Chabad Leadership Formation Menachem Mendel Schneerson from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson Lu

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Chabad Leadership Formation

Menachem Mendel Schneerson From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson Lubavitcher Rebbe

Lubavitcher Rebbe

Synagogue 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY

Began

10 Shevat 5711 / January 17, 1951

Predecessor Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn

Personal details

Born April 5, 1902 OS (11 Nissan 5662)[1]

Died June 12, 1994 NS (3 Tammuz 5754) (aged 92[2])

Buried Queens, New York, USA

Dynasty Chabad Lubavitch

Parents Levi Yitzchak Schneerson Chana Yanovski Schneerson

Spouse

Chaya Mushka Schneerson

Semicha Rogatchover Gaon

America and leadership[edit] Escape from EuropeIn 1941, Schneerson escaped from Europe on the Serpa Pinto, which embarked from Lisbon, Portugal. It was one of the last boats to cross the Atlantic before the U-boat blockade began,[33] and joined his father-in- law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Seeking to contribute to the war effort, he went to work in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, drawing wiring for the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63),[34][35] and other classified military work.[36]

Rise in AmericaIn 1942, his father-in-law appointed him director of the Chabad movement's newly-founded central organizations, placing him at the helm of building the movement's Jewish educational, social services, and publishing networks across the United States, Israel, Africa, Europe and Australia. However, Schneerson kept a low public profile within the movement. He would speak publicly only once a month, delivering talks to his father-in-law's followers.[12]

During the 1940s, Schneerson became a naturalized US citizen. For many years to come, he would speak about America's special place in the world, and would argue that the bedrock of the United States' power and uniqueness came from its foundational values, which were, according to Schneerson, '"E pluribus unum'—from many one", and "In God we trust."[37] In 1949, his father-in-law would become a U.S. citizen, with the Rebbe assisting to coordinate the event. A special dispensation was arranged wherein the federal judge came to "770" to officiate at Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak's citizenship proceedings, rather than the wheelchair-bound Rebbe travel to a courthouse for the proceedings. Uniquely, the event was recorded on color motion film.[38]

Candidate for RebbeYosef Yitzchok Schneersohn died in 1950. The two main candidates for leadership were Schneerson and Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary, Schneersohn's elder son- in-law. Schneerson actively refused to accept leadership of the movement for the entire year after Schneersohn's death, but was eventually cajoled into accepting the post by his wife and followers.[39] On the first anniversary of his father-in-law's passing, 10 Shevat 1951, he delivered a Hasidic discourse, (Ma'amar), and formally became the Rebbe.[40]

"770"Main article: 770 Eastern Parkway

770 Eastern Parkway.Schneerson rarely left Crown Heights in Brooklyn except for frequent lengthy visits to his father-in-law's gravesite in Queens, New York. A year after the death of his wife, Chaya Mushka, in 1988, when the traditional year of Jewish mourning had passed, he moved into his study above the central Lubavitch synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway.

It was from this location that Schneerson directed his emissaries' work and managed the movement's development. His public roles included celebrations called farbrengens (gatherings) on Shabbats, Jewish holy days, and special days on the Chabad calendar, when he would give lengthy sermons to crowds. In later years, these would often be broadcast on cable television and via satellite to Lubavitch branches around the world.

Honors On March 25, 1983, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, the United States Congress proclaimed Rabbi Schneerson's birthday as "Education Day, USA," and awarded him the National Scroll of Honor.[52]

"Sunday Dollars"As the Chabad movement grew and more demands were placed on Schneerson's time, he limited his practice of meeting followers individually in his office. After his heart attack in 1977, he reduced the frequency of his twice-weekly practice of all-night Yechidut—private audiences with whomever would request an appointment, and from then until 1982 only foreign visitors, and families with a momentous occasion such as a wedding or bar-mitzva were allowed private meetings —though community leaders and Israeli government officials would also still occasionally meet with the Rebbe in private for lengthy discussions. These private audiences had generally taken place on Sundays and Thursdays, starting at 8pm and often continuing until 8am. At such private audiences he would meet over three thousand people.[53]

