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The Tzemach Tzedek

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn — the Tzemach Tzedek was the third Rebbe in the dynasty of Chabad Rebbeim. He was born on Sunday, 29 Elul 5549 (September 9, 1789),[1] in the city of Liozna, to Rabbi Shalom Shachna Altshuler and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Altshuler. He passed away on 13 Nissan 5626 (April 17, 1866), and his resting place is in Lubavitch.

He is known as the "Tzemach Tzedek" after his book 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 (September 9, 1789),[1] 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 (1792), on 3 Tishrei, when he was three years old, his mother passed away. At her final request, Menachem Mendel was taken in by his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, who cherished him deeply. Menachem Mendel slept in the Alter Rebbe's room, near the Holy Ark, and was constantly at his side. Until his wedding, the Alter Rebbe would cover him with his prayer shawl during the Priestly Blessing on the Jewish holidays, and until the age of nine would cover him during the shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah. On 11 Tishrei 5553 (1792), the Alter Rebbe enrolled him in Jewish elementary school.

When he was eight years old, the Alter Rebbe suggested to his son the Mitteler Rebbe that he take him as a groom 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 volume of Talmud and instructed him to memorize a page with the classic commentaries 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 (1800), at the age of eleven, he began writing original Torah insights — what he had heard from his grandfather, together with his own explanations. There is a discourse beginning with the word "Eidus" (printed in the book Derech Emunah — Sefer HaChakira) written in 5562 (1801); 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 traditional Talmudic learning. After his bar mitzvah, the Alter Rebbe set aside special times to learn Jewish mysticism and Chassidic philosophy 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 (November 9, 1803),[2] 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 head of the yeshiva there — preferring not to earn his livelihood from teaching Torah, 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 household they preferred that he not engage in manual labor, and he was appointed as a teacher.

In 5566 (1805), 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 (1809), 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 passing.[3] After the Alter Rebbe's passing, from 5574 (1813) until 5587 (1827), he secluded himself and studied with great diligence.

Accepting the Leadership

Main article: The Acceptance of Leadership by the Tzemach Tzedek

After the passing of the Mitteler Rebbe on 9 Kislev 5588 (December 16, 1827), 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 move to the Land of Israel.[4] 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 senior 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 position of Rebbe. Additional delegations of chassidim came and went, but he refused them all, claiming that the position 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 leadership — but he continued to refuse.

In the month of Nissan (April 1828), the chassidim decided that before Shavuos — the festival of the giving of the Torah — all the senior chassidim would come to Lubavitch to take counsel together. About two weeks before the holiday, several of the senior 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.[5]

On Tuesday, 3 Sivan 5588 (June 15, 1828), 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 leadership. 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 Chassidic teachings." Shortly afterward it became known that the Tzemach Tzedek would go to the synagogue to deliver a Chassidic discourse. Indeed, the Tzemach Tzedek entered the study hall — which was filled with chassidim — dressed in the white garments he had inherited from his grandfather the Alter Rebbe, and began to deliver a Chassidic discourse beginning with the words "Al sheloshah devarim ha'olam omeid" — "On three things the world stands."

As he began the discourse, Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik of Homel recalled that in his youth he had once heard the Alter Rebbe delivering this very discourse — while the young grandson Menachem Mendel played in the room at that time, disturbing the others from listening. Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik had worried that the child was a disturbance — when suddenly the Alter Rebbe stopped mid-discourse 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 discourse, 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 discourse, 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 discourse." And he immediately continued. In this way his gift of divine inspiration was revealed before all. At the conclusion of the discourse, all the chassidim broke into song and accompanied him home with dancing and great joy.[6]

His Torah

The Tzemach Tzedek was renowned for the many halachic responsa — responses to questions of Jewish law — that he provided to all who came to him. These questions and answers were printed in the books of Responsa Tzemach Tzedek.

Chassidic discourses and additional letters were published over the years in numerous editions.

The Repetition of Discourses

The Tzemach Tzedek customarily delivered a Chassidic discourse on Shabbos and Jewish holidays, and on additional special occasions. After the team of those who memorized the discourses had thoroughly committed the teaching to memory, they would come before the Tzemach Tzedek and repeat it to him, whereupon he would correct their errors and explain the discourse further.

Those Who Memorized the Discourses

His Activities

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

The Tzemach Tzedek founded a large yeshiva — a school for advanced Torah study — in Lubavitch, and in the early years of his leadership he regularly delivered classes to the select scholars of the yeshiva. His son Rabbi Yisrael Noach Schneersohn was head of the teaching staff, and his son-in-law Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Zalmanowitz conducted the yeshiva's examinations.

