Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Menachem Mendel Schneersohn | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lubavitcher Rebbe | ||
 |
||
| Term | 1831-05-05 – 1866-03-17 OS | |
| Full name | Menachem Mendel Schneersohn | |
| Main work | Tzemach Tzedek | |
| Born | 1789-09-09 OS | |
| Liozna | ||
| Died | 1866-03-17 OS | |
| Lyubavichi | ||
| Buried | Lyubavichi | |
| Dynasty | Chabad Lubavitch | |
| Predecessor | Dovber Schneuri | |
| Successor | Shmuel Schneersohn | |
| Father | Shalom Shachna | |
| Mother | Devorah Leah (daughter of Shneur Zalman of Liadi) | |
| Wife 1 | Chaya Mushka (daughter of Dovber Schneuri) | |
| Issue 1 | Baruch Shalom Yehudah Leib of Kopys Chaim Shneur Zalman of Liadi |
|
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (1789-09-09 - 1866-03-17 OS) was an Orthodox rabbi and the third Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement. He is also known as the Tzemach Tzedek.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
The Tzemach Tzedek was born in Liozna, on 29 Elul 5549. His mother Devorah Leah died just three years later, and her father Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi raised him as his own son. He married his first cousin Chaya Mushka, daughter of Rabbi Dovber Schneuri. After his father-in-law's death, and a three-year interregnum during which he tried to persuade the hasidim to accept his brother-in-law Menachem-Nachum Schneuri or his uncle Chaim-Avraham Boruchovitch as their leader, he assumed the leadership of Lubavitch on the eve of Shavuot 5591 (1831-05-05 OS). He died in Lubavitch on 13 Nissan 5626.
Schneersohn was also known as the Tzemach Tzedek ("Righteous Sprout" or "Righteous Scion"), after the title of a voluminous compendium of halakha (Jewish law) that he authored.[1] He also authored Derech Mitzvotecha ("Way of Your Commandments"), a mystical exposition of halakha. 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 a close relationship 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.[2] Rabbi Moses Sofer the "Chasam Sofer", Rabbi Akiva Eiger and Rabbi Chaim Volozhin were also known to have a close correspondence with the Tzemach Tzedek.[citation needed]
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.[3]
[edit] Ohr Hatorah
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson said of his work "Ohr HaTorah" that it contains in it all the previous; and future teachings of the Chabad Rebbe's, and that it comprises all parts of Torah.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- A brief biography of Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the "Tzemach Tzedek"
- The Tsemah Tzedek Family Tree
- The Complete Published Works of the Tzemach Tzedek in Hebrew
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Tzemach" (צמח) has the same gematria as "Menachem" (מנחם), and "Tzedek" (צדק) has the same as "Mendel" (מענדל). The original responsa Tzemach Tzedek were those of Menachem Mendel Krochmal. Schneersohn's responsa were known as Shu"t Tzemach Tzedek Hachadashot, "the new Tzemach Tzedek responsa". Rabbi Menachem Mendil Hager, the first Viznhitzer Rebbe, called his commentary on the Torah Tzemach Tzadik (צמח צדיק), because he spelled his name with an extra yod (מענדיל).
- ^ The Tzemach Tzedek and the Haskalah Movement, webbed at [1]
- ^ The claim is in Mekor Baruch, chapter 20. But see Mekor Baruch - Mekor Hakzavim by Yehoshua Mondshein.
| Preceded by Dovber Schneuri |
Rebbe of Lubavitch 1831—1866 |
Succeeded by Shmuel Schneersohn |