In 1986, Schneerson again began to regularly greet people individually. This time, the personal meetings took the form of a weekly receiving line in "770". Almost every Sunday, thousands of people would line up to meet briefly with Schneerson and receive a one-dollar bill, which was to be donated to charity. People filing past Schneerson would often take this opportunity to ask him for advice or to request a blessing. This event is usually referred to as "Sunday Dollars."[54] Beginning in 1989, these events were recorded on videotape. Posthumously, hundreds of thousands these encounters have been posted online[55] for public access.

Final years[edit] "Moshiach" (Messiah) fervorSee also: Chabad messianism

Some of Schneerson's followers believed he was the Jewish Messiah, the "Moshiach," and have persisted in that belief since his death. The reverence with which he was treated by followers led many Jewish critics from both the Orthodox and Reform communities to allege that a cult of personality had grown up around him.[58] Moshe D. Sherman, an associate professor at Touro College wrote that "as Schneerson's empire grew, a personality cult developed around him... portraits of Schneerson were placed in all Lubavitch homes, shops, and synagogues, and devoted followers routinely requested a blessing from him prior to their marriage, following an illness, or at other times of need."[59]

Final declarationsIn 1991, he declared to his followers: "I have done everything I can [to bring Moshiach], now I am handing over to you [the mission]; do everything you can to bring Moshiach!" A campaign was then started to usher in the Messianic age through "acts of goodness and kindness," and some of his followers placed advertisements in the mass media, including many full-page ads in the New York Times, declaring in Rabbi Schneerson's name that the Moshiach's arrival was imminent, and urging everyone to prepare for and hasten it by increasing their good deeds.

Death and burialMain article: Ohel (Chabad)

The Rebbe's Tomb: Rabbi Schneerson's burial place next to his father-in-law and predecessor in Queens, NY.Schneerson died at the Beth Israel Medical Center on June 12, 1994 (3 Tammuz 5754) and was buried at the Ohel next to his teacher and father-in- law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, at Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, New York,[66] in 1994.[67][68] The Ohel had been built around the Previous Rebbe's grave in 1950.

[edit] Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch CenterSoon after Schneerson's death, philanthropist Joseph Gutnick of Melbourne, Australia established the Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch Center on Francis Lewis Boulevard, Queens, New York, which is located adjacent to the Rebbe's Ohel. Following the age-old Jewish tradition of turning the resting place of a tzadik into a place of prayer, thousands of people flock to the Rebbe's resting place every week.[69] Many more send faxes and e-mails with requests for prayers to be read at the grave site.

[edit] U.S. Government awardsStarting with President Carter in 1978,[70] the U.S. Congress and President have issued proclamations each year, declaring that Schneerson's birthday — usually a day in March or April that coincides with his recognized Hebrew calendar birthdate of 11 Nissan — be observed as Education and Sharing Day in the United States.[71] The Rebbe would usually respond with a public address [72] on the importance of education in modern society, and holding forth on the United States' special role in the world.

Honored by CongressAfter Schneerson's death, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives—sponsored by Congressman Charles Schumer and cosponsored by John Lewis, Newt Gingrich, and Jerry Lewis, as well as 220 other Congressmen—to posthumously bestow upon Schneerson the Congressional Gold Medal.

On November 2, 1994 the bill passed both Houses by unanimous consent, honoring Schneerson for his "outstanding and enduring contributions toward world education, morality, and acts of charity".[73] President Bill Clinton spoke these words at the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony:

― The late Rebbe's eminence as a moral leader for our country was recognized by every president since Richard Nixon. For over two decades, the Rabbi's movement now has some 2000 institutions; educational, social, medical, all across the globe. We (the United States Government) recognize the profound role that Rabbi Schneerson had in the expansion of those institutions. ‖

Other posthumous commendationsIn 2009, the National Museum of American Jewish History[74] selected Schneerson as one of eighteen American Jews to be included in their "Only in America" Hall of Fame.

