A grandson of the Tzemach Tzedek and a son of R’ Yisrael Noach, R. Avraham Schneersohn settled in Kishinev and refused to become Rebbe. His daughter married the Frierdiker Rebbe, and the Rebbe Rashab held him in high esteem.
R. Avraham Schneersohn was born in Lubavitch to his father Harav Yisrael Noach, the Tzemach Tzedek’s son, in 5620. After his marriage, he lived in Kishinev, and when his father passed away, he refused the entreaties of his chassidim to fill his place in Nezhin.
In 5757, the Friediker Rebbe married R. Avraham’s daughter, Rebbetzin Nechamah Dinah, and R. Avraham developed a close relationship with his mechutan the Rebbe Rashab. He was a businessman, but he devoted much of his time to learning Torah and avodas Hashem. He passed away on 2 Cheshvan 5698.
*
The Rebbe Rashab told the Frierdiker Rebbe, “Truth and humility can be learned from your father-in-law, R. Avrohom.”
*
When R. Avrohom was a young man, he once traveled to Niezhin and told his father, R. Yisroel Noach: “Tateh, I don’t want to shake your hand. I’m not coming to you as a father, but as a Rebbe.” R. Yisroel replied, “You want advice? My advice is that you travel to your uncle in Lubavitch (the Rebbe Maharash).”
When he arrived in Lubavitch, Rebbetzin Rivkah prepared a festive welcome and the Rebbe Maharash sat with him for half an hour. R. Avrohom then said to the Rebbe: “Fetter, I came to have yechidus.”
“Last night,” said the Rebbe Maharash, “I was in terrible pain. A vein burst, and I had to stop the bleeding with a piece of my shirt. But that suffering is nothing compared to the difficulty of yechidus. Today, I can’t; tomorrow im yirtzeh Hashem.” And he had yechidus the next day.
On his return, R. Avraham visited his father in Niezhin. “Nu, did I give you good advice?” his father asked.
*
The Frierdiker Rebbe repeated what his father-in-law, R. Avrohom, had said about the Rebbe Rashab, “I have seen great people – my father and my uncles – but they don’t have his [the Rebbe Rashab’s] mesiras nefesh. His very first step forward in avoda is with mesiras nefesh.
“My uncle, the Rebbe Maharash, told me about his son, the Rebbe Rashab, ‘Emes and mesiras nefesh are two pillars of light. No one can grasp the level to which they can bring, especially when coming from a neshama klalis.
“That’s when I knew that the Rebbe Rashab would fill his father’s place.”
For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com
Discussion
We appreciate your feedback. If you have any additional information to contribute to this article, it will be added below.