Rebbetzin Rivka Shneersohn (Wife of Maharash)

Rebbetzin Rivka (1813/1815 - 10 Bishvat 1714), was the wife of the Maharash Rebbe by his second marriage, and managed the material affairs of the Lubavitch court. Many of the stories written by her grandson, the Rayatz Rebbe, were heard from her. When the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch was established, she helped establish the yeshiva kitchen and sleeping quarters.

Life history

She was born to her father, Rabbi Aharon Alexandrov of Shklov, and to her mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Sarah Alexandrov Zaslavsky, the daughter of the Middle Rebbe, in 1883 or on the 2nd of Cheshvan 1885 in the town of Lubavitch.

On the 24th of Iyar 1887, her father, Rabbi Aharon Alexandrov, passed away.

In her youth, she heard many stories from her mother about our rabbis and leaders, and even received from her a book written in her father's handwriting that included stories he had heard.

In 1883, her mother married Rabbi Aharon Zaslavsky, son of Rebbetzin Freida, and he raised her for the next three years, and she later said of him that she 'remembers him fondly.'

In 1885, her mother fell ill and on the 2nd of Adar 1886, she passed away. This event had a profound effect on her daughters.For the next six months, they moved into a relative's home, and in the month of Menachem Av 1916, her grandmother, Rebbetzin Shaina, took her and her sister, Tzvia Gitel Lampert, in and raised them in her home.

On the 8th of Sivan 1918, the Rebbe of the Maharash married his wife, Rebbetzin Shaterna Schneerson, daughter of Rabbi Chaim Schneor Zalman Schneerson (son of Rebbe Hatzem Tzedek), but three months later Rebbetzin Shaterna passed away. As a result, Rebbetzin Shaina sent a request to the Rebbe Hatzem Tzedek to match his son, the Rebbe of the Maharash, with one of her orphaned granddaughters, Rebbetzin Rivka and her older sister Tzvia Gitel.Since other matchmaking proposals were on the table at the time, the proposal was not implemented.In 1919, a court of three people was convened: Rabbi Avraham HaCohen - the rabbi of the town of Lubavitch, Rabbi Zalman Minavitch and Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneerson (son of the Rebbe of Tzemach Tzedek), to discuss the matter of the matchmaking with the sisters.

During the discussions, the Rebbe of the Maharash recalled that when he was three years old he said that he would take the girl Rivka as his wife, and those present made fun of him. Now, however, he remembered this act and thought that the matter was not for nothing, although he was afraid to take her out of respect for her sister as her firstborn.

Therefore, the court ruled that the sisters' proposal should be considered, but did not decide which of them to go with. When the Rebbe of Tzemach Tzedek learned of the court's decision, he was very pleased, he supported the proposal and spoke in praise of their father, Rabbi Aharon.

Several months later, the court met again, and it was decided that due to the incident that had occurred in their youth, the Rebbe of the Maharash and the Rebbetzin Zalza would marry, and that they would not be concerned with the issue of the eldest son. Rebbetzin Rivka was then 15 or 13 years old.

In the month of Nisan 11, 1811-(9), Rabbi Avraham HaCohen arrived at the home of Rebbetzin Shaina and told her that the court had decided to take the younger Rivka. Rebbe Hatzemach Tzedek called his eldest sister, Tzvia Gitel, to him and promised that he would take care of her like a father would take care of his own child. He also asked if she would forgive him, and he answered in the affirmative. That very evening, the conditions were fulfilled between Rebbetzin Rivka and the Rebbe of the Maharash, with great pomp and ceremony.

On Thursday, the 11th of Nisan 1811, the wedding of the Rebbe of the Maharash and Rebbetzin Rivka was held in pomp and splendor.