The Rebbe's approach to other groups of Chassidim

Rabbi Menachem Mendel also worked for the support of needy Torah scholars studying at the Yeshivahs and advanced institutes of learning. During all these years he carried on his work without any interference from the opponents of Chassidism, in either the religious ("Mitnagdim") or the so-called "enlightened" groups in Russia ("Maskilim"). During this time also, there was no conflict between Chassidim and Mitnagdim. On Rabbi Menachem Mendel's frequent visits to Chassidic communities in Minsk and Vilna, the Mitnagdim always accorded him great honor and attended his chassidic and talmudic discourses.




In 1843 the Russian Government announced that a conference was to be held at Petersburg for the purpose of deciding important religious problems. It was the intention of the government, at the instigation of the Maskilim, to use the conference as a means to introduce into the school system innovations which would interfere with traditional procedures in Jewish education and prayer. A Rabbinical Commission composed of leaders of Chassidim and Mitnagdim was convened to plan how best to combat the threat the conference posed. Rabbi Menachem Mendel was appointed to the commission. The first meeting between Rabbi Menachem Mendel and Rabbi Yitzchok of Volozhin, the leader of the Mitnagdim, made a favorable impression on both of them. Observers remarked that the meeting proved to the Mitnagdim that the Chassidim were Torah scholars, and convinced the Chassidim that the Mitnagdim were pious. This rapprochement and communal cooperation had salutary effects on the general relationship between Chassidim and Mitnagdim. The antagonists were reunited and began to work together for the common cause of traditional Judaism. At the first meeting of the government-called conference in 1843, Rabbi Menachem Mendel expressed his opinion that the purpose of the conference could only be to encourage religious observance among the Jews and he reiterated the indefensibility of tampering even with Jewish custom, since "customs are also considered Torah." Despite threats by the chairman of the conference, a Minister of Government, and being placed under house arrest on numerous occasions during the four-month period of the conference of the conference, Rabbi Menachem Mendel showed unswerving determination to oppose any proposed change of any Jewish custom whatsoever. "We are not summoned to legislate," he said. "We are here to clarify statutes previously decided in the laws of the Mosaic faith. We are here to clarify too, the customs of Israel, to protect both the commandments of G-d and Jewish usage from tampering." The conference ended without the adoption of any of the changes proposed by the Maskilim. Rabbi Menachem Mendel's resoluteness and selflessness impressed all the participants and enhanced his already considerable reputation.



The granting of "honorary citizenship" papers signed by Czar Nicholas was one of the honors bestowed on Rabbi Menachem Mendel in 1844, in recognition of his valuable work at the Petersburg conference the previous year. This great honor bestowed on Rabbi Menachem Mendel by the government made a deep impression on the Jewish population throughout the Russian Empire.








-As taken from Chabad.org

Excerpt from a book written, but not published, about the Tzemach Tzedek

It was about the year 1844 that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn purchased some 3600 desiaten (about 9700 acres) of forest and farm land laced with brooks, from Prince Schtzedrinov, in Minsk. He invited over 300 Jewish families to settle in the new colony of Schtzedrin, under the supervision of a special board. The land was distributed to the settlers at no cost, every family receiving enough land for a home and farm buildings, and several acres for cultivation and pasture, besides farm equipment. Some 700 desiaten were thus distributed. The other 1800 desiaten of forest were sold to one Efraim Holodetz of Bobruisk, a condition of the sale being that lumber be supplied for homes and stables for the colonists. The settlers were granted special government privileges, among them a long term loan of 200 rubles, by the Provincial treasury, to be repaid with farm produce. The settlers prospered and were soon able to devote several periods of the year to Torah study. The purchase money paid by Holodetz was used to defray the expenses and debts of colonization. Part of the down-payment was sent by the Rabbi to the Holy Land, and the rest contributed to his regular Charity Fund . The establishment of the Schtzedrin colony impressed Russian Jewry and Government officials alike. The Governors of Minsk, Vitebsk, and Mogilev provinces wrote laudatory letters to the Ministry of the Interior in regard to the officially sanctioned colony. The Governor of Minsk noted the beneficial effects of the colony in diverting Jews from unstable and insecure petty trading activities.