During the period of the Cantonist Decrees — the forced abduction of Jewish children to serve in the Tsar's army for twenty-five years — the Tzemach Tzedek secretly sent emissaries to all the communities where these abductions took place, ensuring that those responsible were placed under a communal ban. He would strengthen the abducted children to remain steadfast in their Jewish observance, and worked tirelessly 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 (1837) he printed his book Torah Ohr. In 5598 (1838), at the request of Chabad chassidim, he visited Mohilev, Minsk, and Vilna, returning via the Vitebsk province. During this journey he also met with the leading opponents of the Chassidic movement, who began engaging with him on questions of Jewish law. This journey quieted the longstanding controversy between the chassidim and their opponents.

In 5599 (1839) 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 (1843), the Russian government appointed a committee of four representatives of the Jewish community to deliberate on laws pertaining to the Jews — particularly regarding the question of Jewish education — and the Tzemach Tzedek was chosen as one of its members. Throughout the sessions, which lasted several months, he stood firm in protecting Jewish religion and education in its traditional 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 (1845) he printed the book Likkutei Torah, containing Chassidic discourses of the Alter Rebbe with his own explanations and glosses.

The Tzemach Tzedek also founded in 5604 (1844) the town 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."[7]

The Tzemach Tzedek was renowned as one who found legal solutions for women who were unable to remarry — due to a missing husband or other complex circumstances — and many such women were sent to Lubavitch for him to resolve their situations.[8]

The Tzemach Tzedek coined the saying "Tracht gut — vet zain gut" — Think good and it will be good — a Yiddish expression meaning that a positive and faithful outlook itself helps bring about a positive outcome. This saying was cited many times by the Rebbe and became a foundational value in Chabad Chassidus.

His Passing

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

In the month of Kislev 5620 (December 1859), the Tzemach Tzedek fell gravely ill and remained in poor health for more than six years. On the eve of Shabbos of Parshas Vayigash 5621 (December 1860), after his wife Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn passed away, he said to his son the Rebbe Maharash that a prediction of the Alter Rebbe had been fulfilled — fifty-four years had passed since the Alter Rebbe had sighed and said to him: "Nad katzir b'yom nachalah" — a Hebrew phrase whose key word "nad" has the numerical value of fifty-four.[9] After the passing of the Rebbetzin, the Tzemach Tzedek ceased receiving people for private audiences.

Around the month of Tishrei 5626 (autumn 1865) he began to experience difficulty in speech. In the winter of 5626 (1865–1866) he sent an emissary to Mezhibuzh to place a written prayer at the Baal Shem Tov's gravesite — but the emissary did not carry out his mission, a failure which, according to tradition, cost the Tzemach Tzedek thirteen years of his life. For the Alter Rebbe had blessed him with long life, and such a blessing in the Alter Rebbe's context means at least ninety years — whereas the Tzemach Tzedek in fact lived only seventy-seven years.[10]

At the beginning of Nissan 5626 (April 1866) 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 Psalms and added the name "Meir" to his name, as is the Jewish custom when praying for the recovery of a gravely ill person. Toward the evening of 12 Nissan 5626 (April 16, 1866), news came that his condition had improved — but shortly afterward it became clear once again that there was no hope. The attendant, R' Chaim Ber Chaimson, put his ear to the Tzemach Tzedek's lips and heard him saying: "Lema'an yirbu yemeichem" — the Hebrew verse meaning "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 5626 (April 17, 1866), at half past twelve at night, he passed away. His resting place is in the Ohel of the Tzemach Tzedek and the Maharash in Lubavitch.

After his passing, 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."[11]

Following his passing, Chabad Chassidus underwent a division, and three of his sons opened different Chassidic 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-Jewish artist 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:[12] 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 book 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 book — something that could not have been done, as it is contrary to the respect due a sacred text.

In 5647 (1887) 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 (1991) by the librarian Berel Levin[13] in the possession of a descendant of the Maharil of Kapust in Moscow, and was publicized.

In 5781 (2021), 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.[14]

His Family and Disciples

His Family[15]

The Tzemach Tzedek had many sons[16] and two daughters:

His Sons

His Daughters

Distinguished Disciples

Among the most distinguished chassidim of the Tzemach Tzedek:

His Works

  • Tzemach Tzedek — responses to questions of Jewish law, legal decisions, and original insights on the Talmud. The book's name alludes to the author's name — "Menachem Mendel" in the Yiddish spelling has the numerical value of "Tzemach Tzedek."
  • Derech Mitzvosecha — an explanation of the reasons behind the commandments according to Chassidic philosophy.
  • Biurei HaZohar — explanations of passages from the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism.
  • Derech Emunah — Sefer HaChakira — a philosophical work written in the tradition of Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed (written approximately in 5603 / 1843, 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 Jewish holidays, and the Books of Prophets and Writings.
  • Sefer HaLikkutim — a series of many dozens of volumes in which his Torah teachings were compiled according to topics 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 (2013).
  • Yahel Ohr — on Psalms.

