The Tzemach Tzedek

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn — the Tzemach Tzedek is the third Nasi in the dynasty of Chabad Rebbeim. He was born on Sunday, 29 Elul 5549, in the city of Liozna, to Rabbi Shalom Shachna Altshuler and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Altshuler. He was nistalek on 13 Nissan 5626, and his resting place is in Lubavitch.

He is known as the "Tzemach Tzedek" after his sefer of that name.

Life History

His Birth and Childhood

The Tzemach Tzedek — the third Rebbe of Chabad

He was born on Sunday, 29 Elul 5549, in Liozna, to R' Shalom Shachna Altshuler and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Altshuler. His parents named him "Menachem Mendel" after Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk. In 5553, on 3 Tishrei, when he was three years old, his mother passed away. At her final request, Menachem Mendel was adopted by his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, who cherished him deeply. Menachem Mendel slept in the Alter Rebbe's room, near the Aron Kodesh, and was constantly at his side. Until his wedding, the Alter Rebbe would cover him with his tallis during Birchas Kohanim on the Yomim Tovim, and until the age of nine would cover him during the tekias shofar of Rosh Hashanah. On 11 Tishrei 5553, the Alter Rebbe enrolled him in cheder.

When he was eight years old, the Alter Rebbe suggested to his son the Mitteler Rebbe that he take him as a chassan for his daughter, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. The Mitteler Rebbe hesitated, and pointed out the window to show his father how the boy was playing with all the children in childish pursuits. The Alter Rebbe approached the window and motioned with his finger for his grandson to come inside. When Menachem Mendel entered, the Alter Rebbe handed him a Gemara and instructed him to memorize a page with Rashi and Tosafos by heart — and to return within half an hour and repeat everything he had learned. The Mitteler Rebbe, waiting in the room, noticed after about a quarter of an hour that the boy was once again playing outside with his friends. He turned to his father and said: "He does not even listen to your voice!" The Alter Rebbe called the boy in and rebuked him — but Menachem Mendel replied that he had already learned, and proceeded to recite the entire page by heart.

Already in 5561 (at the age of eleven), he began writing chiddushim in nigleh and Chassidus — what he had heard from his grandfather, together with his own explanations. There is a maamar beginning with the word "Eidus" (printed in the sefer Derech Emunah — Sefer HaChakira) written in 5562; many years later the Tzemach Tzedek added its conclusion, and in that form it was printed.

Until the age of thirteen, his primary study was in nigleh. After his bar mitzvah, the Alter Rebbe set aside special times to learn Kabbalah and Chassidus with him.

Although his family name was Altshuler (after his father), he preferred the family name of his wife's grandfather, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi — the Alter Rebbe.

His Wedding

On 5 Kislev 5564, when the Tzemach Tzedek was fourteen years old, he was married in the city of Liadi to his cousin Moras Chaya Mushka Schneersohn, the daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe.

After his wedding, the Tzemach Tzedek was supported at his father-in-law the Mitteler Rebbe's table, and served as Rosh Yeshiva there — preferring not to earn his livelihood from Torah study, but from the labor of his own hands. He invested the three hundred rubles he received as a dowry in opening a workshop to manufacture wax seals (used for sealing postal letters), which would serve as his source of income. He took the chassid R' Nechemia of Dubrovna as his partner in this business. Throughout their work together, the two would converse in matters of Torah. After about a month, they became deeply immersed one night in a particularly profound topic — and the boiler containing the raw adhesive material caught fire. They barely managed to escape as the workshop burned down. Afterward, the Tzemach Tzedek decided to take up carpentry — but in the Rebbe's court they preferred that he not engage in manual labor, and he was appointed as a melamed.

In 5566, the Alter Rebbe entrusted him and his great-uncle Rabbi Yehuda Leib with the halachic questions that came to him, so that they would answer them and he would review their responses. In 5570, the Alter Rebbe entrusted him and his uncle Rabbi Moshe Schneuri with responsibility for communal affairs.

