Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, or simply “the Rebbe,” was one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century. After escaping Nazi-occupied Europe and arriving in the United States in 1941, he became the seventh and last leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement following his father-in-law’s passing ten year later.
The Rebbe was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of both Torah and secular subjects, his lengthy public discourses, and his practice of standing for hours to distribute dollars for charity and give blessings to thousands of visitors.
Under his leadership, Chabad became one of the largest Jewish organizations in the world, with centers in dozens of countries. His emphasis on outreach to all Jews, regardless of their level of observance, was revolutionary at the time and remains influential today. Even after his passing in 1994, thousands of Chabad emissaries worldwide have made it their mission to continue the Rebbe’s sacred legacy of Jewish outreach and education.
Now, a street in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood will be renamed “Lubavitcher Rebbe Way” to honor the revered figure.
“After escaping the Holocaust and arriving in the United States in 1941, the Rebbe’s leadership expanded Chabad-Lubavitch’s global reach, establishing countless institutions: kindergartens, schools, drug rehabilitation centers, care homes and synagogues,” Democratic Council Member Crystal Hudson said after Albany approved the measure on Thursday.
“His ability to meet people where they were—engaging them with warmth and heartfelt communication regardless of their background or status—set him apart.”
The renamed stretch of President Street between Brooklyn and New York Avenues has special significance as it’s where the Rebbe and his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, once lived. Though the esteemed couple has long since passed, their former home at number 1304 still stands and is now a historical landmark.
