Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Altshuler
Devorah Leah Altshuler[edit | edit source]
Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Altshuler (5526–3 Tishrei 5553 / 1766–September 18, 1792) was the daughter of the Alter Rebbe (R' Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidus) and the mother of the Tzemach Tzedek (R' Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, the third Chabad Rebbe).
Biography[edit | edit source]
Rebbetzin Devorah Leah was born in Vitebsk in 5526 (1766) to the Alter Rebbe and his wife Rebbetzin Sterna.
In 5548 (1788) she married R' Shalom Shachna Altshuler, and approximately a year and a half later their only child — the future Tzemach Tzedek — was born.
Her Passing[edit | edit source]
In 5552 (1792), a severe heavenly accusation was leveled against the Alter Rebbe and his approach to spreading the teachings of Chassidus. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the Alter Rebbe sent special emissaries to the sacred resting places of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch to invoke their merit on his behalf.
On Motzoei Shabbos of Selichos (the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah), at the close of 5552, the Alter Rebbe summoned several of his elder disciples and told them of the serious nature of the accusation. He had reason to believe that on the approaching Rosh Hashanah of 5553, the accusers would shift their charge from Chassidus onto him personally. He asked his disciples to pray for divine mercy, and to begin thinking about how to assist his son the Mitteler Rebbe in leading and guiding the chassidim and the affairs of Chassidus going forward.
When Rebbetzin Devorah Leah overheard what her father had shared with his disciples, she resolved to take his place — and began thinking through how to do so.
On Erev Rosh Hashanah, after the Mincha (afternoon) prayer, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah entered the small beis midrash (study hall) where members of the Rebbe's household and a select group of disciples were reciting Psalms. She walked to the holy ark, opened its doors, and declared before the assembled:
"All those present — you are witnesses that before these sacred Torah scrolls, I accept upon myself with full clarity, with an oath and a vow: I, Devorah Leah daughter of Sterna, am taking the place of my father, R' Shneur Zalman son of Rivka — that he shall remain alive."
She then formally appointed three chassidim as a beis din (rabbinical court) as witnesses to her declaration.[1]
On the first night of Rosh Hashanah, after the prayers, the Alter Rebbe came out and asked where Devorah Leah was. When he found her, he began to say "L'shana..." — but had only gotten out the word "l'shana" (meaning "for the year [ahead]") when Rebbetzin Devorah Leah cut in and said: "L'shana tova tikasev v'seichosem — Father, please don't speak further..." and would not allow him to complete his blessing.
The following day, the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Alter Rebbe delivered Chassidic discourses until Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of the holiday). After Havdalah, he called Devorah Leah and her husband R' Shalom Shachna into his room, where she remained through the night.[2]
On that second day of Rosh Hashanah, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah fell ill. The next morning — Tzom Gedalya, 3 Tishrei 5553 (September 18, 1792) — she went to immerse in the mikveh (ritual bath), and by midday[3] she passed away, her mind clear and lucid until the very last moment. She was buried in the cemetery of Liozna.
Her final request of her father was that he personally raise and guide her only child — the future Tzemach Tzedek.
The Tzemach Tzedek would sing the Niggun HaHishtatchos (the melody of prostration at a tzaddik's grave), printed in Sefer HaNigunim, when he would visit her gravesite on the anniversary of her passing.
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- Kuntres HaRebbetzin Devorah Leah, Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn NY, 5753 (1993).