11 Nissan or Yud Aleph Nissan (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

: י״א נִיסָן ) is a holiday on the Chabad-Lubavitch calendar that marks the

birthday A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person or figuratively of an institution. Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts, birthday cards, a birthday party, or a rite of passage. Many religion ...

of the

Lubavitcher Rebbe Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...

Rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Rabbi Schneerson was born on April 5, 1902 corresponding to 11 Nissan 5662.

History

Leading up to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's birth, Chabad-Lubavitch was under the leadership of the

Frierdiker Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak (Joseph Isaac) Schneersohn (; 21 June 1880 – 28 January 1950) was an Orthodox rabbi and the sixth Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement. He is also known as the Frierdiker Rebbe (Yiddish for "Pre ...

, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. His mother

Rebbetzin Rebbetzin () or Rabbanit () is the title used for the wife of a rabbi—typically among Orthodox, Haredi, and Hasidic Jews—or for a female Torah scholar or teacher. Etymology The Yiddish word has a trilingual etymology: Hebrew, רבי ' ...

Chana Schneersohn had two sons already, Dovber Schneerson and Yisroel Aryeh Leib Schneerson. The Lubavitcher Rebbe was born on (11 Nissan, 5662), in the

Black Sea The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...

port of Nikolaev in the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

(now Mykolaiv in

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

). The Lubavitcher Rebbe would observe the Frierdiker Rebbe's birthday, 12 Tammuz, by visiting the Ohel (the gravesite of the Frierdiker Rebbe) every year. During the Rebbe’s leadership, the Rebbe would observe his birthday, 11 Nissan (as well as 25 Adar, the

’s birthday) as a special day every year by going to the Ohel. In 5712 (the Rebbe’s fiftieth birthday), the Rebbe said a maamar to a group of Chassidim, and in 5722 (the Rebbe’s sixtieth birthday) the Rebbe held a special farbrengen. From 5731 onwards, the Rebbe held a farbrengen or said a sicha each year in connection with Yud-Alef Nissan. From the beginning of the Rebbe's leadership, it was customary for followers of the Rebbe, mainly students of

Tomchei Tmimim Tomchei Tmimim (, "supporters of the complete-wholesome ones") is the central Yeshiva (Talmudical academy) of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. Founded in 1897 in the town of Lubavitch by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, it is now a ...

to arrange a Yechidut (private audience) with the Lubavitcher Rebbe or write a Pan (personal letter) to him on their Hebrew birthday. After the Lubavitcher Rebbe passed away on June 12, 1994 (

3 Tammuz 3 Tammuz or Gimmel Tammuz (Hebrew: גִּ׳ תַמּוּז, ) is a holiday on the Chabad-Lubavich calendar that marks the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic dynas ...

5754), his followers intensified their celebrations of his birthday, observing it with even greater enthusiasm than when he was alive.

Commemoration

Followers of the Lubavitcher Rebbe commemorate his birthday every year on 11 Nissan, recognizing it as a time for reflection on the Rebbe's contributions to Jewish life and his leadership. Many followers from around the world visit

770 Eastern Parkway 770 Eastern Parkway (), also known as "770" ("Seven Seventy"), is the street address of the World Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Th ...

(the headquarters of Chabad as well as the

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

of the Lubavitcher Rebbe) and the Ohel (the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the Frierdiker Rebbe). Some Chabad followers conduct special gatherings such as rallies and concerts, often attracting thousands of participants.

Recognition

The

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

recognizes 11 Nissan as " Education and Sharing Day," In 1978, the

U.S. Congress The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a bicameral legislature, including a lower body, the U.S. House of Representatives, and an upper body, the U.S. Senate. They both ...

passed a resolution to designate this day in recognition of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's efforts to promote educational values. The first proclamation was made by

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

, who acknowledged the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s influence in shaping education. Since then, each

U.S. president The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

has continued to formally recognize this day. This day was established to honor the Lubavitcher Rebbe's commitment and contributions to education and moral values, which he believed were essential for a healthy society{{Cite web , last=Fuchs , first=Ilan , date=2021-02-11 , title=The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Theory of Education , url=https://thelehrhaus.com/scholarship/the-lubavitcher-rebbes-theory-of-education/ , access-date=2024-10-16 , website=The Lehrhaus , language=en-US

References

Infobox holiday (other) Tammuz (Hebrew month) observances Chabad history Days of the Hebrew calendar Menachem Mendel Schneerson 1901 in Judaism Chabad holidays

History

Commemoration

Recognition

See also

References