View source for Menachem Mendel Schneersohn

{{About||the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe|Menachem Mendel Schneerson|the Tzemach Tzedek of Nikolsburg|Menachem Mendel Krochmal}}
{{Short description|Third Chabad Rebbe (1789–1866)}}
{{Infobox rebbe
| title = Lubavitcher Rebbe
| image = Tzemachtzedek2.jpg
| caption = The Tzemach Tzedek
| began = May 5, 1831
| ended = March 17, 1866 [[Adoption of the Gregorian calendar#Adoption in Eastern Europe|OS]]
| birth_name = Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
| main_work = Shut Tzemach Tzedek
| predecessor = [[Dovber Schneuri]]
| successor = [[Shmuel Schneersohn]]
| spouse = [[Chaya Mushka Schneersohn]]
| children = Baruch Shalom<br/>[[Yehuda Leib Schneersohn|Yehudah Leib]]<br/>Chaim Shneur Zalman<br/>Yisroel Noach<br/>Yosef Yitzchak<br/>Yaacov<br/>[[Shmuel Schneersohn]]
| dynasty = [[Chabad Lubavitch]]
| father = Shalom Shachna
| mother = Devorah Leah
| birth_date = September 9, 1789 OS
| birth_place = [[Liozna]], [[Russian Empire]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1866|03|17|1789|09|09}} OS
| death_place = [[Lyubavichi, Rudnyansky District, Smolensk Oblast|Lyubavichi]], [[Russian Empire]]
| burial_place = Lyubavichi
}}

'''Menachem Mendel Schneersohn''' ({{Langx|yi|מנחם מענדל שניאורסאהן}}; September 20, 1789 – March 17, 1866), also known as the '''Tzemach Tzedek''' (Hebrew: "Righteous Sprout" or "Righteous Scion"), was an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[rabbi]], leading 19th-century [[posek]], and the third [[rebbe]] (spiritual leader) of the [[Chabad Lubavitch]] [[Hasidic]] movement.

== Biography ==

{{Chabad sidebar}}
{{Chabad (Rebbes and Chasidim)|Rebbes of Chabad}}
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn was born in [[Liozna]], on September 20, 1789 (September 9 [[Old Style|OS]]). His mother Devorah Leah died three years later, and her father Rabbi [[Shneur Zalman of Liadi]] raised him as his own son. He married his first cousin [[Chaya Mushka Schneersohn]], daughter of Rabbi [[Dovber Schneuri]]. After his father-in-law/uncle'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 as their leader,<ref name="poor"/> he assumed the leadership of Lubavitch on the eve of [[Shavuot]] 5591 (May 5, 1831, OS).{{fact|date=March 2021}}

He was known as the Tzemach Tzedek after the title of a voluminous compendium of [[Halakha]] (Jewish law) that he authored.<ref>"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 are known as ''Shu"t Tzemach Tzedek Hachadashot'', "the new Tzemach Tzedek responsa". Rabbi Menachem Mendil Hager, the first [[Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)|Viznhitzer Rebbe]], called his commentary on the Torah ''Tzemach Tzadik'' (צמח צדיק), because he spelled his name with an extra yod (מענדיל).</ref> 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]] L'Kol Ha'Shanah'' (commonly known as ''Siddur Im Dach''), [[Likutei Torah/Torah Or|''Likutei Torah'' and ''Torah Ohr'']]. He also authored a philosophical text entitled "Sefer Chakira: Derech Emuna" (''Book of Philosophy: The Way of Faith'').{{fact|date=March 2021}}

He enjoyed 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 [[Valozhyn]], a major leader of the [[misnagdim]], which led to warmer relations between them and the Hasidim.<ref>[http://www.jewish-history.com/Chabad/index.html ''The Tzemach Tzedek and the ''Haskalah'' Movement'', Official Chabad history.]</ref>

