Chaim Avraham Schneuri
| Rabbi Chaim Avraham Schneuri | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1777 |
| Passing | 1848 |
Rabbi Chaim Avraham Schneuri (Elul 1777 - 29 Sivan 1848) was the son of the Alter Rebbe and possessed remarkable talents. He never showed interest in anything outside of Torah and avodah and was a great masmid who would spend long periods in davening. He always received everyone with a pleasant countenance.
Life History[edit | edit source]
He was born to the Alter Rebbe in Liozna. After his bris milah, the Alter Rebbe said that he named him Avraham after his teacher Rabbi Avraham HaMalach and after his maternal grandfather Rabbi Avraham.
When he was three years old, he became ill and was considered dangerously sick. The Alter Rebbe called four of his choicest talmidim and told them that his teacher Rabbi Avraham HaMalach came to him in a dream and asked why he wasn't davening for the child who carries his name. He told him there was a kepida from his maternal grandfather because his name was not prominently known that the child was named after him. The Alter Rebbe responded that he acted according to halacha, since it states in Shulchan Aruch that between honoring one's teacher and father, honoring one's teacher takes precedence, particularly regarding names which are known to benefit the neshama and its expansion in the nefesh of the one named. However, once the Alter Rebbe learned that his maternal grandfather's name was Chaim Avraham, he called his talmidim to add the name Chaim.
Reb Chaim Avraham was tall and his appearance resembled that of his father the Alter Rebbe. A spirit of grace was always upon his face and when people would look at Rabbi Chaim Avraham - the Rebbetzin Rivka related - it would make their hearts feel good. He was wise and pleasant and would speak minimally.
After the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, he accepted the leadership of his brother - the Mitteler Rebbe and afterwards of the Tzemach Tzedek.
His name appears as a signatory on the haskama of the Tanya and in the introduction to the Shulchan Aruch.
He passed away on 29 Sivan 1848 and is buried in Lubavitch.
Family[edit | edit source]
- His son, Rabbi DovBer Schneerson
- His son, Rabbi Baruch Shmuel Schneerson, became a mechutan with Reb Hillel Paritcher when his son Reb Refael Mordechai married Reb Hillel's daughter
- His daughter, Maras Gita Rachel Ginzburg, wife of Rabbi Nechemia Ginzburg of Dubrovna, author of Shu"t Divrei Nechemia and additions to Shulchan Aruch, who engaged in halachic discourse with the Tzemach Tzedek and Rabbi Eisel of Homil
- His daughter, Maras Mussia Hinda Feigelson, wife of Reb Shneur Zalman Feigelson
- His daughter, Maras Beila Reiza Schneerson, wife of Reb Baruch, son of his brother the Mitteler Rebbe
Additional Reading[edit | edit source]
- Dov Ber Zakles, "Sod HaChaim: Biography of Rabbi Chaim Avraham son of the Alter Rebbe", in Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov, Issue 43, pp. 337-365.