Menachem Mendel Schneersohn

Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (1789-09-09 - 1866-03-17 OS) also known as the Tzemach Tzedek was an Orthodox rabbi and the third Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement.

Biography

He was known as the Tzemach Tzedek ("Righteous Sprout" or "Righteous Scion"), after the title of a voluminous compendium of halakha (Jewish law) that he authored. He also authored Derech Mitzvotecha ("Way of Your Commandments"), a mystical exposition of the Mitzvos. He compiled major works of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi for publication, including the Siddur Mi'Kol Ha'Shanah (commonly known as Siddur Im Dach), Likutei Torah and Torah Ohr. He also authored a philosophical text entitled "Sefer Chakira: Derech Emuna" (Book of Philosophy: The way of Faith).

The Tzemach Tzedek had close ties with other Jewish leaders. In the course of his battle against the Haskalah in Russia, he forged a close alliance with Rabbi Yitzchak of Volozhin, a major leader of the misnagdim, which led to warmer relations between them and the hasidim.

According to Baruch Epstein, his father Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein spent six months under the Tzemach Tzedek's tutelage, and learned most of his mystical knowledge during that time. This story is disputed.

His close friendship with professor I Berstenson, the Tsar's court physician often helped the delicate negotiation relating to the welfare of the community.

He set up an organisation called Hevras Techiyas Hameisim to assist Jewish boy-soldiers who were being recruited and converted to Christianity by the Russian army. These soldiers known as Cantonists were taken away from the Jewish community to other villages. Schneersohn arranged for his students to pay them regular visits to keep up their spirits and discourage them from converting.

In 1844-45 he took steps to increase the enrollment and viability of the Chabad Yeshivas in Dubrovno and Kalisk, expanding their enrollment to around 600 students in total. Repeated attempts by the authorities to entrap him using informers such as Hershel Hodesh, Benjamin the Apostate and Lipman Feldman failed.

He died in Lubavitch on 13 Nissan 5626, leaving seven sons and two daughters.

Sons

The Tzemach Tzedek had seven sons. They were:

1. Rabbi Baruch Shalom (1805-1869) never became a Rebbe. He led his life in a very humble way despite his greatness. His great-great-grandson is the Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

2. Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn (Maharil) (1808-1866) settled in Kopust. A few months after the death of his father (and the brothers were not able to reach an agreement), he moved to Kopust as Rebbe. He died two months later. He had three sons:

• Rabbi Shlomo Zalman (1830-1900), who assumed his father’s position in Kopust. He left no worthy successor. He is the author of Magen Avos.
• Rabbi Shalom Duber (-1908) served as rabbi in Retzitza. He had a following after the death of his brother Rabbi Shlomo Zalman. He had no successor.
• Rabbi Shmaryahu Noach (1842-1924) was Rav in Babroisk. He had a following after the death of his brother Rabbi Shlomo Zalman. He and his son had a Yeshiva in Babroisk. He is the author of Shemen La'maor. He had no successor.

3. Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman (1814-1880) was Rebbe in Lyady after his father, the Tzemach Tzedek died. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yitzchak Duber (1835-1910) of Liadi, author of Siddur Maharid, and his son-in-law, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak (-1905) of Siratin, a scion of the Rebbe of Radzimin.

4. Rabbi Yisroel Noach (1815-1883) of Nizhyn, although officially a Rebbe, had only a small following. His son was Rabbi Avraham Schneerson of Kischinev, whose daughter, Nechama Dina Schneersohn, married Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

5. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (1822-1876) was a Rebbe in Ovruch. He was compelled to assume this position by his father-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas (son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe) against his father’s wishes.

6. Rabbi Yaakov, although leaving descendants, died at quite a young age. Little is known about him.

7. Rabbi Shmuel (Maharash) (1834-1882) of Lubavitch, his youngest son succeeded him as the Rebbe of Lubavitch.

Ohr HaTorah

Noted students

• Rabbi Hillel Paritcher
• Rabbi Shneur Zalman Fradkin of Lublin

Works

• Ohr HaTorah - Chassidic discourses
• Sefer HaLikkutim - A Chassidic encyclopedia
• Derech Mitzvosecha - An explanation of the mystical reasons for the Mitzvos
• Responsa Tzemach Tzedek - 8 vols.
• Sefer Chakira: Derech Emunah - exposition of Jewish philosophy

External links

• A brief biography of Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the "Tzemach Tzedek"
• The Tzemach Tzedek and the Haskalah movement in hebrew
• The Tzemach Tzedek Family Tree
• Many Published Works of the Tzemach Tzedek (Hebrew)

Footnotes

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