During the Napoleonic War, when the Alter Rebbe fled from Liadi, the Tzemach Tzedek joined him. He was also present at the time of the Alter Rebbe's histalkus. After the Alter Rebbe's histalkus, from 5574 until 5587, he secluded himself and studied with great diligence.

Accepting the Nesichus

Main article: The Acceptance of Nesichus by the Tzemach Tzedek

After the histalkus of the Mitteler Rebbe on 9 Kislev 5588, an assembly of the elder Chabad chassidim was convened at which it was decided to appoint the Mitteler Rebbe's son-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, to fill his father-in-law's place as leader of Chabad Chassidus. This decision was based on a statement the Mitteler Rebbe had made when he expressed his desire to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael. The chassidim had asked him: "How will our master abandon us like sheep without a shepherd?" The Mitteler Rebbe replied: "But you have with you my son-in-law, the Rav and Gaon Rabbi Menachem Mendel — he will be your faithful shepherd." The chassidim naturally objected to the idea — and only when, two months later, on the road from Haditch to Niezhin, the Mitteler Rebbe passed away, did the chassidim understand his intent. In addition, the chassidim found further allusions to the Mitteler Rebbe's desire that specifically his son-in-law succeed him.

The decision of this assembly was publicized throughout all the Chabad communities in Russia. A delegation of the greatest and most elder chassidim — among them Rabbi Hillel of Paritch, Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Vitebsk, Rabbi Yitzchak Moshe of Yas, Rabbi Peretz Chen of Chernigov, and others — presented itself before the Tzemach Tzedek and conveyed the assembly's decision. However, the Tzemach Tzedek refused to accept the crown of nesichus. Additional delegations of chassidim came and went, but he refused them all, claiming that the crown of nesichus rightfully belonged to his uncle Rabbi Chaim Avraham Schneuri, the son of the Alter Rebbe and brother of the Mitteler Rebbe. When Rabbi Chaim Avraham heard these words, he himself joined one of the delegations and implored Rabbi Menachem Mendel to accept the nesichus — but he continued to refuse.

In the month of Nissan, the chassidim decided that before Shavuos all the elder chassidim would come to Lubavitch to take counsel together. About two weeks before Shavuos, several of the elder chassidim arrived in Lubavitch — among them Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Homel, Rabbi Hillel of Paritch, and Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Vitebsk — and convened an additional assembly, sending further delegations to the Tzemach Tzedek. These too were of no avail. He continued to evade, arguing that Rabbi Chaim Avraham — the son of the Alter Rebbe — should be chosen, or Rabbi Menachem Nachum — the son of the Mitteler Rebbe — or Rabbi Aharon of Kremenchug — a grandson of the Alter Rebbe.

On Tuesday, 3 Sivan 5588, the three great chassidim — Rabbi Peretz Chen, Rabbi Hillel of Paritch, and Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Homel — came to the Tzemach Tzedek's room and pleaded with him to accept the nesichus. In the end he consented — but on the condition that they would not trouble him with requests for advice in material matters. Rabbi Hillel of Paritch answered: "Chassidim wish to hear Chassidus." Shortly afterward it became known that the Tzemach Tzedek would go to the shul to say Chassidus. Indeed, the Tzemach Tzedek entered the beis hamidrash — which was filled with chassidim — dressed in the white garments he had inherited from his grandfather the Alter Rebbe, and began to deliver a maamar of Chassidus beginning with the words "Al sheloshah devarim ha'olam omeid."

As he began the maamar, Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Homel recalled that in his youth he had once heard the Alter Rebbe delivering this very maamar — while the young grandson Menachem Mendel played in the room at that time, disturbing the chassidim's listening. Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik had worried that the child was a disturbance — when suddenly the Alter Rebbe stopped mid-maamar and said: "Leave him, leave him — he wants to hear. He is listening. You will yet see for yourself that he is listening!" Now, as the Tzemach Tzedek delivered the same maamar, the memory passed through Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik's mind — along with the thought: "Indeed, this is a heavenly power — and the Tzemach Tzedek is now revealing the hidden strengths with which Hashem graced him." While he was still in this thought, the Tzemach Tzedek paused the maamar, turned to Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik, and said: "Would you suspect me of something that is not within me? What can I do — my grandfather the Alter Rebbe commanded me to say this maamar." And he immediately continued. In this way his ruach hakodesh was revealed before all. At the conclusion of the maamar, all the chassidim broke into song and accompanied him home with dancing and great simcha.

