Comments on: Is This a New Photo of the Rebbe Rashab?

By: Rabbi Yehoshua Simons

Rabbi Yehoshua Simons — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:50:24 +0000

I am convinced that it’s a picture of the Rebbe Rashab. I photoshopped the hat from the other verified picture, onto this, and compared them side by side. The nose, the ears, and the beard are identical, and the mouth matches but harder to tell. The only difference is the eyes but firstly, the eyes themselves are fine, it’s the surrounding features. This could be explained easily by lighting, and age difference (they are 12 years apart).

Yes it’s a prop background that makes perfect sense for the time, totally normal due to how rare cameras were. The only real question is – the Rebbe Rashab was known for resisting having photos taken, but here he seems to be posing. Perhaps he was just making it for his family, or for an official document (like the other photo).

I showed the side by side to an artist friend of mine who has a good eye, and he’s convinced. I showed it to my wife and she’s convinced. Then, even though nobody asked him, when I happened to have this picture on the screen my 3 year old just walked into the room and said “that’s the Rebbe Rashab!”, and children under the age of 5 have much better facial recognition ability. So, with all that, I am 99.999% convinced this is the Rebbe!

If you’d like to see a video I made on portraits of the Chabad Rebbeim, you can check it out here (Torah channel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfxUkiZaPmY

By: MG

MG — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 01:54:16 +0000

In reply to Nochum. It's not outdoors, it's by a fake backdrop

By: sam

sam — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 18:56:59 +0000

it looks like the background is fake (as we see also by pictures of the rebbetzin etc.) its could be possible that the fur coat and hat was only for the picture. (but its still questionable)

By: painting

painting — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 18:55:03 +0000

it looks like the background is fake (as we see also by pictures of the rebbetzin etc.) its could be possible that the fur coat and hat was only for the picture. (but its still questionable)

By: kaplan

kaplan — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 18:42:30 +0000

the face is very similar to the painting from kaplan with the rebbe rashab wearing a shtreimel which was with the guidance of the rebitzin

By: Nochum

Nochum — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:23:40 +0000

In reply to Mendel. Could also be snow stuck in the beard

By: Mendel D.

Mendel D. — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 22:02:54 +0000

In reply to שלום דובער לוין. Could also be fuzzy or worn out.

By: Mendel

Mendel — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 21:24:42 +0000

In reply to BG. Could be the glare from the camera. Photos then could also flash. Could also be lighting. Also, we know that rebbeim out of Lubavitch often wore other types of hats.

By: מ.מ.וו.

מ.מ.וו. — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 05:12:02 +0000

בהתבוננות בכללות הציור לא הייתי מאמין שזה אדמו”ר מהורש”ב מבלי שיהיה כתוב כן, בהתמונה מתר”פ ואפילו גם בהציור נראים פני אדמו”ר מהורש”ב דוקרים, גם צורת האף אינו שוה לא כמו התמונה ולא כמו הציור

By: Yes, coat in Iyar

Yes, coat in Iyar — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 04:10:50 +0000

In reply to Dovidls. It’s theoretically possible that the weather in Moscow at that time of year would have demanded warm clothing, and certainly in the earlier part of the day… Iyar 1908, corresponds (exactly) with May. The average daily temperature in Moscow in early May is 49°F. Mornings are generally even colder…

By: Yes, coat in Iyar

Yes, coat in Iyar — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 03:06:59 +0000

In reply to Dovidls. Iyar 1908, corresponds (exactly) with May. The average daily temperature in Moscow in early May is 49°F. Mornings are generally even colder… So it’s theoretically possible that the weather in Moscow at that time of year would have demanded warm clothing, and certainly in the earlier part of the day…

By: Dovidls

Dovidls — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 23:18:13 +0000

In reply to tzemach cunin. Almost certainly a close family member. The eyes are markedly different

By: tzemach cunin

tzemach cunin — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 19:11:19 +0000

I think IT IS the rebbe rashab.
If you look at the old original picture-it’s the photo AFTER it was restored so therefore the right side of the picture (right eye) isn’t similar to the new photo, but if you look at the left part of original photo the eyes look the same, and also regarding the white in the beard-it can easily be blond instead of white, and the reason why he doesn’t look tall is because the coat he’s wearing makes him look wider which makes him look average hight, however in comparing it to the size of the Face he’s definitely above average height…
*There’s also a photo of rebbe mahara”sh which looks very similar to this one (just some food for thought..)

By: Dovidls

Dovidls — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:39:50 +0000

In reply to Dovidls. Having said all that it is important to note the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka is to have said that the passport photo (to date the only verified photo of the Rashab) that der Zeide hot nit uisgezen azei. We also know that he was TERRIBLY upset with having to take that picture (apparently to the point where it changed his countenance to the point that we unrecognizable).

By: אדם

אדם — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 16:07:22 +0000

In reply to שלום דובער לוין. מי מצא התמונה הזאת?

By: Simcha C.

Simcha C. — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 16:05:08 +0000

The facial proportions (i.e. relative distances between features etc.) of both photos seem to match, indicating that both pictures are the same person. Furthermore, the man in the new picture looks very much like the frierdiker rebbe in his younger years.

