Russian

Russian (in Russian: Русский - rusky) is the official language of Russia, and it is widely spoken as a conversational language and sometimes even as a mother tongue in neighboring countries that were under Soviet rule. Russian is the most common language in Europe and among the ten most spoken languages in the world.

Since our Rebbeim until the Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe mainly lived in these countries, as did a significant and primary portion of Chabad chassidim - this language was previously spoken by many Chabad chassidim, and there are even many Chabad niggunim in this language.

The Russian language is also significant in the activities of the Rebbe's shluchim and Chabad houses in the former Soviet Union countries, as well as in activities with Russian Jewish immigrants who came to Eretz Yisroel, the United States, and other countries to which many Russian-speaking Jews from the Soviet Union immigrated.

Russian and Jews

The Russian language is the official language of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Besides these countries, there are large concentrations of Russian-speaking Jews who immigrated to other countries after the fall of the Iron Curtain. In Eretz Yisroel, the number of Russian-speaking Jews is estimated at nearly one million people (and hundreds of thousands more who are not Jewish), in the United States more than half a million Russian-speaking Jews live, and in Germany more than one hundred thousand Russian-speaking Jews live. Additional countries with a high concentration of Russian-speaking Jews include Australia, Canada, England, and more.

The Language Among Our Rebbeim

Most of the Chabad Rebbeim knew Russian, due to the fact that they lived in Russian towns and nearby areas, where the common language was Russian.

During the arrest and redemption of the Alter Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe answered questions during his imprisonment with written responses in Lashon Hakodesh only, and his words were translated into Russian so that the royal ministers could review them.

The Tzemach Tzedek understood Russian, as he would read periodicals (written in this language) before the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe knew Polish, Russian, and German, but he did not want to speak these languages. (About the French language, the Alter Rebbe said that he did not even want to look at the letters of the language).

The Rebbe Rashab writes about the Russian language: "I lack the state language."

The Rebbe Rayatz (in an explanation he wrote to these words) explains that his father, the Rebbe Rashab, understood the Russian language very well, and did not need a translator at all when people spoke to him in Russian, and when they read to him in Russian even about philosophical matters - he would understand, but he did not want to speak the Russian language, and even when government ministers came to visit him for various matters, he never spoke even a few words in this language, and everything was through a translator. But in other languages, such as German and French he would speak, and he also spoke Italian, but was not as proficient in it as in German and French.

The Rebbe Rayatz adds that when he was with the Rebbe Rashab in France, they visited an ancient hall and saw ancient books and manuscripts there, and the Rebbe Rashab spoke with the manager there for four hours in French.

On this occasion, the Rebbe Rayatz asked his father, the Rebbe Rashab, why he does not speak the Russian language - and in various cases it was also apparent that he deliberately prevented himself from speaking this language. The Rebbe Rashab gave him three main reasons for this, and commanded him not to reveal them, as well as an additional reason, a simple one - which is the fourth reason, that speaking in Russian could cause him to waste time, because now that people know it is difficult to speak with him in the state language, non-Jewish estate owners come to him (for consultation, etc.) only occasionally, but when they know that it is possible to speak with him in Russian, then their visits will increase, and therefore he refrained from speaking in this language, but when abroad where this reason does not apply, he speaks in languages he knows (French, etc.).

In the "Prison Diary" of the Rebbe Rayatz there are many dialogues written in Russian (but in Hebrew letters), documenting the Rebbe Rayatz's conversations in this language with the jailers and investigators during his imprisonment in 5687 (1927). There is also a postcard that the Rebbe Rayatz wrote in his own handwriting in Russian to his family members while he was in prison.

The Rebbe spoke Russian, and even gave several sichos in the Russian language. Niggunim in Russian were also sung at farbrengens and during kos shel bracha distributions with the Rebbe.

At a farbrengen on Shabbos Parshas Nasso 5735 (1975), when the Rebbe referred to the Tanya book that was translated into English in a new translation, he told about the translation made by Menachem Mendel Schneerson - the younger son of the Rebbe Maharash - to the Tanya book, in Russian:

"And as is known the story that was with the brother of the Rebbe Nishmaso Eden (the Rebbe Rashab) who was named after the Tzemach Tzedek, that once he translated a chapter in Tanya into Russian and sent it to a non-Jew, that person was very impressed by it, but afterwards it did not progress and there was no continuation to the matter." — Farbrengen Shabbos Parshas Nasso 5735. Likkutei Sichos Volume 13, p. 180.

