Who was Lubavitcher Rebbe?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, born in 1902 in the city of Nikolayev, at a
young age was seen as a scholar and a great mind. In 1929 he married
the daughter of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe who was then living in
Riga. He studied in the University of Berlin and the University of
Sorbonne in France. In 1941 he arrived in the United States, just
barely escaping the Nazis. In 1951 after the death of his father in
law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, he accepted the title of Rebbe.
The Rebbe did not become just the head of a small select group of
people. On the contrary, he became the spiritual leader of world
Jewry. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, for the past 50 years has sent out
3,649 emissaries, making Chabad the largest Jewish organization in
existence.
Today there are some 2500 Chabad Lubavitch centers around the world;
each one a kernel of study, outreach and inspiration, each one a
promise of Jewish continuity. Thousands of men and women have left
the comfort of their home and family, dedicating their life to the
Rebbe's dream of a world filled with goodness and kindness. Thousands
more, perhaps millions, of people have had their souls rekindled,
their spirits and their lives illuminated by the Rebbe.
The Baltics boast their own two Chabad Centers. Rabbi Mordechai and
Rivki Glazman, head the center in Latvia, while the institutions in
Lithuania are run by Rabbi Sholom Ber Krinsky and his wife Dina.
In Riga, you can find the Ohel Menachem Kindergarten and Day School
established in memory of the Rebbe in 1995. An extensive social
welfare center serves hundreds of needy with two soup kitchens and
"meals on wheels." Many other programs include summer camps, adult
education, holiday celebrations, a library and book Store.
The Rebbe, throughout his life, always stressed the importance of
giving charity. Every Sunday thousands of people from all walks of
life would come to the Rebbe, stand on line and wait for hours, so
that they could walk up to the Rebbe, receive a dollar and a blessing
from him, and then consequently give that dollar to charity. The
Rebbe was giving the message: Help those who are less fortunate then
yourself.
Once an elderly woman was standing in line for a few hours waiting to
receive a dollar. Stiff and aching, she finally reached the Rebbe,
and said, "Rebbe, I don't understand. You are an elderly man, and
have been standing here all day long and yet you do not seem to tire."
The Rebbe smiled and said,
"I look at each person and I see a sparkling diamond within. When
counting diamonds; one does not tire."
At the beginning of his leadership the Rebbe said the following words:
"In the old days there was a person in every town who would light the
street lamps with a flame he carried at the end of a long pole. On
the street corners the lamps waited to be lit. Sometimes, however,
the lamps were not easily accessible . There were lamps in forsaken
places. Someone had to light even those lamps so that they would
fulfill their purpose and light up the paths of others.
"Today too, someone must be willing to forgo his or her conveniences
and reach out to light even those forsaken lamps"
The Rebbe seemed to always think of people in terms of light. And he
taught us to think of ourselves as lamplighters.
Being a lamplighter means bringing light and goodness into this
world, kindling the flame of humanity and sharing our light with
others. Jan. 4 - Feb. 1 was announced as the international Build a
World of Good month.
The Rebbe stressed that every small good deed that we do brings light
into the world. Doing a good deed is not a difficult task; it could
be a smile, allowing the person behind you in line at the store to go
ahead of you or just calling someone to say "Hello" or "I miss you."
More information on Judaism, Chabad, the Build a World of Good Week,
and how you can be a part of it can be found on the Internet:
http://www.chabadcenters.com/riga" www.chabadcenters.com/riga
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