ControversyMain article: Chabad-Lubavitch related controversies#Menachem Mendel Schneerson

[edit] WillsThere is considerable controversy within Chabad about Schneerson's will. It is widely accepted that two wills exist, the first will was signed by Schneerson and transferred stewardship of all the major Chabad institutions to Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky.[75] This will is indisputable as it was officially filed and a record of its signing exists in the archives of New York State.

The second will gave the bulk of control to three senior Chabad rabbis, Rabbis Mindel, Pikarski and Hodakov (contemporary of Schneerson) and gave Krinsky only a minor role. The only copy of this will, that was drafted by others, is unsigned. Supporters of Krinsky argue that the will was merely presented to Schneerson, who chose not to sign it.[75] Supporters of the messianist camp, led by Leib Groner argue that the will was signed but that interested parties destroyed or hid the signed copy to gain power.[75]

The first will, signed and dated February 14, 1988, transferred power over all Schneerson‘s property and personal effects to Agudas Chasidei Chabad (AGUCH) (directed by Krinsky), naming Krinsky as sole executor.[75] Avrum Erlich, a Chabad chronicler and scholar summarises the dispute:

― After the [second] will was prepared, Schneerson said he would look it over before signing it, and that is apparently the last that was seen of it. Some Habad members believe that Schneerson never signed this will... others believe that even if the will was not signed, it is nevertheless indicative of his general view. There are still others who believe that a signed copy of the will exists, but was stolen from Schneerson‘s drawer and hidden by an interested party who hopes to gain by its destruction.[75] ‖

Krinsky was called to testify before the Chabad Beit Din on the authenticity or otherwise of the disputed second will, but he refused to do so, contending that a local Crown Heights rabbinic body had no authority over international Lubavitch institutions.[75] Krinsky's stewardship of the movement has been a bone of contention amongst Chabad followers and emissaries who see him as trying to control the movement by subsuming it under the umbrella of the AGUCH.[75]

Schneerson as the Jewish MessiahMain article: Chabad messianism

The Chabad messianist flag. The Hebrew word is "Moshiach", meaning "Messiah".Before Schneerson's death in 1994 many Chabad Hasidim believed that he was soon to become manifest as the Messiah — an event that would herald the Messianic Age and the construction of the Third Temple. Books and pamphlets were written arguing that the Rabbi was the Messiah.

In Schneerson's later years a movement arose believing that it was their mission to convince the world of his messiahship, and that general acceptance of this claim would lead to his revelation. Adherents to this belief were termed Meshichist. In the early '90s, his followers sang the song "Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabbeinu Melech haMoshiach l'olom vo'ed!" (English: "[Long] Live our Master, our Teacher, and our Rabbi, King Messiah, for ever and ever!"), and Schneerson encouraged them with hand motions.[76] After his stroke the singing and the encouragement became routine.

A spectrum of beliefs exists today within the Chabad movement regarding Schneerson and his purported position as the Messiah.[77] While some believe that he died but will return as the Messiah, others believe that he is merely "hidden." Other groups believe that he has God-like powers, while a few negate the idea that he is the messiah entirely. The prevalence of these views within the movement is disputed,[78][79][80] though very few will openly say that Schneerson cannot be the Messiah.[78]

BeginningsThe belief that Schneerson is the Messiah can be traced to the 1950s; it picked up momentum during the decade preceding Schneerson's death in 1994,[81] and has continued to develop since his death.[82] The response of the wider Haredi and Modern Orthodox communities to this belief has been antagonistic; the issue remains controversial within the Jewish world.[83][84][85][86]

Among his followersHis followers continue to visit his resting place at the Ohel, believing, in the words of the Tanya—the seminal work of Chabad Hasidism—that "The righteous, in their passing, can bless those in this world more so than during their lifetimes".[87]

However, a minority of his followers take this belief a step further, contending that he is able to answer their questions from beyond the grave, through a process of bibliomancy using his collected letters. This practice is known as "Igrot Kodesh", by which answers to questions are derived through consulting the published collections of Schneerson‘s letters known as the Igrot Kodesh.[88][89]

References

12.^ a b c d e f g Ehrlich 2004, Chapter 4

34.^ a b Fishkoff, Sue. The Rebbe's Army, Schoken, 2003 (08052 11381). Page 73. Milton Fechtor, Wiring the Missouri, Jewish Educational Media.