Also on Shabbos Parshas Vayeshev, 21 Kislev 5748 (1987), the Rebbe said:

"My father-in-law the Rebbe told that his uncle (the younger brother of the Rebbe Rashab), once translated a concept from Chassidic teachings into Russian in order to influence one of the respected and influential people in Russian morality etc. at that time etc., but this matter was a one-time event and was not known and publicized, (nor was it known in what way it had an effect), and not in an orderly manner etc., obviously." — Sefer HaSichos 5748 Volume 2, p. 159, footnote 46.

Niggunim in Russian

There are quite a few Chabad niggunim in Russian, some of which were even played by the Rebbe during farbrengens and during kos shel bracha distribution, including:

1. Niggun Uu Vodye
2. Ata Bechartanu (Russian)
3. Dudele
4. Zaigrei Mnya Kozachenka
5. Yedim Yedim (Niggun)
6. Lyuba Bratsi Lyuba
7. Michtav L'Rebbe (Niggun)
8. Niggun Avraham-New Avinu
9. Niggun Dunai
10. Niggun Za Rekayu (Fort A Idele)
11. Niggun for R' Pesach of Malastovke
12. Niggun Mi Armia Admora
13. Niggun Nashi Kramki
14. Niggun Nye Zhuritsi Chlopchi
15. Nyet Nyet Nikavo
16. Nye Choditi
17. Niggun Ech Ti Zemlyak
18. Niggun Tzama Lecha Nafshi
19. Niggun Stav Ya Pitu

Organizations Working with Russian Speakers

There are many Chabad organizations for Russian speakers:

Chavurat Mezakei HaRabbim

CHAM"AH - (acronym for Chavurat Mezakei Harabbim) - is a Chabad organization that works among Jews from the former Soviet Union. The organization operates in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eretz HaKodesh, and the United States, and it also operates the Achdut Yisrael organization in spreading the wellsprings.

Aliyah Division in Tzeirei Chabad

Chabad B'Aliyah is a division of the Tzach organization that operates more than twenty Chabad houses for Russian speakers throughout Israel, and unites the activities of all shluchim working among immigrants from the Soviet Union.

SHAMIR

SHAMIR (acronym: Agudat Shomrei Mitzvot Yotzei Russia) is an association whose role is to assist Jews from the Commonwealth of Independent States both materially and spiritually. The association was founded by the Rebbe in the summer of 5732 (1972).

Publication in Russian

Russian language books, "Hilchos Talmud Torah by the Alter Rebbe" and the book "To Be a Jew" published by HAMA.

The book "Jewish Awareness" by Rabbi Nadav Cohen translated into Russian.

In 5770 (2010), the "HAMA" organization published the book "Hilchos Talmud Torah by the Alter Rebbe" in a bilingual edition, with Hebrew pages facing Russian translations, in an impressive design. At the end of the book, there is an overview about the remarkable life story of the Alter Rebbe.

Additionally, "Shamir Publishing House" in Jerusalem published the book "To Be a Jew," originally written by Rabbi Emanuel Schochet in English, which was translated into Russian. The book 'To Be a Jew' addresses 30 questions and answers related to the topic of "Who is a Jew."

Also, a weekly magazine called "Alef" was established in the Russian language, distributed worldwide, with the purpose of introducing Yiddishkeit through the "back door." The Rebbe took it several times to the tziyun of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

The book Igros Kodesh - the Rebbe's letters - was also published in Russian.

Tanya in Russian

The Tanya was printed in Russian, translated by Mrs. Golda Lipsh, under the supervision of Professor Yirmiyahu Branover. Initially, the Tanya was printed in Russian in short booklets (from 5736/1976 onward), and later parts of the Tanya were printed as individual books, until the translation was completed and the Tanya was printed as a complete translated volume (from 5744/1984 onward). Since then, the Tanya has been printed many times in its entirety with the Russian translation by Shamir Publishing. The book "Lessons in Tanya" was also printed in Russian translation by "Yachad" publishing in 5780 (2020).

The book "Jewish Awareness" by Nadav Cohen was also published, presenting central ideas from the Tanya in clear and simple language. It quickly became a bestseller and was translated into English and Russian, with several editions published.