According to [[Baruch Epstein]], his father Rabbi [[Yechiel Michel Epstein]] spent six months under the Schneersohn's tutelage, and learned most of his mystical knowledge during that time. This story is disputed by Hassidic historian [[Yehoshua Mondshine]].<ref>The claim is in ''Mekor Baruch'', chapter 20. ''But see'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211240/http://www.shturem.net/index.php?section=artdays&id=785 ''Mekor Baruch - Mekor Hakzavim''] by Yehoshua Mondshein.</ref> Historian Eitam Henkin suggests that Rabbi Y. M. Epstein did meet with him, but only a few visits over a week or two, noting the testimony of Rabbi [[Yehuda Leib Maimon]] that he heard about this directly from his teacher.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Henkin|first=Eitam|title=Set a Table Before Me|publisher=Maggid Books|year=2018|isbn=978-965-526-260-5|location=Jerusalem|pages=55-58,321-348}}</ref> 

His close friendship with Professor J Berstenson, the [[Czar]]'s court physician, often helped the delicate negotiations relating to the welfare of the community.<ref name="poor">''Encyclopedia of Hasidism'', entry: Schneersohn, Menachem Mendel. Naftali Lowenthal. Aronson, London 1996. {{ISBN|1-56821-123-6}}</ref> 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 [[Cantonist]]s 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.<ref name="poor"/>

In 1844–45 he took steps to increase the enrollment and viability of the Lubavitch [[yeshiva]]s in [[Dubroŭna]], Pasana, Lyozno, and [[Kalisz]], expanding their enrollment to around 600 students in total.<ref name="poor"/><ref>{{cite book | title=The World of Hasidism |author=H. Rabinowicz|page=134 |year=1970 |isbn=0-87677-005-7 |publisher=Hartmore House}}</ref>
Repeated attempts by the authorities to entrap him using informers such as Hershel Hodesh, Benjamin the Apostate and Lipman Feldman failed.<ref>''Sefer HaToldos Rav Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn MiLubavitch'', Glitzenstein, A. H.</ref>

== Death and legacy ==
He died in [[Lyubavichi, Rudnyansky District, Smolensk Oblast|Lubavitch]] on March 17, 1866, at the age of 76, leaving seven sons. He was succeeded by his youngest son, Shmuel<ref name="poor"/> as the Rebbe of Lubavitch, while three of his other sons formed breakaways of the Chabad movement which continue to some extent even today.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

Several of his sons established Chasidic dynasties.<ref name="poor"/>

== Sons ==
He had seven sons:<ref>The introduction to ''[[Hayom Yom]]'', by Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]].</ref>

1. Rabbi Baruch Shalom (1805–1869) did not become a rebbe in his own right; he chose to remain in Lubavitch and become a chasid of his youngest brother. Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]], the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, was his great-great-grandson.

2. Rabbi [[Yehuda Leib Schneersohn]] (Maharil) (1808–1866) settled in [[Kopys]] a few months after the death of his father, where he founded the [[Kopust]] branch of Chabad. He died two months later. He had three sons:
* Rabbi [[Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn]] (1830–1900), oldest son of Rabbi Yehuda Leib, assumed his father's position in Kopust. He is the author of a work on Hasidism titled "Magen Avot" ("Shield of the Fathers").
* Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn of Rechitsa (d. 1908), known as the Rashab of Rechitsa.<ref>a Hebrew acronym for "<u>R</u>av <u>Sh</u>alom <u>B</u>er"</ref> Succeeding his brother, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, Rabbi Shalom Dovber served as the Kopuster movement's rebbe in the town of [[Rechytsa|Rechitsa]].<ref>Kaminetzky, Yosef. Y. ''Days in Chabad''. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn, NY. (2005): p. 21.</ref> Rabbi Shalom Dovber seems to have died without a successor.
* Rabbi [[Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn]] (1842–1924), known as Shmaryahu Noah of Babruysk. Succeeding his brother, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, Rabbi Shmaryahu Noah served as the Kopuster movement's rebbe in the town of [[Babruysk]].<ref>Kaminetzky, Yosef. Y. ''Days in Chabad''. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn, NY. (2005): p. 93.</ref> He was [[rav]] of the chasidim in Babruysk from 1872, and founded a [[yeshiva]] there in 1901.<ref>Kaminetzky, Yosef. Y. ''Days in Chabad''. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn, NY. (2005): p. 92-93.</ref> He authored a two volume work on Hasidism, titled "Shemen LaMaor" ("Light for the Luminary").<ref name="pop">Lowenthal, Naftali. Schneersohn, Shmaryahu Noah. ''Encyclopedia of Hasidism'', Jason Aronson Publishers. London. 1996.</ref><ref name="Hebrew1">Schneerson, Shmaryahu Noah. ''Shemen La'moar''. Vol. 1. Kfar Chabad, Israel. (1964): p. 1.
[http://hebrewbooks.org/6594 Available at HebrewBooks.org]</ref><ref name="Hebrew2">Schneerson, Shmaryahu Noah. ''Shemen La'moar''. Vol. 2. Kfar Chabad, Israel. (1967): p. 1. [http://hebrewbooks.org/6595 Available at HebrewBooks.org]</ref>

3. Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman (1814–1880) was Rebbe in [[Lyady, Vitebsk Region|Lyady]] after his father died. He founded the [[Liadi (Hasidic dynasty)|Liadi]] branch of Chabad. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber (1835–1910) of Liadi, author of ''Siddur Maharid'', and his son-in-law, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak (d. 1905) of Siratin, a scion of the Rebbe of Radzimin.

4. Rabbi Yisroel Noach (1815–1883) of [[Nizhyn]] founded the [[Niezhin (Hasidic dynasty)|Niezhin]] branch of Chabad. Although officially a Rebbe, he had only a small following. He had no successor. His son was Rabbi Avraham Schneerson of Kischinev, whose daughter, Nechama Dina Schneersohn, married Rabbi [[Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn]], the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

5. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (1822–1876) was a Rebbe in [[Ovruch]]. He founded the [[Avrutch (Hasidic dynasty)|Avrutch]] branch of Chabad. He was compelled to assume this position by his father-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas (son of Rabbi [[Mordechai Twersky|Mordechai of Chernobyl]] and son-in-law of [[Dovber Schneuri|the Mitteler Rebbe]]) against his father's wishes. His daughter, Shterna Sarah, married the Rebbe [[Rashab]]. Thus, he was the maternal grandfather and namesake of Rabbi [[Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn]], the sixth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.

6. Rabbi Yaakov, although leaving descendants, died at quite a young age. He lived in [[Orsha]]. Little is known about him.

7. Rabbi [[Shmuel Schneersohn]] (Maharash) (1834–1882) of Lubavitch, his youngest son, succeeded him as the Rebbe of Lubavitch.<ref name="poor"/>

== ''Ohr HaTorah'' ==

[[File:Zz5.jpg|thumb|185px|right|''Tzemach Tzedek'' [[History of responsa|Responsa]]]]

== Notable 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]]<ref>Parts of Derech Mitzvosecha in English translation : [http://hebrewbooks.org/download.aspx?req=15419 Part one] [http://hebrewbooks.org/download.aspx?req=15420 Part two] [http://hebrewbooks.org/download.aspx?req=16082 In Hebrew]</ref>
* "Tzemach Tzedeck Chiddushim al HaShas" commentary on the [[Talmud]] 
* Responsa Tzemach Tzedek - 8 vols.<ref>[http://www.chabadlibrary.org/books/default.aspx?furl=/zz/shut Chabadlibrary.org Online edition in Hebrew]</ref>
*"Igros kodesh" - a collection of about 100 surviving non-halachik responsa
* ''Sefer Chakira: Derech Emunah'' - exposition of Jewish philosophy
*"Kitzurim V'Haoros" - scholarly glosses on the [[Tanya (Judaism)|Tanya]]
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== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3268073/jewish/the-tzemach-tzedek.htm Chabad.org: The Tzemach Tzedek]
* [http://www.jewish-history.com/chabad/haskalah1.html Jewish History: The Influence of the Tzemach Tzedek]
* [http://www.loebtree.com/tsemah.html The Tzemach Tzedek Family Tree]
 
{{Rabbinical eras timeline|1789|1866|The_Tzemach_Tzedek_of_Lubavitch}}
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{{succession box | before = [[Dovber Schneuri]] | title = [[Rebbe]] of [[Chabad Lubavitch|Lubavitch]] | years = 1831–1866 | after = [[Shmuel Schneersohn]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chabad}}{{Acharonim}}{{Schneersohn family tree}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:1789 births]]
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[[Category:People from Lyozna district]]
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[[Category:Jewish philosophers]]
[[Category:Schneersohn family]]
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