Living Torah Archives

The Rebbe’s father saw kabbalistic significance in every event in his life. Was this a humble approach?

Israel Singer is a Jewish activist, academic and former secretary general of the World Jewish Congress. In the mid-1970s, he taught political science in New York and served on the staff of President Gerald Ford. When he visited the Rebbe in preparation for a trip to the Soviet Union, the Rebbe asked him for a personal favor. The feeling of privilege from carrying out the Rebbe’s wishes at that time, has remained the most special experience of his life to this day. (1974)

“The synagogue carries my father’s name, so it has a connection to me, also.”

Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Gottlieb was an author and biographer living in Betar Illit, Israel. Bothered by the fact that so little was known about the Rebbes’ father, he decided to write a book about him. (1960s)

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father, dedicated himself to the impossible task of providing true leadership to Soviet Jewry stuck in the USSR. He may have ended up paying for his efforts with his life, but his legacy has far outlived that of his oppressors.

In 1970, Mordechai Gorelik was granted permission to leave the Soviet Union. His parents and brother, Rabbi Elozor Gorelik, remained there, trapped behind the Iron Curtain. During his first audience with the Rebbe, he presented the Rebbe with a photograph of the resting place of the Rebbe’s father in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The passing of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, is marked on the 20th of Av. He was imprisoned and exiled to Kazakhstan for his stance against Soviet efforts to uproot Jewish learning and practice.

Reb Gedaliah Mazal shares his memories of the arrival of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father, in Alamty, Kazakhstan. Reb Gedaliah’s father became close to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, and was present at his passing. (1940's)

The twentieth of Av marks the passing of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father. Reflecting on the passing of a loved one is seldom joyous and often brings up feelings of sadness and even bitterness.

Thank you for taking care of my father’s gravesite in the past and for your help in the future, as well.

Mr. Evsey Neymotin recalls his father’s efforts in assisting Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the Rebbe’s parents, when they arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as well as the Rebbe’s expressions of gratitude when the Neymotins arrived in the United States many decades later.

The Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, whose passing is marked on the 20th of Av, was imprisoned and exiled to Kazakhstan for his stance against Soviet efforts to uproot Jewish learning and practice.

Mr. Israel Adamski lived in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, where Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father, served as rabbi. He recalls Rabbi Levi Yitzchok performing an underground wedding, and inviting a communist informant to be the tenth man. (Late 1930’s)

My father served as chief rabbi of Dnipropetrovsk, a major city in Ukraine, which supplied wheat to large parts of Russia. When the time came to prepare flour for matzah, people flocked from the surrounding areas seeking flour that was certified kosher for Passover.

Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Mexico, Avraham Hershberg, discusses the Rebbe’s newest campaigns, and ways to honor the Rebbe’s father on his 40th yahrzeit.

Mr. Israel Adamski grew up in Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine, and attended underground Torah classes taught by the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson. Here, he recalls Reb Levik’s prophetic words to him shortly before the outbreak of World War II.

Rabbi Mordechai Goldschmid’s father, Reb Nochum, grew up with the Rebbe in Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine. His grandfather, Reb Yitzchok, was the local Shochet.

The Rebbe speaks on 20 Av, the anniversary of his father's passing.

Rabbi Mordechai Ashkenazi’s cousin, Reb Nochum Goldshmidt, was close with the Rebbe’s family when they lived in Dnepropretrovsk, Ukraine. Rabbi Ashkenazi recounts a story he heard from Reb Nochum about the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.

An address to the campers of Gan Israel New York, on the Yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson: The primary purpose of my father’s self-sacrifice was the education of Jewish children under communist oppression.

A Jew from Yekatrinaslov visits the Rebbe. His father was a Shochet for the Rebbe's father and was arrested and exiled by the communists along with him. An elderly Jew visits the Rebbe. As a child, he assisted the Rebbe's parents during their exile in Kazakhstan.

When someone passes on, the bond they share with their loved ones below is not severed. Family and friends alive in this world can continue to bring the soul joy and happiness.

In 1939, the Rebbe’s father was exiled by the Soviet government to a remote region of Kazakhstan. At the end of his sentence, he and his wife traveled to the closest large city, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Leibel Raskin and his family were there to greet and assist them upon their arrival.

The manuscripts you found written by the Rebbes of Chabad, and by my father, may have been written years and ages ago, but the teachings are absolutely fresh and new. Thousands of Jews have learned these new teachings, and this merit should bring you success in all that you do.

My father gave his life helping to preserve Judaism in communist Russia; thus his Yahrzeit has great significance for all Jews – especially when we see the fruits of his self-sacrifice continuing to bear fruit today, with countless Jews from the Soviet Union observing Torah and Mitzvos.

The Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, was the Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, at a time when Jewish leaders were persecuted for preserving Judaism. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, however, was defiant; publicly declaring that he would not be coerced into submission.

A special blessing for the caretaker of the resting place of the Rebbe’s father. May all the Jews of Alma Ata have only good news until the coming of Moshiach.

After the passing of his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, in 1964, the Rebbe began holding a farbrengen, chassidic gathering and public address, on the date of her yahrzeit. This gathering would be dedicated to her legacy, and to the mission of the Jewish woman.