His Nigunim

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

The Tzemach Tzedek composed a number of Chassidic melodies — known in Hebrew as nigunim — which are sung to this day in Chabad communities around the world:

See Also

Further Reading

  • Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Levin, Toldos Chabad B'Russia HaTzarit, Kehot, New York, 5770 (2010).
  • Avraham Chanoch Glitzenstein, Sefer HaToldos — Admur HaTzemach Tzedek, Kehot.
  • Chaim Meir Heilman, Beis Rebbi.
  • Rabbi Menachem Ziegelboim, Istalk Yikara — the passing of the Chabad Rebbeim, p. 121, 5773 (2013).
  • Rabbi Schneur Zalman Berger, Toldos Chabad B'Petersburg, chapter 5 — the Rabbinical Conference of 5603 (1843) with the participation of the Tzemach Tzedek.
  • The Rabbinical Conference of 5603 (1843) 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 (2021).
  • 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 (2025), p. 48.

External Links


Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 This is the accepted version. See: Igros Kodesh (Frierdiker Rebbe), vol. 4, p. 248; sicha of 12 Nissan 5700; sicha of Shevi'i Shel Pesach 5700; Shalshalas HaYachas at the beginning of Hayom Yom 5703, and more. According to another version, the year was 5548. See: diary of the Frierdiker Rebbe, 9 Tammuz 5658; Igros Kodesh (Frierdiker Rebbe), vol. 2, p. 195; sicha of Acharon Shel Pesach 5695. Yet another version gives the year as 5550 — see sicha of 27 Sivan 5704. See the note of Rabbi Shmuel Kraus on the subject.
  2. ↑ In Sefer HaMaamarim (Tzemach Tzedek) 5564, p. 343, and in Likkutei Diburim, it is stated that the wedding was on 5 Kislev 5564. In the Shalshalas HaYachas at the beginning of Hayom Yom it is recorded as 5563. And in Reshimas HaYoman, p. 209, it is written that the Tzemach Tzedek was married when he was approximately twelve or thirteen years old — because his son Rabbi Boruch Shalom Schneersohn was about nine years old at the time of the Alter Rebbe's passing in 5573 (implying a wedding in 5563). However, on p. 195 the Rebbe writes that he does not clearly recall this detail; and in the list of discourses of the Frierdiker Rebbe, reference is made to "a discourse of the Alter Rebbe, Erev Chanukah 5566, at the celebration for Rabbi Boruch Shalom" — from which it follows that at the time of the Alter Rebbe's passing, Rabbi Boruch Shalom was seven years old.
  3. ↑ In the book Derech Mitzvosecha there are matters that the Tzemach Tzedek heard from the Alter Rebbe during these final days.
  4. ↑ This was in the month of Tishrei 5588 (1827). The Mitteler Rebbe arrived in Haditch and prayed several times at his father the Alter Rebbe's gravesite. Once he remained at the gravesite for a long time, and when he emerged his face was radiant. He said: "I have prevailed upon my father, my master, my teacher and my Rebbe, to release me from the rabbinate." The chassidim assumed he meant to move to the Holy Land — as his father the Alter Rebbe had himself once sought to relinquish leadership of the chassidim in order to move there.
  5. ↑ In later years, Rabbi Aharon of Kremenchug also became a son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe when he married Chaya Sarah, the Mitteler Rebbe's daughter, in a third marriage.
  6. ↑ See a detailed overview with additional particulars, at Toras Chabad L'Vnei HaYeshivos.
  7. ↑ The official documents revealed — COL.
  8. ↑ See the regular column dedicated to stories on this topic in the journal HaAch, beginning with issue 31 and onwards.
  9. ↑ The numerical value of the Hebrew word "nad" is 54.
  10. ↑ Igros Kodesh (Frierdiker Rebbe), vol. 2, p. 495.
  11. ↑ Kerem Chabad journal, Nissan 5747, p. 68.
  12. ↑ It is related that the errors occurred because as he walked home, the painter kept his eyes closed so as not to forget the image — and midway he collided with a tree, which confused him and caused these mistakes.
  13. ↑ See Mibeis HaGnazim by Berel Levin, p. 257.
  14. ↑ Discovery: The first portrait attributed to the Tzemach Tzedek revealed — Chabad Info. An unknown portrait of the Tzemach Tzedek, apparently the earliest — revealed — COL. For further reading: Menachem Bronfman, The Portrait That Was Passed Down, Kfar Chabad Weekly, issue 1885.
  15. ↑ See: Shalom Dov Kobietsky, The Family of the Tzemach Tzedek During His Lifetime, in Kovetz He'aros U'Biurim — Ohalei Torah, issue 101, pp. 111–122.
  16. ↑ See also here.
  17. ↑ In the book Lishmo'a Ozen (section on the Tzemach Tzedek, story 15) by Rabbi Schneur Zalman Duchman, it is related that the Tzemach Tzedek had an additional son named Yerachmiel, who passed away young. However, this is mentioned only in Lishmo'a Ozen and nowhere else. See Reshimas HaYoman, p. 317, which notes that the Tzemach Tzedek had several sons who did not live long.
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