Pictures of the Rebbe homepage
On this page you can find our price list and ordering instructions.
The Chabad Movement
Chabad Hasidism’ is an arm of the Orthodox Jewish spiritual belief system that endorses spiritual advancement through the spread and incorporation of the mysticism of Judaism as the principal facet of the Jewish faith. Chabad Lubavitch is a movement with such Hasidic roots and Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the person responsible for spearheading the Chabad Lubavitch movement and enabling it to become so popularly widespread among the global orthodox Jewish community. Although words can barely do justice to such an accomplished soul, here is a bird’s eye view of the greatest Chabad leader’s rich life and teachings.
The name ‘Chabad’ is initialism for the Hebrew phrase ‘Chochmah, Binah, Da’at’ or ‘Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge.’ Lubavitch was a Chabad group based in Lyubavichi, Russia until the late 1900’s. The sixth leader of the Chabad Lubavitch movement – Yitzchok Schneersohn, came to New York in 1940, where he established the Chabad sect’s synagogue. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, his son-in-law, took the reins of the Chabad movement into his hands after his father-in-law’s passing and turned it into a powerful global spiritual force.
The Spiritual Force Behind Chabad
In today’s world, people everywhere succumb to the viewpoint that modern ideas and lifestyles are somehow better than the ways of the past. Those who fail to grasp how the traditions, customs, and laws of Judaism are as relevant to life today as ever before end up living lives that are not fulfilling and purposeful as life was intended to be. Chabad Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson began leading the Chabad movement in 1950, continuing as its great leader until he passed away in 1994. One important concept the Chabad Rebbe taught was the best way to honor God, other human beings, and oneself, is by honoring tradition. Noting charity, morality, education, and similar values are as essential in today’s world as in the past, some of the Chabad Rebbe Schneerson’s most universal teachings can be found in “Toward a Meaningful Life,” published in 1995.
Rebbe Schneerson’s words spoke beyond the Chabad movement. They are relevant to all people, regardless of religion, age, national origin, or other factors. As not only a great leader of Chabad but also its heart, the Rebbe showed a deep understanding and compassion for humans and the human condition. His ability to express all of this feeling for others provided strength and hope to those who had none. A clearer understanding of God and God’s will and an individual’s place in the world and in his own life, are much more than basic beliefs of one Chabad leader. They are facts that go beyond the Chabad movement, to benefit everyone who realizes the significance in their own lives.
Beliefs and traditions taught can indeed equal greatness. Even the best speakers, most powerful leaders, and popular spokespersons cannot rival Chabad Lubavitcher Rebbe Scheerson. Knowledge, devotion to one’s beliefs, the ability to communicate in a manner that has true impact, are all signs of a leader. However, very few possess all of the characteristics at the same time. Chabad Rebbe Schneerson possessed each of these qualities, making him a Chabad leader who was loved and respected, within not only the Chabad movement but also everyone from average citizens to political figures. Fortunately, the Chabad Rebbe’s passing did not mark the end of his influence. His words continue to convey the power of each individual person to embrace a meaningful life by reflecting on the source of our lives and acknowledging God in all things.
It is impossible to summarize greatness in a few paragraphs. One sign of greatness is selfless compassion. Chabad Rebbe Schneerson had this in abundance. Making the world better was the Chabad Rebbe’s goal since he was a boy. From within the Chabad movement, he reached out to people everywhere.
A second sign of true greatness is steadfast belief in what is right and what is wrong. God’s will is not only for those in the Chabad Lubavitcher movement. It is surely not something to relegate to the past. It is universal and never-ending. People who attempt to dismiss God’s will in favor of personal choice or modern pressures suffer needlessly. Chabad Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson knew this, saw this, and took it upon himself to devote his life to reach out to the generations. Not only was the Chabad Rebbe a great leader to the Chabad movement, but to the entire world.
The Chabad Rebbe
Rebbe Schneerson was born in Ukraine in April, 1902, the eldest among three brothers. His father – Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was a scholar on the Jewish law as well as the Kabbalah. The young Schneerson studied with his father and he soon became well versed with the Talmud and Rabbinic knowledge as well as the Kabbalah in the Hasidic aspect. While he was in Berlin from 1923 to 1928, the future Chabad leader wrote hundreds of pages of discourses based on the original Torah teachings. He then moved to France in 1933 and learned spoken French, which was useful when promoting the Chabad movement there after the war. The French Chabad movement not only attracted French Jews, but also Jews who had emigrated from countries such as Algeria and Tunisia. In 1942, he was elected as the director of the Chabad organization’s central institution and one year after his father-in-law passed away, Schneerson was officially appointed as Rebbe of the Chabad organization.
Chabad leader Schneerson gave ‘outreach’ programs a great deal of importance. He not only strongly extolled Torah-observant Judaism, but also propagated the Baal Teshuva movement. One of his many activities was training hundreds of Chabad rabbis and directing them to spread the Chabad word, all over the world. He also organized the establishment of schools, community centers, youth camps and ‘Chabad Houses.’ Schneerson propagated the Chabad Mitzvah campaigns in a bid to promote orthodox Jewish beliefs, which include being well versed with the Torah, keeping Kosher and lighting the Shabbat candles.
The Rebbe worked tirelessly for the Chabad movement, often even getting involved in the politics of Israel and Iran. The seventh Chabad Rebbe was famous for his scholarship on various Jewish literatures and beliefs, especially Rashi’s commentary on the Torah. Even today, many of his avid followers believe that he will return as the Messiah. One thing is for sure, The Rebbe ‘s spiritual legacy in the form of the Chabad following, is bright enough to last many generations to come.
english
עברית