35.^ Living Torah Vol 53 Episode 210, "Rabbi Engineer, Part 1: The Brooklyn Navy Yard", Jewish Educational Media 36.^ No One There, but This Place Is Far From Empty NY Times January 14, 2009 By ALAN FEUER

37.^ Address, January 15, 1981 http://www.chabad.org/1180692/

38.^ "The Previous Rebbe Accepts US Citizenship - Program One Hundred Twenty Eight - Living Torah". Chabad.org. 1949-03-17. http://www.chabad.org/471239/. Retrieved 2012-01-29.

39.^ Leadership in the HaBaD Movement, Avrum M. Ehrlich, Jason Aronson, January 6, 2000, ISBN 076576055X

40.^ "Shevat 10: A Day of Two Rebbes". Chabad.org. http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=108303. Retrieved 2010-05-12.

52.^ Compiled by Dovid Zaklikowski. "The Rebbe and President Ronald Reagan - Historical Correspondence". Chabad.org. http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/142535/jewish/The-Rebbe-and- President-Reagan.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-29.

53.^ H. Rabinowicz (1970). The World of Hasidism. Hartmore House. p. 237. ISBN 87677-005-7.

54.^ Hoffman 1991, p. 47

55.^ "mymomentwiththerebbe.com". mymomentwiththerebbe.com. http://www.mymomentwiththerebbe.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.

58.^ Rabbi Schneerson Led a Small Hasidic Sect to World Prominence New York Times Obit, Aril Goldman, June 13, 1994

59.^ Orthodox Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook, pg. 187 Moshe D. Sherman, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996

66.^ The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, by Tzvi Rabinowicz p. 432 ISBN 1568211236.

67.^ The New York Times, June 13, 1994, p. A1.

68.^ Menachem Mendel "The Rebbe" Schneerson at Find a Grave

69.^ David M. Gitlitz & Linda Kay Davidson ‗‘Pilgrimage and the Jews‘‘ (Westport: CT: Praeger, 2006), 118-120.

70.^ "chabad.org". chabad.org. http://www.chabad.org/1167666/. Retrieved 2012-01-29. 71.^ "Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2003" by George W. Bush.

72.^ Meld je aan of registreer je om een reactie te plaatsen!. "youtube". youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YuCxSlrZ-Q. Retrieved 2012-01-29.

73.^ "Public Law 103-457". Thomas.loc.gov. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi- bin/bdquery/z?d103:HR04497:%7CTOM:/bss/d103query.html. Retrieved 2010-05-12.

74.^ "nmajh.org". nmajh.org. http://www.nmajh.org/. Retrieved 2012-01-29.

75.^ a b c d e f g The Messiah of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidim Past and Present, M. Avrum Ehrlich, Chapter 20, KTAV Publishing, ISBN 0881258369

76.^ Meld je aan of registreer je om een reactie te plaatsen! (2009-08-03). "29/04/1991". Youtube.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbFjzXFpkIs. Retrieved 2012-01-29.

77.^ Another 'Second Coming'? The Jewish Community at Odds Over a New Form of Lubavitch Messianism, George Wilkes (2002). Reviews in Religion & Theology 9 (4), 285–289.

78.^ a b Messianic Excess, David Berger, The Jewish Week, June 25, 2004

79.^ The Rebbe's Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch by Sue Fishkoff, p. 274.

80.^ "THE LATEST NEWS | The Jewish Week (BETA)". The Jewish Week. http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=7839. Retrieved 2010-05- 12.

81.^ See section "Before Schneerson's Death".

