to the Alter Rebbe|Mikveh Enactment]]''' — a halachic solution facilitating immersion in a spring. | |||
* '''[[Eruv Kablan]]''' — the sale of chametz before Pesach through an "eruv kablan" (a guarantor). | |||
* '''[[Knot of Tefillin According to the Alter Rebbe|Knot of the Tefillin]]''' — a unique method of tying the tefillin shel rosh<ref>Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZaken, siman 27, se'if 17. See also the related story in Lishmo'a Ozen (5776 edition), p. 82.</ref> and tefillin shel yad.<ref>Ketzos HaShulchan, siman 8, se'if 5, in the gloss.</ref> | |||
==== | == The Ten Nigunim == | ||
[[File:ארבע בבות.jpg|thumb|The musical notation of the [[Niggun Arba Bavos]] from [[Sefer HaNigunim]]]] | |||
{{Main|The Ten Nigunim}} | |||
The | |||
It is a tradition among Chabad chassidim that the Alter Rebbe composed ten [[nigunim mekuvanim]] — specially designated melodies — which carry a unique segulah: they bring those who sing them to an awakening of teshuvah and a cleaving of the neshamah to Hashem. These nigunim are customarily not sung casually, but only at specially designated times or moments of opportunity. Five of the ten nigunim are known with certainty; the others are attributed to him, though whether he composed them all is uncertain. | |||
# [[Avinu Malkeinu (niggun)|Avinu Malkeinu]] | |||
# [[Eli Atah (niggun)|Eli Atah]] | |||
# [[Niggun Arba Bavos|Arba Bavos]] | |||
# [[ | |||
# [[Arba Bavos]] | |||
# [[Niggun Bnei Heichala|Bnei Heichala]] | # [[Niggun Bnei Heichala|Bnei Heichala]] | ||
# [[ | # [[Ka'Ayal Ta'arog (niggun)|Ka'Ayal Ta'arog]] | ||
# [[Lecha Dodi]] | # [[Lecha Dodi (niggun)|Lecha Dodi]] | ||
# [[Niggun Deveikus Rosh Hashanah]] | # [[Niggun Deveikus Rosh Hashanah (Alter Rebbe)|Niggun Deveikus Rosh Hashanah]] | ||
# [[Niggun Deveikus Shabbos]] | # [[Niggun Deveikus Shabbos (Alter Rebbe)|Niggun Deveikus Shabbos]] | ||
# [[ | # [[Tze'ena U're'ena (niggun)|Tze'ena U're'ena]] | ||
# [[Kol Dodi]] | # [[Kol Dodi Dofek (niggun)|Kol Dodi]] | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
* [[Tanya]] | * [[Tanya]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Association of Descendants of the Alter Rebbe]] | ||
* [[Haditch]] | * [[Haditch]] | ||
== Further Reading == | == Further Reading == | ||
* Rabbi Shalom | * Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Levin, [https://s3.wasabisys.com/chabadlibrary/pdf/tcrtz.pdf ''Toldos Chabad B'Russia HaTzarit''], Kehot, New York, 5770. | ||
* | * Shterna Sara Schneersohn, ''Megilas Chayyav shel HaRav MiLiadi'' — an account of the Alter Rebbe's imprisonment and liberation, written by the wife of the Rebbe Rashab in her youth and lost over the years. In 5700 it was found by her step-nephew, Rabbi Shimshon Dov Yerushalimsky, who transmitted it to the Frierdiker Rebbe. | ||
* Rabbi Chaim Meir Heilman, | * Rabbi [[Chaim Meir Heilman]], [[Beis Rebbi]]. | ||
* Mordechai Teitelbaum, ''' | * Mordechai Teitelbaum, ''HaRav MiLiadi U'Mifleges Chabad'', 5670. | ||
* Rabbi Yehoshua | * Rabbi [[Yehoshua Mondshein]], ''Masa B'Berditchev''. | ||
* Rabbi | * Rabbi [[Schneur Zalman Berger]], ''Toldos Chabad B'Petersburg'', chapter 4 — the Alter Rebbe in prison. | ||
* | * ''Maasar V'Geulah Yud-Tes Kislev'', special supplement in Beis Moshiach Weekly, issue 207. | ||
* Overview | * Overview — Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZaken (Gedolei Yisrael and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav; how the Shulchan Aruch HaRav was received in the Lithuanian community), Beis Moshiach Weekly, issue 1343. | ||
