Sholom Dovber Schneersohn
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| Sholom Dovber Schneersohn | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lubavitcher Rebbe | ||
 |
||
| Term | 1892-09-10 OS – 1920-03-21 NS | |
| Full name | Sholom Dovber Schneersohn | |
| Main work | Yom Tov Shel Rosh Hashana 5666, Toras Sholom | |
| Born | 1860-10-24 OS | |
| Lyubavichi | ||
| Died | 1920-03-21 NS | |
| Rostov-on-Don | ||
| Buried | Rostov-on-Don | |
| Dynasty | Chabad Lubavitch | |
| Predecessor | Shmuel Schneersohn | |
| Successor | Joseph Isaac Schneersohn | |
| Father | Shmuel Schneersohn | |
| Mother | Rivkah (granddaughter of Dovber Schneuri) | |
| Wife 1 | Sterna Sarah (daughter of Yosef Yitzchok of Ovruch) | |
| Issue 1 | Joseph Isaac Schneersohn | |
Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (1860-10-24 OS - 1920-03-21 NS) was an Orthodox rabbi and the fifth Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement. He is also known as "the Rebbe nishmosei eiden" (whose soul is in Eden) and as "the Rashab" (for Reb Sholom Ber).
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[edit] Biography
He was born in Lubavitch, on 20 Marcheshvan 5621, the second son of Shmuel Schneersohn, the fourth Chabad Rebbe. In 1882, when his father died, he was not quite 22 years old, and his oldest brother Zalman-Aharon was not much older. An interregnum followed, during which both brothers fulfilled some of the tasks of a rebbe, but neither felt ready to take on the title and responsibilities. Over this period the Rashab gradually took on more responsibilities, particularly in dealing with the impact of the May Laws, and on Rosh Hashanah 5653 (1892-09-10 OS) he accepted the leadership of the Lubavitch movement.
Schneersohn established the first Hasidic yeshiva, Tomchei Temimim, in 1897.[citation needed] In 1911 he established another yeshivah, Toras Emes, in Israel, and in 1916 he established a yeshivah in Georgia.
Schneersohn promoted Jewish agricultural settlement, and the creation of employment for Jews, particularly those displaced by the May Laws. He was a prominent opponent of Zionism, and a staunch ally of Reb Chaim Brisker. Together with Reb Chaim he joined and supported Machazikei Hadas - a union of Eastern European haredim and forerunner of the Agudah - but in 1912, when the Agudah was formed in Katowice, Reb Chaim raised 18 objections to its constitution, and the Rashab kept Lubavitch out of the Agudah.[citation needed]
In 1915, as the fighting in World War I neared Lubavitch, the Rashab moved to Rostov-on-Don, where he lived until his death on 2 Nissan 5680, and where he was buried.
During the construction of the "Rostov Palace of Sport" on top of the Old Jewish Cemetery in 1966 his remains were secretly moved by a devout group of chassidim to a different burial site where they are located to this day in the "Rostov Jewish Cemetery." His grave is visited daily by followers of Chabad-Lubavitch movement who come from all over the world.
In 1902 he sought treatment for depression, traveling with his son, the sixth Rebbe to Sigmund Freud for treatment. Following Freud's instructions, the Rebbe RaSHaB began to take long walks. He also visited many different Synagogues, and met with people, many of whom didn't know who he really was. During this time his son recollects a fascinating aside. The Rebbe always regretted that his father, the MaHaRaSH, did not spend time with him, or his Chassidim, telling stories of his predecessors and other Tzaddikim. But while in Vienna the Rebbe began to have dreams in which his father told him Chassidic stories. During the long walks which Freud recommended he, in turn, related these stories to his son.
[edit] Bibliography
He was a prolific writer on Chabad theology. Much of his work has been published in Hebrew, and some of it has been translated into English, and is available online.
- Maamar Veyadaata - To know G-d
- Maamar Heichaltzu - On Ahavas Yisroel
- Kuntres Eitz HaChayim - The Tree of Life
- Chanoch Lanaar - The Ethical Will
- Isa B'Midrash Tehillim - Bar Mitzvah Maamar
- On Zionists and Zionism - A Letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Sholom Dovber
- Quotes from Rebbe Sholom Dovber of Lubavitch concerning Zionism
[edit] External links
- Life timeline and published works
- A brief biography of Rabbi Sholom Dovber, the "Rebbe Rashab"
- The Rashab with Sigmund Freud
[edit] Time-line of Lubavitcher rebbes
| Preceded by Shmuel Schneersohn |
Rebbe of Lubavitch 1892—1920 |
Succeeded by Joseph Isaack Schneersohn |
