Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi a Biography

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Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi a Biography

R abbi Schneur Zalman Even as Napoleon’s armies were poised for the invasion of Russia, Rabbi Schneur Zalman instructed one of his devoted Chasidim, the above mentioned Moshe Meisels, to be ready to render intelligence service to Russia’s Military High Command. Being able to speak and write French, he was to offer his servic es to the French— in one capacity or another^—■gain their confi dence, and pass on any information of military value through confidential Chasidic channels to the Russian High Command. As the Rebbe had foreseen, the French, after their occupa tion of Kovno and Vilna, did in fact seek men with knowledge of Russian and French for various duties. Moshe Meisels then received a responsible position on the technical staff of the French High Command. Knowing the good feelings which the Jews of Poland harbored for the French, whom they welcomed as liberators, Napoleon had no reason to suspect the jews of Kovno and Vilna, former Polish provinces, of disloyalty. Moshe Meisels won the confidence of his employers. He was given a job in the strategic department, where Russian maps were carefully studied and prepared for the commanders of the invading troops. He also assisted in the translation of various documents and proclama' tions into Lithuanian, Polish and Russian, and vice versa, since he was well versed in these languages. Thus Moshe Meisels had access to highly classified material in the French High Command at the front, which he passed on, at obvious peril, to the Russians, through trustworthy channels prepared by the Alter Rebbe.* These patriotic and very valuable services earned him the grateful recognition of the Russian generals, and also reached the attention of Alexander. Eventually Moshe Meisels also became a “persona grata” at the court of Alexander, a position he used to good advantage whenever a personal intercession with the Czar in Jewish interests was required.^ Rabbi Schneur Zalman was convinced of the ultimate deba cle of Napoleon’s armies, and predicted that Napoleon’s downfall would be brought about by his own compatriots.® When the French armies approached Liadi, the Russian gen erals advised Rabbi Schneur Zalman to flee. In August (1812) Rabbi Schneur Zalman hastily left Liadi, leaving everything.

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