Still, it’s possible that it’s another person from beis harav and the name written in the back is incorrect.

By: Dovidls

Dovidls — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 16:00:50 +0000

The eyes are much rounder and softer than the known photo.
Most likely one of his brothers and the person who wrote the inscription mistakenly assumed it was the Rashab because of the similarity.
Also Moscow requires a winter hat and coat in January or February and NEVER in May

By: Dovidls

Dovidls — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 14:51:57 +0000

In reply to Menachem Mendel Feller. יש תמונה ממנו ולא דומה לזה כלל

By: MMW

MMW — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:49:46 +0000

In reply to BG. There is a picture of the Frierdiker Rebbe wearing the same type of hat while he was Rebbe.

By: Looks like it, but not sure

Looks like it, but not sure — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:50:36 +0000

In reply to BG. Agreed. Also the beard looks smaller in the newly found picture, and as you said it looks like there is white hair already, not so likely for His beard to change so drastically especially at age 47 (or how ever old it said He was) in 2 years.

By: Eliyahu

Eliyahu — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:22:20 +0000

In reply to Wrong decade?. כמובן תרס"ט 5669

By: Chanoch Kaplan

Chanoch Kaplan — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:19:14 +0000

Im noteh to say it is NOT the Rebbe Rashab. The family trait of sharply arched eyebrows at the ends that is nearly identical with the F”R, is simply not present at all. In addition, based on the creases on his forehead it would seem more likely than normal that his gaze should be a penetrating one which is also a family trait shared with the F”R and yet the new picture has quite a dull gaze; the eyes are slightly rounder in the new picture too. Finally, while the ears are similar, the known picture has the Rebbe turning to his right which should exaggerate his ear’s protrusion and yet the new picture has the left ear protruding even more. As to the name written on the reverse, it would appear that the last name Schneerson was added by a second writer at a later time. This might have been someone’s assumption after seeing the first part of the name.
For these (and other reasons) i strongly believe that the new picture NOT the REBBE.

By: Lechatchila Ariber

Lechatchila Ariber — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 20:58:08 +0000

In reply to Mendel. "The ears are quite different; the Rebbe’s ears are higher up on his face." The ears are also bent outwards as opposed to the famous photo.

By: Wrong decade?

Wrong decade? — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 19:47:30 +0000

In reply to Eliyahu. תשס"ט?!

By: yosef

yosef — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:59:18 +0000

1) left ear is different.
2) left side of the beard should be fuller and longer. in this picture it seems that the right side is fuller.

By: שלום דובער לוין

שלום דובער לוין — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:56:56 +0000

כבר עניתי שנוטה אני לאשר שהיא תמונה כ”ק אדמו”ר מוהרש”ב נ”ע.

ואף שאין מנוס מבדיקה מקצועית, לבירור סופי. הנה לפני הבדיקה המקצועית, יש מספר סימנים המורים לכאורה על זהותו:

א) השם ושם המשפחה.

ב) התואר “רבי” מורה שאינו רב רגיל.

ג) המקום במוסקבה, והתאריך תרס”ח, ששם שהה אדמו”ר נ”ע באמצע אייר.

ד) מבנה הזקן על גבי הלחי, זהה בשתי התמונות.

ה) הפינה הפנויה מזקן תחת הלחי בצדו הימני, זהה בשתי התמונות.

ו) היחס בין עינו הימנית (הפתוחה יותר) לשמאלית, זהה בשתי התמונות.

יחס עם זאת יש סיבות לעורר ספק, שהרי:

א) הוא תמיד נמנע מלהצטלם.

ב) בחודש אייר אולי אין זקוקים במוסקבה למעיל חורף.

ואם זה באמת זוהי תמונת כ”ק אדמו”ר מוהרש”ב נ”ע, אזי נצטרך לומר:

א) ביקור זה במוסקבה הי’ לפגישה עם נגידים, שיתרמו ביד נדיבה לתומכי תמימים ליובאוויטש. ואולי התנה אחד הנגידים את תרומתו החשובה, בקבלת תמונה זו.

ב) אולי הי’ עדיין קריר במוסקבה בחודש אייר תרס”ח.

בכל אופן אין מנוס מבדיקה מקצועית, לבירור סופי.

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:52:38 +0000

I’m looking at the pictures (existing picture and this new picture) side by side. I don’t see the same person. The experts will decide.

By: Mendel

Mendel — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 17:41:33 +0000

If you zoom in on just the face of both pictures, and compare side-by-side, they cannot be the same person. The Rebbe’s holy eyes in no way resemble the eyes of the person in this picture from 1908.
The ears are quite different; the Rebbe’s ears are higher up on his face.
I tried using some free online facial comparison software, and it wasn’t a match, though I don’t know the accuracy of it.

By: Menachem

Menachem — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 17:34:10 +0000

The Rebbe Rashab would have his head tilted slightly as can be seen in the known (passport) photo, which is not seen in this new photo. (source: Reshimos).

Also i believe the Rebbetzin commented to Reb Nochum Kaplan on his drawing of the Rebbe Rashab that his holy eyes were very sharp, a feature not found in this new photo.

By: Eliyahu

Eliyahu — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 16:34:04 +0000

In reply to Eliyahu. sorry, i meant to write 5769