Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn - Maharash (fourth Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch)
Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn (1834–1882), universally known by the Hebrew acronym Maharash (Moreinu HaRav Shmuel), was the fourth Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic dynasty. He led the movement from 1866 until his untimely passing in 1882.
He is famously remembered for his aristocratic demeanor, his tireless political activism on behalf of Russian Jewry, and his defining philosophical maxim: "Lechatchileh Ariber"—to charge straight over life's obstacles.
Early Life and Succession
Born in the town of Lubavitch, White Russia (modern-day Belarus), he was the youngest of the seven sons of the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (known as the Tzemach Tzedek).
He was exceptionally bright and diligent, mastering both the complex legalism of the Talmud and the profound mysticism of Chabad Hasidism at an early age.
When the Tzemach Tzedek passed away in 1866, several of Rabbi Shmuel's older brothers moved to other towns (such as Kopust and Liadi) to establish their own Chabad branches. Rabbi Shmuel was selected to remain in the ancestral seat of Lubavitch, succeeding his father as the official leader of the central Chabad movement.
The Philosophy of Lechatchileh Ariber
The Maharash is perhaps best known for coining a powerful aphorism that became a cornerstone of Chabad psychological and spiritual philosophy:
"The world says: If you cannot crawl under an obstacle, try to climb over it. But I say: Lechatchileh ariber—from the very beginning, charge straight over!"
This phrase encapsulated his approach to life and leadership. He taught that a person should not approach spiritual or physical challenges with a defeatist, compromising attitude; instead, one should act with holy audacity and confront barriers with confidence from the outset.
Political Activism and the French Connection
The Maharash operated during a highly tumultuous era for Russian Jewry, marked by state-sponsored antisemitism and the horrific pogroms of 1881–1882 following the assassination of Tsar Alexander II.
Unlike many reclusive spiritual leaders of his time, the Maharash was an active diplomat. He was fluent in several languages, including Russian, and frequently traveled to the capital of St. Petersburg to lobby government officials against antisemitic decrees.
He understood that Russian policy was often influenced by Western European economics. To pressure the Tsar’s government, he traveled to European capitals like Paris and Berlin, meeting with prominent Jewish philanthropists (such as the Baron de Hirsch and the Rothschilds) and international banks to coordinate financial leverage against the Russian regime to protect Jewish lives.
Sickness and Writing
The Maharash suffered from severe, chronic illnesses throughout his adult life, causing him immense physical pain and forcing him to travel abroad frequently to seek medical treatment in European health spas.
Despite his fragile health, his intellectual output was staggering. He wrote vast volumes of Chabad philosophical discourses (Ma'amarim). His writings are characterized by their structured, methodical style, breaking down highly abstract Kabbalistic concepts into structured, logical arguments. A large portion of his discourses were published in a multi-volume series known as Likkutei Torah - Torat Shmuel.
Passing and Legacy
The Maharash passed away on the 13th of Tishrei (September 1882) at the young age of 48. He was buried in the town of Lubavitch, next to his father, the Tzemach Tzedek.
He was succeeded by his second son, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn (the Rashab), who would go on to formalize the Chabad yeshiva system. The Maharash's legacy of fearless diplomatic activism and his philosophy of Lechatchileh Ariber remain central pillars of Chabad’s global outreach today.