His Torah

The Tzemach Tzedek was renowned for the many halachic responsa he would provide to all who came to him. These questions and answers were printed in the seforim of Responsa Tzemach Tzedek.

Maamarei Chassidus and additional igros were published over the years in numerous editions.

Chazarah

The Tzemach Tzedek customarily delivered a maamar of Chassidus on Shabbosos and Yomim Tovim, and on additional special occasions. After the team of chozrim had thoroughly memorized the maamar, the mani'achim would come before the Tzemach Tzedek and repeat the maamar to him, whereupon he would correct their errors and explain the discourse further.

The Chozrim

• Rabbi Nachum of Starodub
• Rabbi Menachem Nachum Yitzchak Eizik Chanin
• Rabbi Dov Ber Ashkenazi (Kalisker)
• Rabbi Isser Ber Gilerson

His Activities

Main articles: The Cantonist Decrees, The Rabbinical Conference of 5603, and Shchedrin

The Tzemach Tzedek founded a yeshiva gedolah in Lubavitch, and in the early years of his nesichus he regularly delivered shiurim to the select scholars of the yeshiva. His son Rabbi Yisrael Noach Schneersohn was head of the shiur-givers, and his son-in-law Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Zalmanowitz conducted the yeshiva's examinations.

During the period of the Cantonist Decrees — the abduction of Jewish children to serve in the Tsar's army for twenty-five years — the Tzemach Tzedek would secretly send emissaries to all the communities where abductors operated, ensuring they were placed under cherem. He would strengthen the abducted children to remain steadfast in their Torah and mitzvos observance, and worked to redeem those who had been taken. These activities carried the danger of death, as they were considered acts of rebellion against the government.

In 5597 he printed his sefer Torah Ohr. In 5598, at the request of Chabad chassidim, he visited Mohilev, Minsk, and Vilna, returning via Vitebsk province. During this journey he also met with the leading Misnagdim, who began engaging with him on halachic questions. This journey quieted the longstanding controversy between the chassidim and the Misnagdim.

In 5599 he purchased a large estate with fields and forest, and established there a settlement for Jewish farmers, providing them with agricultural tools as well. In 5603, the government appointed a committee of four representatives of the Jewish community to deliberate on laws pertaining to the Jews — particularly regarding the question of education — and the Tzemach Tzedek was chosen as one of its members. Throughout the sessions, which lasted several months, he stood firm in protecting religion and Jewish education in its pure form. During the course of the sessions he was arrested twenty-two times for his vigorous protests. In the end, his demands were met.

In 5605 he printed the sefer Likkutei Torah, containing maamarim of the Alter Rebbe with his own explanations and glosses.

The Tzemach Tzedek also founded in 5604 the shtetl of Shchedrin, in which he settled approximately three hundred families — all Chabad chassidim. As a result, he received recognition from the Russian government and was awarded the title "Honorary Citizen for Generations."

The Tzemach Tzedek was renowned as one who freed agunos — women whose husbands could not be located or whose deaths could not be confirmed — and many agunos were sent to Lubavitch for him to resolve their situations.

The Tzemach Tzedek coined the saying "Tracht gut — vet zain gut" — Think good and it will be good — a saying that the Rebbe cited many times and which became a foundational value in Chabad Chassidus.

His Histalkus

Main article: The Ohel of the Tzemach Tzedek and the Maharash

In the month of Kislev 5620, the Tzemach Tzedek fell gravely ill and remained in poor health for more than six years. On Erev Shabbos Parshas Vayigash 5621, after his wife Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn was nistalek, he said to his son the Rebbe Maharash that the Alter Rebbe's holy words had been fulfilled — fifty-four years had passed since the Alter Rebbe had sighed and said to him: "Nad katzir b'yom nachalah" — the numerical value of the word "nad" being fifty-four. After the passing of the Rebbetzin, the Tzemach Tzedek ceased receiving people for yechidus.

