The resurgence of Jewish life following its decimation in the crematoriums of Auschwitz is a story of hope and vision for the future. It is a complex narrative that spans hundreds of communities across the globe and thousands of personal stories, including many acts of selflessness, heroism, and community service. Yet, at its root, there was one rabbi with a visionary outlook that stood out from the rest in terms of shaping the Jewish future: Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In the words of chief rabbi emeritus of the United Kingdom, Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the Rebbe was “one of the greatest Jewish leaders, not just of our time, but of all time.”
For years, Jewish affiliation was largely defined by synagogue membership and annual dues, but in the last few decades that reality has been supplanted by a trend of outreach with no strings attached – of community activists lowering the barriers of engagement to seek out and embrace Jews of all backgrounds without imposing stereotypical religious or social preconditions.
What sparked this Jewish revolution?
In the winter of 1950, during the immediate aftermath of the destruction of European Jewry in the Holocaust, a charismatic 48-year-old Rabbi Schneerson assumed leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, charting a mission to rebuild world Jewry from the ground up. His vision? To spread an appreciation for the infinite value and limitless potential of the individual and to demonstrate how every circumstance in life presents an opportunity for man to improve his society.
The Rebbe’s pioneering efforts to reach out lovingly to every Jew on the planet and connect them with their Jewish heritage were soon being replicated across the Jewish spectrum. Today, Jewish groups of all kinds are actively engaged in some form of Jewish outreach activity.
Beyond the vast Chabad-Lubavitch network that has grown to include thousands of humanitarian, social, educational, and religious organizations, with many outposts in remote regions, the Rebbe’s unique approach has deeply influenced Jewish life outside of Chabad and across the spectrum of Jewish affiliation.
Elie Wiesel, the noted scholar and Nobel Prize laureate, remarked of his experiences with the Rebbe, "I know of no one who has left the Rebbe without being deeply affected, if not changed, by their encounter. Time in his presence begins running at a different pace. You feel inspired, you feel self-examined, you are made to wonder about the quest for meaning which ought to be yours. In his presence nothing is superficial, nor is it artificial. In his presence you come closer in touch with your inner center of gravity."
During his lifetime, many individuals from all walks of life sought out the Rebbe’s guidance and blessing, among them notable Jewish figureheads, including several Israeli prime ministers. In his 2012 address to the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of the discussions he had with the Rebbe and the advice he received when he first came to New York in 1984 to represent Israel at the United Nations.