Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Russian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Russian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson was a highly influential Jewish leader of the 20th century, who transformed the Chabad-Lubavitch movement into a global force. He is renowned for his teachings, contributions to Jewish continuity, and pioneering work in Jewish outreach. Despite some controversy, Schneerson’s legacy continues to inspire and impact the lives of Jews worldwide.
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About the Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 5, 1902 OS – June 12, 1994; AM 11 Nissan 5662 – 3 Tammuz 5754), known to adherents of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or simply the Rebbe, was a Russian-American Orthodox rabbi and the most recent Rebbe of the Lubavitch Hasidic dynasty. He is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century.
As leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, he took an insular Hasidic group that almost came to an end with the Holocaust and transformed it into one of the most influential movements in religious Jewry, with an international network of over 5,000 educational and social centers. The institutions he established include kindergartens, schools, drug-rehabilitation centers, care-homes for the disabled, and synagogues.
Schneerson’s published teachings fill more than 400 volumes, and he is noted for his contributions to Jewish continuity and religious thought, as well as his wide-ranging contributions to traditional Torah scholarship. He is recognized as the pioneer of Jewish outreach. During his lifetime, many of his adherents believed that he was the Messiah. His own attitude to the subject, and whether he openly encouraged this, is hotly debated among academics. During Schneerson’s lifetime, the messianic controversy and other issues elicited fierce criticism from many quarters in the Orthodox world, especially earning him the enmity of Rabbi Elazar Shach.
In 1978, the U.S. Congress asked President Jimmy Carter to designate Schneerson’s birthday as the national Education Day in the U.S. It has been since commemorated as Education and Sharing Day. In 1994, Schneerson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his “outstanding and lasting contributions toward improvements in world education, morality, and acts of charity”. Schneerson’s resting place attracts both Jews and non-Jews for prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Menachem Mendel Schneerson was a Russian-American Orthodox rabbi and the most recent Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Lubavitch Hasidic dynasty. He is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century.
As the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Schneerson took an insular Hasidic group that was nearly extinguished by the Holocaust and transformed it into one of the most influential movements in religious Jewry, with an international network of over 5,000 educational and social centers.
Schneerson established a wide range of institutions, including kindergartens, schools, drug-rehabilitation centers, care-homes for the disabled, and synagogues, which greatly expanded the reach and impact of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
Schneerson’s published teachings fill more than 400 volumes, and he is noted for his contributions to Jewish continuity and religious thought, as well as his wide-ranging contributions to traditional Torah scholarship. He is recognized as the pioneer of Jewish outreach.
During Schneerson’s lifetime, the messianic controversy and other issues elicited fierce criticism from many quarters in the Orthodox world, especially earning him the enmity of Rabbi Elazar Shach. Some of his adherents believed he was the Messiah, though Schneerson’s own attitude to the subject is hotly debated among academics.
In 1978, the U.S. Congress asked President Jimmy Carter to designate Schneerson’s birthday as the national Education Day in the U.S., which has been since commemorated as Education and Sharing Day. In 1994, Schneerson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his ‘outstanding and lasting contributions toward improvements in world education, morality, and acts of charity’.
Schneerson’s resting place attracts both Jews and non-Jews for prayer, highlighting the profound impact and reverence he continues to command among his followers and the broader community.
11 Quotes by Menachem Mendel Schneerson
- 1.
Not only will this make you treat each moment more preciously, but you will be more patient with yourself and with others, recognizing that there are millions of moments on the path to any worthwhile achievement.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 2.
But time is yet another of God’s creations, and as such, it has a life of its own.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 3.
Before the day begins, you are not yet engaged in any physical activities. And it is only physically that you are constrained by the limits of time and place; mentally, there are no such boundaries.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 4.
So during those first moments of the day, which are yours and yours alone, you can circumvent these boundaries and concentrate fully on spiritual matters. And this gives you the opportunity to plan the time management of the entire day.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 5.
We have been conditioned to see the passing of time as an adversary.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 6.
And how can you achieve such concentration? By recognizing that everything you do is important to God, and is one vital piece of the larger picture of your life.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 7.
We are always rushing to an appointment or trying to meet a deadline.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 8.
Without question, the material world and your everyday needs distract you from living meaningfully.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 9.
This is the key to time management – to see the value of every moment.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 10.
When you waste a moment, you have killed it in a sense, squandering an irreplaceable opportunity. But when you use the moment properly, filling it with purpose and productivity, it lives on forever.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi
- 11.
You cannot add more minutes to the day, but you can utilize each one to the fullest.
Menachem Mendel SchneersonRussian-American Orthodox Jewish rabbi