Around the month of Tishrei 5626 he began to experience difficulty in speech. In the winter of 5626 he sent an emissary to Mezhibuzh to place a kvittel on the Baal Shem Tov's gravesite — but the emissary did not carry out his mission, a failure which cost the Tzemach Tzedek thirteen years of his life. For the Alter Rebbe had blessed him with arichas yamim, and arichas yamim in the Alter Rebbe's context means at least ninety years — whereas the Tzemach Tzedek in fact lived only seventy-seven years.

At the beginning of Nissan 5626 he became very weak. When the doctor of Lubavitch was summoned, he said that he could find no remedy. The following day the situation worsened, and the chassidim were deeply alarmed — all day they recited Tehillim and added the name "Meir" to his name. Toward the evening of 12 Nissan 5626, news came that his condition had improved — but shortly afterward it became clear once again that there was no hope. The shamash, R' Chaim Ber Chaimson, put his ear to the Tzemach Tzedek's lips and heard him saying: "Lema'an yirbu yemeichem" — "that your days may be multiplied."

At eleven o'clock at night, it became clear that nothing more could be done. His bed stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by all those present holding lit candles. The Tzemach Tzedek lay without any movement, his gaze resting on those around him. At the onset of Thursday, 13 Nissan, at half past twelve at night, he was nistalek. His resting place is in the Ohel of the Tzemach Tzedek and the Maharash in Lubavitch.

After his histalkus, the Rebbe Maharash said: "Know that Father has not died — and whoever wishes to make any request may do so. I too have made a request."

Following his histalkus, Chabad Chassidus underwent a division, and three of his sons opened different courts in the spirit of Chabad. The one who continued the Tzemach Tzedek's path in Lubavitch was his youngest son, the Rebbe Maharash.

His Portrait

A copy that arrived from Kapust

There was a non-Jew who knew the Tzemach Tzedek well and wished very much to paint him — but the Tzemach Tzedek would not consent. The painter devised a plan and came on Shabbos to the Tzemach Tzedek's home, studied his face carefully in order to memorize it, then ran home and hastened to paint it. For this reason the Tzemach Tzedek appears in the painting in his white Shabbos garments — which he had inherited from the Alter Rebbe. When the Tzemach Tzedek later saw the portrait, he was pained that it had been painted on Shabbos — but "consoled" himself with the fact that the painter had made two errors: the first error was that the painter depicted the left side of the Tzemach Tzedek's garment overlapping the right, whereas Jewish practice is the reverse. The second error was that the sefer the Tzemach Tzedek is holding in the portrait was painted as a non-Jewish book, read from left to right. The Rebbe once noted an additional error: that the Tzemach Tzedek is depicted resting his glasses on the cover of the sefer — something that could not have been done, as it is contrary to the honor due a sefer.

In 5647 the painting was restored and the errors were corrected, and since then it has been widely circulated in its corrected form.

A copy of the painting was discovered in 5751 by the librarian Berel Levin in the possession of a descendant of the Maharil of Kapust in Moscow, and was publicized.

In 5781, R' Yechiel Ofner discovered in the estate of Mrs. Hinda Gurvitz — a granddaughter of Rebbetzin Beila Wols, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, and a niece of two of the Tzemach Tzedek's sons — an additional copy of the original painting, apparently the earliest known to exist.

His Family and Disciples

His Family

The Tzemach Tzedek had many sons and two daughters:

His Sons

• His son — Rabbi Boruch Shalom Schneersohn
• His son — Admur Yehuda Leib Schneersohn — the Maharil of Kapust
• His son — Admur Chaim Schneur Zalman Schneersohn — the Rachash"Z of Liadi
• His son — Admur Yisrael Noach Schneersohn — the Maharin of Niezhin
• His son — Admur Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn — the Rayatz of Avrutch
• His son — the holy Rabbi Yaakov Schneersohn of Arsha
• His son — Admur Shmuel Schneersohn — the Rebbe Maharash
• His son — Yerachmiel, who passed away in his youth.

