He Couldn’t Get a Minyan to Keep Up with Him

During the year after the Tzemach Tzedek’s histalkus, people would not want to join the minyan of Reb Chaim Schneur Zalman. Once he started davening, he would forget where he was and became absorbed in the davening for hours…

Reb Chaim Schneur Zalman, the third son of the Tzemach Tzedek, was born a year after the histalkus of his namesake, the Alter Rebbe. Sometime during his youth, when he fell ill, the name Chaim was added. His manner of avodah was quite remarkable, with tumult and enthusiasm.

Three years after the Tzemach Tzedek passed away he relocated to Liadi and served as a Rebbe to many chassidim. He passed away on the 4^th of Teves, 5640 (1879).

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All through the year of the Tzemach Tzedek’s histalkus, people would not want to join his minyan, for immediately upon the start of his davening, Reb Chaim Schneur Zalman would begin singing and forget where he was, until he ‘returned to himself’ a long while later.

He was spotted several times striding back and forth during Shmone Esrei, jubilant and dancing, his face aflame. It was said about him, that he had ahava b’tanugim (bliss from closeness to Hashem).

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Reb Chaim Schneur Zalman said about himself, “v’dor revi’i yoshuvu heina,” that being the fourth generation since the Alter Rebbe, he returned to Liadi.

The ‘Beis Rebbi’ enumerates similarities between Reb Chaim Schneur Zalman and the Alter Rebbe:

He was born during the first year following the Alter Rebbe’s histalkus and named after him. He resided in Liadi for eleven years, like the Alter Rebbe had, and was niftar at age 66 during the month of Teves, like the Alter Rebbe.

For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com