82.^ See: "After Schneerson's Death".

83.^ Tomer Persico, Chabad's Lost Messiah, Azure, Autumn 2009.

84.^ "Lawsuit Over Chabad Building Puts Rebbe‘s Living Legacy on Trial, The Forward, Nathaniel Popper, Mar 16, 2007". Forward.com. http://www.forward.com/articles/lawsuit-over-chabad-building-puts-rebbe-s-living/. Retrieved 2010-05-12. [dead link]

85.^ Matthew Hirshberg (2006-02-21). "After Rebbe‘s Death, Lubavitchers Continue to Spread His Word". The Columbia Journalist. ColumbiaJournalist.org. http://www.columbiajournalist.org/rw1_dinges/2005/article.asp?subj=city&course=rw1_ dinges&id=718. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 86.^ Peter Schäfer; Mark R. Cohen. Toward the Millennium: Messianic Expectations from the Bible to Waco. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=AT8GF9EciLEC&pg=PP1&ots=VnolvMMSDI&dq= Toward+the+Millennium:+Messianic+Expectations+from+the+Bible+to+Waco&sig=X AGONjYhL4w-0nsCKlThlWNZww8#PPA400,M1. Retrieved 2010-05-12.

87.^ Sefer HaTanya, Iggeret Hakodesh chapter 28, page 290. Kehot Publication Society, 1940–2010 ISBN 978-0-8266-0235-0

88.^ The Messiah of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidim Past and Present, M. Avrum Ehrlich, ch.18, note 14, KTAV Publishing, ISBN 0881258369

89.^ Chabad's critic from within Tom Segev, Haaretz, January 17, 2008

Who is the grand rabbi of Viznitz today?

Vizhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager, shown above giving Goat of Mendes sign of inverted 5 pointed Star.

The Chabad House

A Chabad House is a Jewish community center, the nerve center of all the educational and outreach activities of a shliach. Often until the community is big enough for its own building, the Chabad House is the shliach's house, with the synagogue being their living room. The term originated in California with the creation of the first such outreach center on the campus of UCLA by Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin.

There are over 4,000 Chabad centers in 70 countries serving the needs of the local Jewish communities worldwide.

Belief in the imminent coming of Moshiach is a fundamental Jewish belief as explained by the Rambam.

Chabad today Emissaries

Menachem Mendel Schneerson, after becoming Rebbe, and following an initiative of the previous Rebbe, spurred the movement on to what has become known as shlichus (outreach work). As a result, Chabad shluchim (emissaries, sing. shaliach) have moved all over the world with a mission of helping all Jews, regardless of denomination or affiliation, with all their needs, physical assistance and spiritual, to learn more about their Jewish heritage, and Judaism as practiced by Chabad.

The movement, following Rabbi Schneerson's call, has trained and ordained thousands of rabbis, educators, ritual slaughterers, and ritual circumcisers, who are all accompanied by equally motivated spouses and typically large families, all of whom aim to fulfill their mandate of Jewish outreach, education, and revival. They look for and recruit Jews back to Judaism, encourage Jews to strengthen their commitment to Judaism, and assist in supporting the religious needs of hundreds of thousands of Jews worldwide. Emissaries have commented on various occasions that "wherever there is Coca-Cola, there is Chabad". Chabad specifically does not involve itself in conversion to Judaism by gentiles and generally refers interested parties to other courts of Jewish law.

The Chabad House

There are over 4,000 Chabad centers in 70 countries serving the needs of the local Jewish communities worldwide.

About The Staff

In army slang, there are the "up there guys" - the front-line fighters - and the "back there guys," the radiomen, the vehicle drivers, the logistics personnel.... In our Rebbe's army, the Shluchim are the front-liners and The Shluchim Office staff is their back-up team. We at The Shluchim Office are fortunate to have a staff dedicated to supporting the Shluchim and their families.

The Shluchim Office

816 Eastern Parkway,

Brooklyn, N.Y., 11213

Tel: (718) 221-0500

Fax: (718) 221-0985