By Nava Sturm, Staff Writer
On July 9, thousands of people visited the gravesite of the last Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, on the occasion of his thirtieth yahrzeit. The Rebbe passed away on June 12, 1994 (3 Tammuz, 5754). As an extraordinary leader, the Rebbe’s vision for Judaism was exemplified through his commitment to reaching every Jew and increasing performance of the mitzvot worldwide. He has had an untold influence on the Jewish people, as well as society at large. From looking back on the Rebbe’s relationships with past presidents and other political leaders until today (especially when NYC Mayor Eric Adams was among the visitors to the Ohel on July 9), it is evident that the Rebbe’s leadership and lessons have had a far-reaching impact.
Chabad-Lubavitch, widely referred to as ‘Chabad,’ is a sect of Chassidic Judaism. The movement’s name refers to the philosophy it represents, as well as its place of origin. ‘Chabad’ is a Hebrew acronym, referring to three different branches of knowledge – chochmah, binah, and da’at, which translate to wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. ‘Lubavitch’ is the name of the town in Russia where the movement was based for over one hundred years. Chabad is guided by the teachings of its seven rebbes, beginning with Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi through the leadership of Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson. These rebbes were all known for their focus on expounding the teachings of kabbalah, as well as their care for all aspects of Jewish life, cemented by their dedication to every individual Jew. The Rebbe is largely responsible for many of the movement’s social services and educational programs that are commonly associated with Chabad today – it is under his leadership that the movement began the practice of sending shluchim to countries all over the world and campaigns to increase the observance of mitzvot.
Born in 1902 in Nikolaev, Russia, the Rebbe was son to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson. The Schneerson family soon moved to Yekatrinislav, another city in Russia, where Rabbi Levi Yitzchak became the chief rabbi. Much of the Rebbe’s childhood and young adult years were spent dedicated to talmud Torah. In 1928, the Rebbe married the daughter of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Chaya Mushka. Shortly after their marriage, the Rebbe and his wife moved to Berlin, where he studied at the University of Berlin. It was during this time at the university that the Rebbe first met Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik; the two formed a unique relationship that they maintained even past their respective arrivals in America.
Following time spent studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, the Rebbe and his wife moved to the United States in 1941. Upon arriving in the states, the Rebbe quickly dedicated his efforts to spreading Torah and Judaism. He helped found and oversaw three organizations: Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch (“Central Organization for Jewish Education”), the Kehot Publication Society, and Machne Israel (a social services agency which provides multiple services, including running soup kitchens and funding medical care for families in need). It was around this time that the Rebbe also began publishing his own Torah ideas, with a focus on Chassidic and Kabbalistic texts. When the Rebbe’s father-in-law passed away in 1950, he was in line to take up the mantle of leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement; however, as Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz noted, the Rebbe was a private person and he was initially hesitant to accept the position. The Rebbe formally assumed the role when he delivered a maamer (a chassidic teaching delivered by a chassidic Rebbe) in honor of his father-in-law’s first yahrzeit on January 17, 1951. With this event, Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson became the seventh, and ultimately final, Lubavitcher Rebbe.
In March of 1992, the Rebbe suffered a debilitating stroke which paralyzed his right side and left him without the ability to speak. The effects of this stroke took their toll, and the Rebbe ultimately passed away on the third of Tammuz in 5754 (June 12, 1994).
As leader of the Chabad movement, the Rebbe helped to strengthen its philosophy of outreach in many ways. He began the initiative of sending ‘shluchim’ (emissaries) to places all over the world, in an effort to try and reach every Jew. The very first shliach was sent to Morocco, in an effort to support the Jewish community there. The Rebbe also supported the opening of Chabad Houses and Lubavitch centers in additional places. Chabad’s presence at colleges continued to grow, with the Chabad shluchim helping to cement a Jewish presence on campuses across the country.
The Rebbe is also well-known for speaking about the significance of mitzvot observance. He believed that through observance of the mitzvot, every Jewish person has the potential to help bring the Yimot Ha’Mashiach (Messianic Era). Throughout his lifetime, the Rebbe launched various “mitzvah campaigns” to increase the observance of specific mitzvot, with the campaign for fulfilling the mitzvah of tefillin being the most well-known throughout Jewish communities around the world. In 1967, in the days leading up to the Six Day War, the Rebbe launched a worldwide effort to spread awareness of the mitzvah of tefillin. In the days and weeks following, thousands of Jewish men responded to the Rebbe’s call to keep the mitzvah of tefillin. Promoting the mitzvah of wrapping tefillin has become central to the Chabad ethos, and since 1967, millions of Jewish men have wrapped tefillin with Chabad.
The Rebbe strongly supported efforts to ensure that Chabad women receive a strong Jewish education. He believed that it was essential for women to be well educated in order to better support their families and contribute to their broader communities. The Rebbe’s dedication to this idea is highlighted by a talk that he gave in 1990; in this highly referenced speech, the Rebbe propounded the idea that an increase in women’s learning and Torah study is the beginnings of a taste of the final redemption. Furthermore, the Rebbe also clearly defined the role of the ‘shlucha,’ or wife of the shliach, as being distinct from that of her husband. He instituted the Kinus Ha’Shluchot, an annual gathering and conference for these women emissaries.
Beyond his invigoration of the Chabad movement and all of the incredible initiatives he began, the Rebbe’s true greatness extended beyond his concrete actions as a leader, but also through the character with which he led. To highlight a particularly impactful aspect of his character, the Rebbe was well-known for his emotional sensitivity and his ability to meet everyone ‘on their level’ – from presidents to elementary school children, from Jew to non-Jew – the Rebbe had a kind word and a lesson for all.
Truthfully, it is impossible to do justice to the greatness of the Rebbe’s leadership and the magnitude of his impact on the Jewish community in an article of this scope; however, as Rabbi Dr. Dovid Bashevkin shared on the day of the Rebbe’s yahrzeit, “His absence is felt every day – but so is his presence.” While we may not realize it, many of us continue to be impacted by the Rebbe’s legacy and his leadership nearly every single day. The Rebbe’s sensitivity to the human spirit and dedication to bettering the world continue to have a profound and lasting impact on the world around. The Rebbe served as a model for us all.