The Split of Chabad Chassidus: Difference between revisions

The split of Chabad Chassidus was a historical event that occurred between the years 5626-5683 (1866-1923) when Chabad Chassidus gradually divided into several branches. The split happened after the histalkus (passing) of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek in 5626 (1866) following a dispute over who would be his successor. Three of his sons (the Maharil, the RaChaShaZ, and the MaHaRIN) opened separate courts from Chabad-Lubavitch. The official successor of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek was his youngest son, the Rebbe Maharash, who served as Rebbe in Lubavitch, while simultaneously his three brothers served as Rebbes in the spirit of Chabad: Rabbi Yehuda Leib who was Rebbe in the town of Kopust, Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman who was Rebbe in the town of Lyadi, and Rabbi Yisrael Noach who was Rebbe in the town of Niezhin.

== The Wills, the Court Ruling, and the Division ==

== Letter from the Tzemach Tzedek to His Son, the Maharash ==

A letter written by the Tzemach Tzedek to his son, the Maharash, in which he expresses his wish that he lead the Chassidic community.

* Drawing attributed to the Rebbe Maharash, successor of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek

* The gravestone of the Maharil, founder of Chassidus Kopust in the town of Kopust

The founder of the branch was the Maharil of Kopust.

A painting of the ohel of Chabad Liaadi Rebbes in the town of Liaadi

The founder of this branch was Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman Schneerson. Even before the Tzemach Tzedek passed away, many chassidim became connected to him, such as the chassid Reb Mordechai Yoel Duchman from Homil, his brother Reb Zalman Duchman from Karma, and others. After the passing of the Maharil of Kopust, hundreds of his chassidim streamed to Lubavitch, and some became connected to Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman who was still living in Lubavitch at that time, like Reb Moshe Yisroel from Drisa (the son of Reb Mordechai from Liepli), Reb Mordechai from Kamil, and others.

The beis medrash of Rabbi Yisroel Noach Schneerson in the town of Niez'hin that served as the center of Chabad-Niez'hin Chassidus today

The founder of this branch was Rabbi Yisroel Noach Schneerson, son of the Tzemach Tzedek.

== Chabad Centers During the Period of Division ==

The central Chabad synagogue in Dokshitz where there were minyanim for both Lyadi and Lubavitch Chassidim

The building of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Warsaw

The Tzemach Tzedek synagogue in Jerusalem which belonged to the Lubavitch Chassidim

Students of Yeshivas Toras Emes studying in the Ohel Yitzchak synagogue in Jerusalem, a synagogue that previously belonged to the Kapust Chassidim

This section does not go into details but gives a general overview of the situation that developed in the Chabad centers in Russia and Lithuania after the split from Lubavitch. Although the situation described mostly reflects the reality that prevailed in the first years after the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek, it is very possible that after the tumult subsided, the situation in these towns changed.

== The Attitude of Our Rebbes to the Different Branches ==

Rabbi Shmuel Bezpalov, who, because of his connection to Lubavitch, refused to inherit the position of Rabbi Shmarya Noach Schneerson of Babroisk in the role of Rebbe, and in practice only replaced him in the rabbinate.

At the time of the split, there was a critical attitude in Lubavitch toward the various branches of Chabad, but today this has changed. The Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe considered the Rebbes of the various branches of Chabad as part of the Chabad Rebbes, but as different branches.

In Tel Aviv lived a grandson of Rabbi Shmarya Noach of Babroisk who had holy writings of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek. R' Binyamin Gorodetzky wanted to present them to the Rebbe, and that grandson agreed after persuasion. In response, the Rebbe printed the book "Shemen LaMaor" - the sermons of Rabbi Shmarya Noach. When Rabbi Shaul Dov Ber Zislin heard that the book of the Rebbe of Babroisk, Shemen LaMaor, was printed in Kfar Chabad, he went to R' Pinchas Althaus and asked, "Is it possible?" When R' Pinchas told him it was with the Rebbe's approval, Rabbi Zislin calmed down.

When the Rebbe came to comfort the Rashag on 25 Tishrei 5730 (1969) after the passing of his mother, exchanges were recorded between him and the Rashag regarding the book "Magen Avot" by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Schneerson of Kopust. Among other things, the Rashag asked the Rebbe if he had studied the book "Magen Avot," and the Rebbe replied affirmatively. The Rashag added and said that at first he was afraid to study this book because it was known that there was objection to those who studied the books of Kopust, but when he heard from the Rebbe Rayatz that the book "Magen Avot" is based on the discourses of the Tzemach Tzedek, he calmed down and began to study the book. The Rebbe even said that the discourses of Magen Avot are "pleasant discourses." Later in the conversation, the Rebbe added and noted that at the time of the split, there was even a prohibition and objection to those who studied the book Derech Mitzvotecha of the Tzemach Tzedek, despite the fact that only the introduction was written by a chassid of Kopust, but the Rebbe noted that this was only a temporary directive, and today one can study Magen Avot.