Menucha Rochel Slonim
{{Short description|Israeli rebbetzin (1798-1888)}}
Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel Slonim (1798–1888Days in Chabad:Historic Events in the Dynasty of Chabad-Lubavitch, Brooklyn, 2002, pp. 70-71, 133-135) was a daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe (Rabbi Dovber Schneuri), the second Rebbe of the Chabad Hasidic dynasty. She is regarded a matriarch to the Chabad dynasty as well as Hebron's Jewish population in general.[http://www.ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=rebbeBios Chassidic Rebbe Biographies]
Origin of name
Rebbetzin Slonim was born on the 19 Kislev, 5559 AM (27 November 1798), the same day her grandfather, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi was released from imprisonment in S. Petersburg. Her father chose the name Menucha because in Hebrew the word "menucha" means "peace and quiet". He said, "Henceforth we shall have a little Menucha."Days in Chabad:Historic Events in the Dynasty of Chabad-Lubavitch, Brooklyn, 2002, p.70-71, 133-135 She was named Rochel after an aunt that died in her youth.
Her husband's last name was originally Griver, a descendant of Rabbi Moses Isserles, the Rema; they chose to change it to Slonim (this was when it was still easy to change names). They then moved to Hebron.{{Cite web|title = "Walk Between the Raindrops" - How Menucha Rochel Slonim United Hebron|url = http://en.hebron.org.il/history/232|website = the Jewish Community of Hebron|access-date = 2016-01-28}}
Emigration to Hebron
After she fell dangerously ill, her father promised that she would live to emigrate to the Land of Israel. In 1845, with the blessing of her brother-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, she and her family emigrated to Hebron. To allay her fears of rainstorms on the journey to Hebron, Rabbi Schneersohn blessed her to "walk between the raindrops."[http://www.beismoshiach.org/pdf/333/mas333_e_b_news.pdf page 2][http://www.machonalte.com/cat.asp?ID=8 Machon Alte Sefad]
Life in Hebron
For forty-three years she served as the matriarch of the Hebron community. New brides and barren women would request blessings from her. Before she died on the 24th of Shevat, 5648 AM (6 February 1888), she sent a letter to the then Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, informing him of her imminent passing. She thus lived during the leadership of all of the first five Lubavitcher Rebbes.
She became renowned among both townspeople and beyond, Jews and non-Jews alike for her curative and salvation abilities, and was nicknamed "the grandmother Menucha Rachel". Every bride who visited the Tomb of Machpela on the day of her wedding came to get her blessing and the Admor Rebbe Elazar Mendel of Lelov used to visit her home three times a week when staying in Hebron. He was strict about standing when she entered or left the room and always asked her to bless him.{{Cite web|title = Menucha Rachel Slonim - MyTzadik, Saints, Tombs around the world, Prayers, Live Broadcasts, Books, Liturgical poems, Pictures|url = http://www.mytzadik.com/index.asp?lid=5&page=tzadik&kid=1443|website = www.mytzadik.com|access-date = 2016-01-28|last = MyTzadik.com}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
File:Eliezer Dan Slonim and family.jpg
File:Family Slonim, Hebron.jpg
Her family went on to become leaders of the Hebron Jewish community, helping unite the Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewish communities and reaching out to the Arabic community. Her son was Rabbi Yehuda Leib Slonim, who was the father of Rebbetzin Moshke Devora Epstein, who inherited Menucha Rochel's home when she got married. Other children included Rabbi Mordechai Dov Slonim.
