Schneerson, Menachem Mendel (1902–1994)

Ukrainian-born US rabbi, leader from 1950 of the Lubavitch right-wing orthodox Judaic movement. A charismatic figure, he was regarded by some of his followers as a Messiah. Under his guidance, the Lubavitch movement expanded worldwide, and the community's publishing division became the world's largest distributor of Jewish books.

Life Schneerson was born in Nikolayev (now Mykolayiv), Ukraine, the son of a rabbi. The vicissitudes of the Nazi era took him to Latvia, Poland, Germany, France, and finally, in 1941, to the USA. In addition to his Talmudic and mystical studies, he studied mathematics, physics, and engineering at universities in Berlin and Paris. The Lubavitch movement was founded by Shneur Zalman (1745–1813) of Lyadi, who developed Habad Hasidism; it became a force in US Judaism from its centre in Brooklyn, New York, from 1940. On the death in 1950 of the movement's sixth leader, Joseph Isaac Schneerson, Mendel Schneerson (a distant relation) became Rebbe (Hasidic leader).

Role of Rebbe The Habad Hasidic Rebbe is regarded as an almost superhuman being who is beyond criticism, and Schneerson was able to sustain this difficult role. Habad Hasidism became an evangelical doctrine, aiming at the return of the whole Jewish people to traditional observance; inspired by the Rebbe, it was especially active in the countries of the communist bloc. Taking on a role in Israeli politics, the Rebbe supported the right-wing policy of not ceding territory, and even opposed the peace treaty with Egypt. Although rejecting a messianic basis for Israeli politics, he saw his evangelical campaign as messianic in intent.