This year, Erev Rosh Chodesh Shevat, marked 100 years since the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe’s grandfather, Harav Baruch Schneur Zalman Schneerson, the father of Harav Levi Yitzchak.

Reb Baruch Schneur was born on 24 Tammuz 5613 (1853) to his father, Harav Levi Yitzchak – the son of Harav Baruch Shalom, the eldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek – and to his mother, Rebbetzin Sima.

He married Rebbetzin Zelda Rachel, daughter of Reb Zalman Chaikin, a well-known chossid of the Tzemach Tzedek and the Rebbe Maharash. Reb Baruch Shneur was known as a brilliant scholar who knew Shas by heart and possessed an astounding memory.

Chassidim recalled that in 5685 (1925), Reb Baruch Schneur joined a group of chassidim traveling to the Frierdiker Rebbe for Rosh Hashanah. Over the entire twelve-hour journey, he recited divrei Torah and Chassidus by heart, nonstop.

The Rebbe Maharash was very enthusiastic that he should become a rav, and he received a strong endorsement from the great posek of the time, Reb Yitzchak Elchonon of Kovno, after speaking with him in learning for three hours. But for reasons unknown, this never came to fruition.

The Frierdiker Rebbe later wrote to the Rebbe that although Reb Baruch Schneur often traveled to Lubavitch throughout the year, he described himself as “a Shavuos’diker,” since Shavuos was the Yom Tov he most often spent in Lubavitch. As a relative of the Rebbeim, he would usually dine at the Rebbe’s table on Yomim Tovim.

He utilized his remarkable memory to retain everything he heard from the Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab during these meals, writing it all down after Yom Tov with extraordinary precision. His writings included descriptions of the Rebbe Maharash’s minhagim, including his hanhagos during the year of aveilus for his mother.

His writings also contain fascinating details about his immediate family, including references to his grandchild, the Rebbe. One entry dated 7 Adar 5675 reads:

“On Sunday, Parshas Tetzaveh, I told him about my son Levik sheyichye, and about his son Mendel sheyichye, who is to begin putting on tefillin this coming Thursday, 11 Adar; his bar mitzvah will be on the upcoming Yud Alef Nissan. He is an exceptionally good boy in his studies, be’ezras Hashem.”

He eventually gave these writings to the Frierdiker Rebbe, and they were later published in Reshimos HaRavash.

At the instruction of the Rebbe Maharash, Reb Baruch Schneur would chazzer Chassidus every Shabbos and Yom Tov, as well as during the week. At the conclusion of each of his trips to Lubavitch, he would write a list of all the maamarim he had merited to hear, concluding with heartfelt words of longing for more Chassidus:

“May Hashem grant me once more the merit of hearing maamarim like these from the holy mouth of the Rebbe, with a pure heart and a clear mind.”

And elsewhere:

“May Hashem soon grant me the merit of once again being in Lubavitch, and to hear more such precious words, especially the precious maamarim, which are sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb, said in truth, with a pure heart and a clear mind.”

The Rebbeim respected and loved him deeply and showed him many kiruvim and special honors. Among them, he was given kibbudim such as Chassan Bereishis. On one occasion, the Rebbe Rashab delivered a maamar facing him for an hour and a half, a role usually reserved for the Frierdiker Rebbe.

He was also a well-known chazzan, baal menagen, and baal koreh, and many of his writings record conversations with the Rebbeim on these subjects.

For many years, the exact date and year of Harav Baruch Schneur’s passing were unclear. After Gimmel Tammuz, a calendar from the year 5707 was discovered, on which the Rebbe had handwritten the yahrtzeits for which he would say Kaddish. On 29 Teves, the Rebbe wrote:

אא”ז הרב”ש — my master and grandfather, Harav Baruch Schneur. It should be noted, however, that in later decades, it was not observed that the Rebbe said Kaddish on that day.

The precise year of his passing also remained uncertain, with estimates ranging between 5686-5688 (1926–1928). However, several years ago, a prisoner questionnaire filled out by his son, Reb Shmuel Schneerson, was uncovered. In response to a question regarding when his parents passed away, he stated that his father passed away in the year 5686 (1926).

Thus, this year marks 100 years since the yahrtzeit of the gaon and chossid, the Rebbe’s grandfather, Harav Baruch Schneur Schneerson. Zechuso yagen aleinu.