Yehudah Leib Segal (Father in Law of The Alter Rebbe)
The gaon (Torah luminary) and philanthropist Rabbi Yehudah Leib HaLevi Segal (born 1720) was born to R' Avraham Segal[1] and was among the leading figures of the Vitebsk community, and an eighth-generation descendant of the Mahril Segal.
Life[edit | edit source]
R' Yehudah Leib married Marat Beila Levinson.
He was a man of great wealth and served as the rosh hakahal — the lay head — of the Vitebsk Jewish community.[2]
After the wedding of their daughter Rebbetzin Sterna to the Alter Rebbe, the couple made life difficult for the Alter Rebbe and Rebbetzin Sterna, on account of what they regarded as his unusual conduct and practices.
Despite this, the Alter Rebbe made every effort to honor them. In a letter he sent to family members he refers to his mother-in-law Beila as an eshes chayil — a woman of valor.
In time, Beila came around and began to support the Alter Rebbe and Rebbetzin Sterna. As a result, she merited great wealth and an exceptionally long life.[3]
Family[edit | edit source]
- His brother-in-law: Yaakov of Kehil, Vitebsk
- His daughter: Rebbetzin Sterna
- His second daughter was married to R' Akiva Pradkin of Shklov.[4]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ He was born to the wife of R' Shlomo Segal, who was martyred, a son of David HaLevi Segal (the Taz).
- ↑ Igros Kodesh of the Frierdiker Rebbe, vol. 9, p. 57.
- ↑ Beis Rebbe, p. 108.
- ↑ Cited in the genealogical chain preceding HaYom Yom.