The Rebbe Rashab was born on the twentieth of Marcheshvan 5621 (1860) in the town of Lubavitch, to the Rebbe Maharash and Rebbetzin Rivkah. At the time, his grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, pointed out that in Hebrew, the year 5621 spells the word kisra (“crown”)—an allusion to his future “coronation with the crown of leadership.” [see end footnote 44]
One of the Rebbe Rashab’s most prominent achievements was the founding of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, which now has branches worldwide—where the regular Torah curriculum is complemented by the study of Chassidus. The Yeshivah’s goal, he declared, is to produce students who are “lamps that illuminate” and ultimately bring Moshiach.
The Rebbe Rashab was also known as the “Rambam of Chassidus,” for in his discourses, he clearly and systematically lays down definitive explanations of many Kabbalistic topics that had been subject to varying opinions. On several occasions, the Rebbe personally distributed Chassidic discourses of or based on those of the Rebbe Rashab to the public:
- Marcheshvan 20, 5748 (1987): The Rebbe distributed Heichaltzu, a treatise on Jewish unity and brotherhood, to females over the age of eleven and males over the age of twelve.
- Marcheshvan 20, 5749 (1988): The Rebbe distributed Kuntres Eitz Hachayim, the Rebbe Rashab’s guide for students of Tomchei Temimim, in which he describes his expectations to all present.
- Marcheshvan 25, 5750 (1989): The Rebbe distributed Anochi Magen Lach (1893), a manuscript that had remained hidden for decades and by Divine providence was discovered that year in proximity to the twentieth of Marcheshvan. The discourse was printed and distributed to men, women, and children, for the sake of their adding in studying Chassidus and applying its teachings.
- Marcheshvan 20, 5751 (1990): The Rebbe distributed Vayehiu Chayei Sarah, one of his own discourses that is based on a discourse of the Rebbe Rashab, to all present.
