Living Torah Archives

Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch would travel extensively to advocate for his fellow Jews. He would often return to a surprise.

Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Maharash, would travel extensively throughout Europe and the Russian Empire to advocate for his fellow Jews in Russian lands.

The yahrzeit of the Rebbe Maharash, the fourth Chabad Rebbe, falls just before Sukkos, a time when Jews busily prepare for the upcoming festival. In recalling his life’s work, we see how the Rebbe Maharash gave up personal comforts, working tirelessly to improve the spiritual and physical lives of Russian Jewry.

Of all the Rebbes of Chabad, the fourth Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel, known as the Rebbe Maharash, was especially known for his supernatural approach to worldly matters – as his famous adage goes: “The world says if you cannot crawl under an obstacle, then try climbing over it. And I say, L’chatchila Ariber! – in the first place go over!”

Rabbi Yosef Wineberg worked for the central Lubavitcher Yeshiva, and traveled on numerous missions for the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe over his 60 years of service. In 1955, the Rebbe asked him to visit Madagascar in search of fellow Jews.

G-d created human nature in a way such that no two people think alike. Nevertheless, He expects them to reach harmonious agreement.

Each Rebbe encompasses every Jew of his generation, but each also has a unique focus. We find many stories of the Rebbe Maharash’s unique accomplishments in bringing wayward souls back to G-d, and his ability to transform a Jew into a full-fledged Baal Teshuvah.

Evening Prayers on the birthday of Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Maharash. “In matters of goodness and holiness, every Jew must strive to incorporate the Rebbe Maharash's approach of "Lechatchila Ariber" - to not be satisfied with anything less than ‘Over and Above’…”