* Rabbi Chanoch Glitzenstein, | * Rabbi [[Chanoch Glitzenstein]], [[Sefer HaToldos]] — Admur HaZaken. | ||
* | * [[Schneur Zalman Berger]], HaTamim (Beis Moshiach supplement). A series on his great disciples. | ||
* Rabbi Dov | * Rabbi [[Dov Tversky]], ''Hilchesa K'Rav'' — an elucidation of the laws of Shabbos according to the Alter Rebbe, Kfar Chabad. | ||
* R' Avraham Levi, '' | * R' Avraham Levi, Kuntres ''Kesav Chabad'' — a survey and analysis of the Alter Rebbe's script. Migdal HaEmek, Teves 5769. | ||
* '''HaRishon''', | * '''HaRishon''', Toras Chabad L'Vnei HaYeshivos, 5774 (2013). | ||
* Menachem Ziegelboim, | * [[Menachem Ziegelboim]], ''Istalk Yikara'' — the story of the histalkus of the Chabad Rebbeim, p. 54, 5773. | ||
* Rabbi Nachum Greenwald, | * Rabbi [[Nachum Greenwald]], [http://www.alysefer.com/הרב/ HaRav], 5775. | ||
* Matanya Engelman, | * Matanya Engelman, ''A New Path of a New Neshamah'', Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 1992, p. 20. | ||
== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
* The Alter Rebbe's | * Rabbi [[Shlomo Yosef Zevin]], [http://chabad.co.il/?template=article&topic=183&article=1582 The Rav, Author of the Tanya — the spiritual legacy and literary work of the founder of Chabad Chassidus, and the milestones of his life] | ||
* Shaul Silam, | * Ruth Zucker, [http://chabad.co.il/?template=article&topic=183&article=1618 A graphological analysis of the Alter Rebbe's handwriting] | ||
* Menachem | * [http://www.col.org.il/show_news.rtx?artID=56570 A historic document regarding the Alter Rebbe's involvement in the Napoleonic War] — Segulah journal | ||
* | * [[Menachem Ziegelboim]], [http://old2.ih.chabad.info/index.php?url=article_he&id=71069 200 Years Since the Departure from Liadi Under Fire], [http://old2.ih.chabad.info/index.php?url=article_he&id=71197 The King in the Field and the Rebbe Wandering the Roads], Beis Moshiach Weekly, Elul 5772 | ||
* | * [http://www.chabad.co.il/?template=article&topic=106&article=1794 Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi], Sichos L'Noar Monthly | ||
* The Alter Rebbe's Ohel on Google Maps: [https://www.google.com/maps/@50.3549522,34.0072083,3a,75y,97.81h,89.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK_93ZD9qskuoSAIrtPWVgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Photos], [https://www.google.com/maps/place/50°21'16.3%22N+34°00'29.8%22E/@50.354523,34.0104677,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=iw Location] | |||
* Shaul Silam, [http://www.teshura.com/teshurapdf/Shayevitz-Silem%20-%203%20Adar%202%205774.pdf The History of the Alter Rebbe] — printed as a teshura for a wedding, 3 Adar II 5774 | |||
* [[Menachem Bronfman]], [http://www.alysefer.com/ראיון-עם-אדמור-הזקן/ A Special Interview with the Alter Rebbe — a "translation" into Hebrew for a taste of his responses to those who studied him] | |||
* [http://he.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3562034 6 Videos about the Alter Rebbe] — multimedia clips on the Alter Rebbe at Beis Chabad | |||
* [https://77012.blogspot.com/2022/12/blog-post_57.html 'He merited a revelation of Eliyahu': A rare letter from the Maggid of Mezritch about the Alter Rebbe] | |||
== Notes == | |||
<references/> | |||
[[he: | [[he:אדמו"ר הזקן]] | ||
[[Category:Chabad Rebbes]] | [[Category:Chabad Rebbes]] | ||
[[Category:The Alter Rebbe]] | [[Category:The Alter Rebbe]] | ||