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Slonim was the chief Ashkenazi rabbi during the 1929 Hebron massacre.{{Cite web|title = מאורעות תרפ"ט|url = http://en.hebron.org.il/history/topic/3|website = the Jewish Community of Hebron|access-date = 2016-01-28}}{{Cite web|title = Eye Witnesses Describe Horrors of the Moslem Arabs' Attacks at Hebron on Saturday, August 24|url = http://www.jta.org/1929/09/01/archive/eye-witnesses-describe-horrors-of-the-moslem-arabs-attacks-at-hebron-on-saturday-august-24|website = Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date = September 1929|access-date = 2016-01-28}} His son was Eliezer Dan Slonim, who spoke fluent Arabic and was a member on the city council and a director of the Anglo-Palestine Bank. He had excellent relations with the British Mandate authorities and Arab community and was reported to have not believed in rumors of an impending riot. He and his family were slaughtered as they attempted to make a barricade in the Slonim family house.{{Cite web|title = 27 Arabs Facing Quiz on Slonim House Slaughter|url = http://www.jta.org/1930/02/04/archive/27-arabs-facing-quiz-on-slonim-house-slaughter|website = Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date = 4 February 1930|access-date = 2016-01-28}} One-year-old Shlomo Slonim (1928-2014) survived the massacre. He was the grandson of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Slonim and son of Eliezer Dan Slonim. Shlomo Slonim went on to join the Irgun Tzvai Leum
Annual visits to grave in Hebron
File:Menucha Rochel Slonim's grave tombstone.jpg
Today, the grave of Menucha Rochel Slonim receives hundreds of visitors every year,{{Cite web|title = 100's at Menucha Rochel Kever|url = http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=7641&alias=100s-at-menucha-rochel-kever|website = collive|date = 9 February 2010|access-date = 2016-01-28}} especially on the anniversary of her passing.{{Cite web|title = Hebron: A Hebron Community - Hebron, City of the Patriarchs - Official web site of the Jewish Community of Hebron|url = http://www.hebron.com/english/gallery.php?id=186&thumbs=1|website = www.hebron.com|access-date = 2016-01-28}}{{Cite web|title = Observing the Yahrzeit of Menucha Rochel Slonim - Latest News Briefs - Arutz Sheva|url = http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/76377|website = Arutz Sheva| date=3 February 2005 |access-date = 2016-01-28}}{{Cite web|title = Hebron: A Hebron Community - Hebron, City of the Patriarchs - Official web site of the Jewish Community of Hebron|url = http://www.hebron.com/english/gallery.php?id=386|website = www.hebron.com|access-date = 2016-01-28}}{{Cite web|title = The Rebbetzin Who Protects Chevron' Past' Present and Future|url = http://www.sos-israel.com/62194.html|website = www.sos-israel.com|access-date = 2016-01-28}}{{Cite news|title = Hebron matriarch Menuha Rochel still inspires 128 years later|url = http://www.jpost.com/Not-Just-News/Hebron-matriarch-Menuha-Rochel-still-inspires-128-years-later-444631|newspaper = The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com|access-date = 2016-02-23}} It is located in the Old Jewish cemetery, Hebron.{{Cite web|title = Remembering Rebbitzin Menucha Rochel Slonim A"H|url = http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/30689/remembering-rebbitzin-menucha-rochel-slonim-ah.html|website = www.theyeshivaworld.com|date = 19 February 2009|access-date = 2016-01-28}} The grave made headlines in 1997, when the H1 and H2 sections of the city were created.{{Cite web|title = Yohrtzeit of Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel - Shturem.org Taking The World By Storm|url = http://www.shturem.org/index.php?section=artdays&id=1917|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203213353/http://www.shturem.org/index.php?section=artdays&id=1917|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 3, 2016|website = www.shturem.org|access-date = 2016-01-28}} Concerned residents and supporters protested the government to ensure that the cemetery and Menucha Rochel's final resting place were not left outside of the designated area. Other venerated Jewish scholars buried in the cemetery include Eliyahu de Vidas, Solomon Adeni, Elijah Mizrachi and Yehuda Bibas.
Today, the local Chabad chapter in Hebron leads visits to her grave and continues her legacy.{{Cite web|title = Menucha Rochel – Chabad of Hebron|url = http://chabadhebron.com/tag/menucha-rochel/|website = Chabad of Hebron|access-date = 2016-01-28|language = en-US|archive-date = 2014-10-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141030052252/http://chabadhebron.com/tag/menucha-rochel|url-status = dead}} In 2002 The Menucha Rochel Kollel, a learning center moved to a historic building adjacent to the grave of Menucha Rochel in the cemetery. Daily classes and services are held there.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://en.hebron.org.il/history/232 Menucha Rochel Slonim] page on Hebron.com
- [http://www.hebron.com/english/gallery.php?id=186&thumbs=1 Memorial lecture in Hebron for Menucha Rochel Slonim]
- [http://chabadhebron.com/ Chabad of Hebron]
- [http://www.jpost.com/Not-Just-News/Hebron-matriarch-Menuha-Rochel-still-inspires-128-years-later-444631 Hebron matriarch Menuha Rochel still inspires 128 years later] - Jerusalem Post
{{Chabad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slonim, Menucha Rochel}}
Category:Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim
Category:Israeli Orthodox Jews
Category:Burials at Old Jewish cemetery in Hebron
Category:Jews from Ottoman Palestine
Category:19th-century Jews from the Russian Empire
Category:19th-century Jews from the Ottoman Empire
Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the Ottoman Empire