Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History

by Joseph Telushkin

Today, two decades after the Rebbe’s death, the majority of Chabad Chasidim continue to see him as the leader of the generation (nasi ha-dor). They regard him as the most influential rabbinic leader of our time, whose influence continues to be wielded through his teachings (over two hundred volumes of his teachings have been published) and through the hundreds of stories that circulate about him (see chapter 29). These Chasidim acknowledge that he died, visit his grave, and observe his yahrtzeit (some fifty thousand to sixty thousand come to the cemetery each year on the anniversary of his death). They place little emphasis on whether or not he will one day come back as the Messiah, and focus instead on what they can do to hasten the Messiah’s arrival, whoever he may be; they also yearn to be reunited with him during the Messianic age, when tradition says that all the dead will be resurrected. In addition, the Chabad leadership has been vocal against the shrinking Messianic movement.