His Daughters

• His daughter — Rebbetzin Rade Freida Schneersohn, wife of Rabbi Schneur Schneersohn
• His daughter — Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Zalmanson, wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Zalmanson

Distinguished Chassidim

Among the most distinguished chassidim of the Tzemach Tzedek:

• Rabbi Hillel of Paritch
• Rabbi Schneur Zalman Fradkin of Lublin, author of Toras Chesed
• Rabbi Avraham Dovid Lavut, author of Sha'ar HaKolel
• Rabbi Peretz Chen

His Works

• Tzemach Tzedek — halachic responsa, legal decisions, and chiddushim on the Shas. The sefer's name alludes to the author's name — "Menachem Mendel" in the Yiddish spelling has the numerical value of "Tzemach Tzedek."
• Derech Mitzvosecha — the reasons for the mitzvos according to Chassidus.
• Biurei HaZohar — explanations of passages from the Zohar.
• Derech Emunah — Sefer HaChakira — a philosophical-analytical work in the style of the Rambam's Guide for the Perplexed and the Sefer HaIkkarim (written approximately in 5603, the year the Tzemach Tzedek engaged in many debates with those who sought to change laws in Russia pertaining to Jewish religion).
• Ohr HaTorah — forty-two volumes of Chassidic elucidations on the Torah, the Moadim, and Nach (Nevi'im and Kesuvim).
• Sefer HaLikkutim — a series of many dozens of volumes in which his Torah teachings were compiled according to subjects in alphabetical order.
• Igros Kodesh — ninety of his letters, in an annotated edition with introduction, edited by Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Levin and Rabbi Yehoshua Mondshein, new edition, Kehot, Brooklyn, 5773.
• Yahel Ohr — on Tehillim.

His Nigunim

Musical notation of the Niggun "Yemin Hashem Romemah" of the Tzemach Tzedek

• Niggun Ashrei Ish
• Niggun Deveikus attributed to the Tzemach Tzedek
• Niggun Deveikus (Tzemach Tzedek)
• Niggun Hodi'eini Hashem Kitzi
• Niggun Yemin Hashem Romemah
• Niggun Ka'Ayal Ta'arog (Tzemach Tzedek)
• Niggun Eli Atah (Tzemach Tzedek)
• Niggun Ach L'Elokim
• Niggun Tzamah Lecha Nafshi (Tzemach Tzedek)
• Niggun HaTe'udos attributed to the Tzemach Tzedek
• Niggun Yodecha Amim

See Also

• Bnei HaTzemach Tzedek (sefer)

Further Reading

• Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Levin, Toldos Chabad B'Russia HaTzarit, Kehot, New York, 5770.
• Avraham Chanoch Glitzenstein, Sefer HaToldos — Admur HaTzemach Tzedek, Kehot.
• Chaim Meir Heilman, Beis Rebbi.
• Rabbi Menachem Ziegelboim, Istalk Yikara — the histalkus of the Tzemach Tzedek, p. 121, 5773.
• Rabbi Schneur Zalman Berger, Toldos Chabad B'Petersburg, chapter 5 — the Rabbinical Conference of 5603 with the participation of the Tzemach Tzedek.
• The Rabbinical Conference of 5603 with the participation of the Tzemach Tzedek, Ohalei Lubavitch, vol. 3, p. 21.
• The Rebbe Following in the Tzemach Tzedek's Footsteps, in the Nitzotzei Rebbe column, HaKeshara Weekly, Parshas Shemini 5781.
• As the Tzemach Tzedek Rules, So It Is Ruled in Heaven, Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 1954, pp. 64–74.
• Menachem Kahana, Ashkavtei D'Rabbi, HaTamim journal (supplement to Beis Moshiach Weekly), issue 56, Nissan 5785, p. 48.

External Links

• The writings of the Tzemach Tzedek were redeemed by Rabbi Moshe Hornstein and returned to the Rebbe's library — Chabad Info
• Informers and spies in the home of the Tzemach Tzedek — MyLubavitch