A letter Written by the Tzemach Tzedek

Family Tree

The Timeline

5549(1789): The Tzemach Tzedek is born on Erev Rosh Hashanah to R' Shalom Shachna and

Devorah Leah.

5562(1802): He begins recording novellae in Talmud and Chassidus that he hear from his

grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, and his own novellae in explaning these subjects.

5563(1803): Marries Chaya Mushka.

5566(1806): The Alter Rebbe assigns him along with his great-uncle, R' Yehuda Leib, the

responsibility of anserwing questions concerning Halachah.

5569(1809): Travels with the Alter Rebbe to Volhynia.

5570(1810): Together with his uncle, R' Moshe , he is charged by the Alter Rebbe with

invovlment in communial matters.

5574-87(1814-27): He isolates himself inorder so that he may study Torah with extraordinary

diligance.

5588(1828): Accepts the post of Rebbe.

At the beggining of the period of military conscription for the Jews, when they

where kidnapped at a very young age and Cantonist, 5587-5615 (1827-1855),

he devotes himself to rescuibg thousands of young conscrips from apostasy and death.

5597(1837): Torah Or was published.

5568(1838): Travels through Moglilev and Minsk provinces to Vilna, returning via Vitebsk.

5599(1839): Prince Schtzedrinov sells the Tzemach Tedek some land of forest and farmland in

Minsk. The T.T. establishes shidrin colony by giving land and agrricultral to Jewish settlers.

5600(1840): the community K. accuses Tzemach Tedek of opposing the the communities

procedure of handing over Jewish children for conscription.

5601(1841): Two "snatchers" from Barisov slander against Temach Tedek.

5602(1842): Receives a "Honored Citizen" award signed by the Czar.

5603(1843): The Tzemach Tzedek is requested to participate in the Rbbinical Commission in

Petersburg. For his protest against the Maskilim of Vilna amd Riga, his demand on that the publication of sacred books be permitted, and his protest against the prohobition of publishing works of Chassidus and Kabbalah.

Durring the time of the Commission he is arrested numerous times, but in the end all his demands were met!

5605(1846): Recieves "Honored Citizen for Posterity " award.

5608(1848): He protests against the Ministry's demand( as proposed by Lilienthal) to abridge

the Siddur and Chumash for children.

5616(1856): A fire tragiclly destroys his home along with five chests of manuscripts.

5621(1861): Windowed on the Eighth of Tevet.

5626(1866): Nifter on wenesday night,13 of Nissan, and is buried in lubavitch.

Yimin Hashem

Tzemach Tzedeks books

Writings of the Tzemach Tedek

The Rebbe "Tzemach Tzedek" wrote more profusely than all the Rebbeim. Nevertheless, he did not publish his books himself. Theyt were published after he passed away, by his students.
There are ten published writings of his;

1. Derech Mitzvotecha (Sefer Hamtzvot)
2. Derech Emuna (Sefer Hachakira)
3. Or Hatorah
4. Tzemach Tzedek Responsa on Mishna, Halachic Hazohar
5. Kitzurim Veha’arrot Lesefer Likkutei Amarim (Tanya)
6. Bi’urei Hazohar
7. Seffer Halikkutim—Dach Temach Tedek
8. Kuntrus Maamarim Al Ma’amarei Chazal Bemesechta Bava Metzia U’Bava Batra
9. Maamer: U’Shavtem Mayim
10. Igrot Kodesh

Niggunim

The Tzemach Tedek has 5 nigunim:

Yemin Hashem

Niggun D'veikus

Ashrei Ish Sheloi Yishkachechi

K'Ayal Ta'aroig, Hodi'eini Hashem Kitzi

Niggun Hishtatchus