Shneur Zalman Gurary

Rabbi Schneur Zalman Gurary was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Yeshivos Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch, a director of Kehot Publication Society, appointed by the Rebbe to the main leadership of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, and a member of the Rabbinical Alliance of America and Canada.

Early Years

Rabbi Schneur Zalman Gurary was born to Rabbi Nosson Gurary and Rebbetzin Esther Gurary in Kremenchug, on the first night of Chanukah, 5672. On Erev Yom Kippur, 5677, at the age of 5, he merited to see and receive a blessing from the Rebbe Rashab in the town of Slavyansk, where the Rebbe Rashab was staying at the time. During the winter of 5680, his family fled Kremenchug to Rostov, escaping the approaching Bolsheviks.

In 5681, Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s father passed away, and the Rebbe Rayatz personally took responsibility for his education, At one memorable Simchas Torah farbrengen, the Rebbe demonstrated particular closeness by seating young Zalman on his knees and personally feeding him tzimmes, saying "Es un brech, vestu bleibn a chossid" [eat and vomit, and you'll remain a chossid].. His teacher was Rabbi Moshe Rosenblum, a chossid and secretary of the Rebbe Rashab and the Rebbe Rayatz.

On one occasion, the Rebbe Rayatz instructed Rabbi Yaakov Landau to test young Schneur Zalman. Rabbi Landau tested him in the dining room adjacent to the Rebbe’s study. Unknown to Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the Rebbe was listening to the test from his room. Afterward, the Rebbe dismissed the teacher, as he focused only on teaching knowledge without depth, and appointed Rabbi Yechiel Kamisar as his new teacher.

During these years, Rabbi Schneur Zalman received special attention from the Rebbe Rayatz and was one of the select few to participate in the weddings of the Rebbe Rayatz’s three daughters.

When the Rebbe Rayatz moved from Rostov to Leningrad in 5684, Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s family also relocated. Without a private tutor in Leningrad, the Rebbe sent him to Nevel to study under the guidance of Rabbi Meir Simcha Chein. The Rebbe instructed Rabbi Chein to arrange a suitable teacher for Rabbi Schneur Zalman. After initial difficulties, the Rebbe's secretary, Rabbi Yechezkel Feigin, intervened, ensuring his acceptance into Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Nevel.

Studies in Poland

In 5685, Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s family emigrated to Poland, and he began learning in Tomchei Temimim in Warsaw. During this time, he received personal letters from the Rebbe Rayatz, guiding him on his studies and behavior. Among the Rebbe’s instructions was a directive to study "Derech Chaim" by the Mitteler Rebbe.

At 15, Rabbi Schneur Zalman suffered from appendicitis. Doctors insisted on surgery, but he refused without the Rebbe’s consent. Since the Rebbe was then imprisoned and unreachable, Rabbi Schneur Zalman declined the surgery. Miraculously, he recovered without it.

Before Rosh Hashanah 5689, he exerted great effort to travel to the Rebbe Rayatz, who was then in Riga, overcoming financial and bureaucratic challenges. This marked the beginning of an enduring tradition—spending Rosh Hashanah with the Rebbe every year, except for two occasions.

In Kislev 5689, Rabbi Schneur Zalman participated in the wedding of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.

Shlichus and Leadership

In 5691, Rabbi Schneur Zalman was sent by the Rebbe Rayatz to inspect and establish yeshivos in various cities. The Rebbe gave him detailed instructions, emphasizing that a shliach must first embody the values he seeks to impart to others.

He excelled in his role, delivering shiurim in Nigleh and Chassidus and engaging with prominent rabbonim and roshei yeshiva. Upon returning to Warsaw, he became a maggid shiur in the yeshiva’s preparatory program and continued to maintain a close relationship with the Rebbe Rayatz, who personally ensured his salary.

In the United States

After marrying Rebbetzin Chava, the daughter of the Kopishnitz Rebbe, he settled temporarily with his in-laws on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. With the establishment of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in America, Rabbi Schneur Zalman became a rosh yeshiva and played a pivotal role in its administration alongside other prominent Chabad leaders.

Despite business ventures and communal responsibilities, Rabbi Schneur Zalman maintained a rigorous daily learning schedule, delivering two shiurim in Gemara each day.

He was deeply devoted to the Rebbe and followed the Rebbe’s directives meticulously. Even in matters of personal health, such as refraining from kidney surgery, he heeded the Rebbe's guidance, enduring challenges with unwavering faith.

Communal Leadership

Rabbi Schneur Zalman was instrumental in keeping Chabad families in Crown Heights during challenging times, offering financial incentives to encourage home purchases in the neighborhood. He also played a significant role in the preservation and expansion of Chabad institutions, including the Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad.

In later years, R' Zalman built several mikvaos throughout the neighborhood, and he greatly supported the Hachnosas Orchim organization. Above the Union Street mikvah he built, he had several apartments which he gave for Hachnosas Orchim. These apartments were used by Eshel Hachnosas Orchim until 2005. As with the Frierdiker Rebbe, he was also the treasurer responsible for all the Rebbe's household expenses and all medical matters concerning the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. R' Zalman built a pool for Tashlich near 770 to avoid troubling the Rebbe on Rosh Hashanah.

