Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) was the founder of Chabad Lubavitch, a branch of Hasidic Judaism. Born in Liozna, Belarus, he was a disciple of Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch, the successor of the Hasidic movement's founder, the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Shneur Zalman established a new philosophy called 'Chabad,' an acronym for Chochmah, Binah, Da'at (Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge), which emphasizes intellectual understanding of divine concepts. He authored many works, the most famous being the Tanya, a fundamental text of Chabad philosophy that outlines his teachings on the nature of the soul, the purpose of existence, and the structure of spiritual worlds. His leadership not only spread the teachings of Hasidism but also laid the groundwork for the extensive educational and outreach activities of Chabad in the modern era. Rabbi Shneur Zalman was also known for his legal writings in the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, which provided a clear and concise restatement of Jewish law, tailored to the needs of his time.