The Goldschmidt Family

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson
Chief Rabbi of the major Ukrainian city YeKaterinoslav (toDay calledDniepropetrovsk)
1878-1944

A Brief Biography of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson was born on Nissan 18th, 5638 [1878] to anillustrious Chassidic family. His father, Rabbi Boruch Schneur, was theoldest of the seven sons of the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi MenachemMendel, (also known as the "Tzemach Tzedek").

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok had two brothers, Shmuel and Shalom Shachna, and asister, Roda Sima. Rabbi Shmuel later became the chief Rabbi of Nikolayevin the Ukraine, while Rabbi Shalom Shachna headed the Rabbinical court inthe city of Shiraka. Eventually Rabbi Shalom Shachna settled inJerusalem.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok received his Rabbinical orDination from a committeeof twelve renowned Torah Leaders, including the celebrated Rabbi ChaimBrisker and the chief Rabbi of Lodz, Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim Meisel. SoonafterWards he married Chana Yanovsky. His father-in-law, Rabbi MeirShlomo Yanovsky, was the chief Rabbi of Nikolayev, where the young couplelived until 1909. That year they mOved to YeKaterinaslav (known toDay asDnieperpetrovsk), where Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was appointed chief Rabbi atthe request of Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneerson, the fifth LubavitcherRebbe. Rabbi Levi Yitzchok devoted himself entirely to his new positionand he soon earned the love and respect of the local community.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and Rebbitzen Chana had three sons. The oldest, RabbiMenachem Mendel, became the present Lubavitcher Rebbe. The others wereDov Ber, who died during the Holocaust, and Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Leib.

In 1914 the First World War broke out, followed by the Russian Revolutionthree years later. Although the Jews had suffered under the tyrannicalCzar, their lives under the new Communist regime were even worse. The newgovernment disguised their anti-Semitism as the pursuit of "equality" andused this principle as an excuse to uproot all vestiges of Jewishtradition and observance. All major Jewish institutions, includingSynagogues, ritual baths, schools, and Rabbinical colleges were forciblyClosed. Anyone who tried to keep Jewish tradition alive was bitterlypersecuted. However, the Chassidim who worked on behalf of Rabbi YosefYitzchok Schneerson, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, were singled out forthe worst abuse.

The Communists stopped at nothing to prevent Jewish youth from Learningabout their heRitage. The infamous secret police, or NKVD, were deployedto round up anyone suspected of teaching Judaism. Rabbis, communityworkers, and even simple Chassidim were dragged out of their homes in themiddle of the night and arrested. Observant Jewry could not Look to theJewish Communists, or "Yevsektsia", for any help. They were only toohappy to assist the authorities and they regularly informed on theirfellow Jews.

Despite these new difficulties, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok refused to stopLooking after the Jews of YeKaterinaslav. Eventually the Communistauthorities in Ukraine heard about his activities and they placed himunder surveilLance. Before long they discoVered that Rabbi Levi Yitzchokassisted Jews living Outside the city as well as in his own community.For this reason the authorities considered him a dangerous enemy who hadto be stopped. Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was arrested and sent to prison. Hewas later sentenced to a period of internal exile.

Throughout his life, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson helped his fellowJews in many different ways. Numerous stories about him can be read inToldot Levi Yitzchok, a biography of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok that waspublished in 1995.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson's Relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe

As mentioned above, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson was the grandson ofthe Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, and a sixth-generationdescendant of the founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi ShneurZalman of Liadi (known as the Alter Rebbe.) His eldest son, RabbiMenachem Mendel Schneerson, who later became the present LubavitcherRebbe, married the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson, the sixthLubavitcher Rebbe.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was an extremely devoted Chassid of Rabbi SholomDovber Schneerson, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe (also known as the RebbeRashab.) The Rebbe Rashab recognized Rabbi Levi Yitzchok's potential whenhe was still very young and began to entrust him with certain importantTasks at the tender age of eighteen, including various missions abroad.He is particularly remembered for his work with the Jewish soldiers whowere sent to fight in the Russo-Japanese war in 1905. He also played akey role in assisting Mendel Beilis, the defendant in the infamous bloodlibel case that took place in Kiev in 1912.

After the Rebbe Rashab passed away, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok became equallydedicated to his successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok, or the Rebbe Rayatz.