Hiskashrus to the Rebbe

After the histalkus of the Frierdiker Rebbe, Reb Zalman became deeply mekushar to the Rebbe, writing to him almost daily about all his activities. He would take no step without first receiving the Rebbe's haskama and bracha. He served on a special vaad dealing with matters related to the kabolas hanesius.

Hafatzas HaMaayanos and Mivtzoim

Reb Zalman was known as a dedicated chossid who was moser nefesh for the Rebbe's horaos, particularly the Ten Mivtzoim which he fulfilled with special hiddur. He was known for his extraordinary chavivus for hiddur mitzvah, especially regarding sandakaus, which the Rebbe once publicly praised

Activities for Moshiach

R' Zalman was among the leading figures involved in spreading the message of redemption and the redeemer.

In 1977, when those who stirred up controversy against Chabad Chassidus tried to use the Chassidim's belief that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach to fuel the flames of dispute, a group of activists who attempted to quiet the controversy considered taking steps to calm the matter. Among the rabbanim was R' Zalman, who called Rabbi Chodakov to discuss the issue. Rabbi Chodakov, by his nature, agreed with R' Zalman's words and had reservations about publicizing the belief that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach.

While they were speaking, R' Zalman heard a cough on the phone line. This was a sign that the Rebbe had joined the line. There was silence on the line for two minutes, and then Rabbi Chodakov returned to speaking with R' Zalman, but suddenly his opinion changed completely: "R' Zalman," he said, "what does it bother you that Chassidim say the Rebbe is Moshiach? This is how it has always been, as brought in the Gemara, that students would say about their teachers that they are worthy to be Moshiach."

R' Zalman immediately understood that the sudden change in Rabbi Chodakov's opinion came from words he heard from the Rebbe, and he too changed his opinion completely. With Chassidic enthusiasm, R' Zalman called one of the secretaries and asked him to buy a bottle of mashke and to farbreng about the great revelation they merited that day, when the Rebbe revealed his opinion that Chassidim should publicize that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach.

From then on, R' Zalman stood at the forefront of spreading the message of redemption and the redeemer, and was among the main speakers at gatherings to strengthen faith.

In the 1990s, following the great awakening in the Rebbe's sichos about the geulah, he would speak with Chassidic warmth about the "new era" we are in the midst of, the era of Moshiach's revelation, and about the meaning of calling "Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L'olam Va'ed" in the Rebbe's presence, and encouraged utilizing this great opportunity properly to publicize the message of redemption to the broader public.

After the sicha of 28 Nissan 1991, the crowd burst out crying "ad mosai" but the Rebbe told him it did not affect or touch him.

R' Zalman supported publishing advertisements in newspapers announcing the Rebbe's identity as Melech HaMoshiach and calling on the public to increase in good deeds to receive him. When opponents emerged on the matter, R' Zalman asked the Rebbe's secretary Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner to ask the Rebbe about it again, and to write to him exactly the Rebbe's answer. Thus, the Rebbe's holy opinion supporting the publication of advertisements in newspapers in the clearest way was publicized.

About two months later, in Adar 1993, when he wrote to the Rebbe that they wanted to remove him from the executive committee of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States because he openly proclaimed that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach and asked the Rebbe if he should fight this with mesirus nefesh, the Rebbe nodded his head in affirmation.

After 3 Tammuz 1994, he greatly encouraged the Chassidim, and placed special emphasis on belief in the fulfillment of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach's prophecy, and that "not one of his words would return empty."

Passing

On Erev Rosh Hashanah 5764, while visiting the Ohel, Rabbi Schneur Zalman suffered a heart attack and passed away on Rosh Hashanah.

Family

His children:

• Reb Yitzchak Meir Gurary
• Reb Nosson Gurary (Buffalo)
• Mrs. Esther, wife of Reb Menachem Nachum Sternberg

Further Reading

• Shalom DovBer Levin, "Zichron HaRashaz Gurary" - Correspondence of our Rebbeim with Shneur Zalman Gurary. 2006.
• Yosef Yitzchak Elituv and Binyamin Lipkin, "B'chol Beiti Ne'eman Hu", 2012.
• Yosef Ashkenazi, Otzar HaChassidim - Personalities and Chassidic Teachings of Chabad Mashpi'im in New York, published by Chazak, 2013
• "I Raise Him With My Eyes", Pearls from his memories, 'U'b'oto Hazman' Issue 1 page 72
• "The Chassid Who Worked to Establish the Kingdom of the Seventh Generation", Beis Moshiach Weekly Magazine Issue 1200 page 28
• "I Feel Like I've Gone Back Almost Eighty Years", Beis Moshiach Weekly Magazine Issue 193 page 59

External Links

• "What the Rebbe is 'Koch Zich' In - That's What We Must Be Involved In!" Words spoken at an awakening gathering in 770 on 27 Nissan 5753
• "The Rebbe Shows an Example Himself, So What's the Discussion?"
• "Responses He Merited to Receive from the Rebbe - Part 1 (Shpatz Sternberg) • Part 2 (Slonim-Rivkin)" within the Teshura from his descendants' weddings
• "First-Hand Account: What Transpired in the Rebbe's Room on Simchas Torah 5753"