Baila Olidort
The 11th of Nissan, this year corresponding to today, 19th April 2024, marks the 122nd birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. For thousands of Jews, it is a day of intensified outreach activity, Torah study and rededication to the teachings and legacy of the Rebbe.
Thousands will make their way to the Montefiore cemetery in Queens, New York, known as the Ohel where they will pray at the Rebbe's resting place. Yeshiva students worldwide will participate in various educational and outreach programs and assume additional commitments in Torah study and Jewish outreach to honour this day. The Rebbe was seventh in a dynasty of Chabad leaders, descending from R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad. Chabad Chasidism has always been known as the intellectual branch of the Chasidic movement, as compared to the more emotive approaches of the other groups.
The Rebbe assumed leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in 1950, after the passing of his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, and would set a course for the most dramatic outreach program ever to draw Jews back into the fold. Under his leadership, the now ubiquitous Chabad Houses opened in cities worldwide, staffed by what may well be the largest human resources team in the world—Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchim. The urgency which characterised the Rebbe's initiatives, and for which Lubavitch would earn its reputation, has often been attributed to the Rebbe's determination to effect a tikkun—reparation, in a post-holocaust milieu.
After the Rebbe's passing in 1994, many feared that Lubavitch would be unable to sustain its passion. In fact, the movement has continued to grow and thrive, with Chabad Houses and outreach activities expanding globally. The Rebbe's teachings and legacy continue to inspire new generations, ensuring that his vision for Jewish unity and outreach remains vibrant and relevant.
