Basically, "Rebbe" is a Hebrew word for "teacher," or "my teacher." It also refers to a master of Chassidism, the inspired Jewish movement founded by Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov in the 1700's.

"Lubavitch" means many things: A town in Belarus, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, and an international Jewish movement. Lubavitch, the town, was the seat of a dynasty of Chassidic masters who followed in the ways and teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, as elaborated by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad and author of the Tanya.

"The Lubavitcher Rebbe," or simply "The Rebbe," is how Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson is known worldwide. He was born in 1902 to Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson and the Kabbalist Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, chief Rabbi of Dnieperpetrovsk in the Ukraine. As a youth he studied Torah and Talmud at home after the local Yeshiva's teachers conceded the young man knew more than they.

His father also allowed him to study science, mathematics and languages as long as it didn't detract from his 16 hours of daily Torah study. In addition to his native Hebrew, Russian and Yiddish, he acquired a working knowledge of English, Italian, French, Gruzian and Latin. The young Mendel passed the government matriculation exams six months later.

In the Thirties, the Rebbe studied at the University of Berlin. In 1941, he fled Nazi occupied France for the United States, where he was initially employed as an engineer with the U.S. Navy.

When the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe passed away in 1950, the Lubavitch community turned to him as son-in-law, to assume the leadership.

A year later, he acceded to the persistent demands of the Chassidim, but on a condition: "I will try to help you," the Rebbe told his followers, "but each of you must work on your own to fulfill your mission. Don't expect a free ride."

For the next 42 years, the Rebbe never missed a day working in his office. Even after suffering a heart attack in 1977, he stayed in his office until he recovered.

For many years, the Rebbe granted private audiences several nights a week. All types of people, famous Torah scholars, young activists, established businessmen, scientists, politicians, journalists, Jews and non-Jews, waited their turn until two or three am to seek the Rebbe's advice, guidance and blessing.

Thousands of letters came to the Rebbe from around the world- bags of letters, daily. The Rebbe personally read each one and replied. Today, there are 25 volumes of the Rebbe's transcribed letters touching on all areas of life and Judaism.

The central fountain from which the Rebbe's wisdom flowed was the "Farbrengen" gatherings when the Rebbe would speak for many hours, with interludes of chassidic songs and l'chaim.

The Rebbe made the ancient Torah and Talmudic lore come alive with practical applications to contemporary life. Those who came with questions left with answers, while those who came knowing all the answers left understanding how much more there is to know. The Rebbe's "Farbrengen" discussions were broadcast live around the US, Europe and Israel over a network of phone lines- and later, by satellite- to listeners all over the globe. Over 100 published volumes contain digests of the Rebbe's teachings.

The Rebbe lived modestly, no trappings of glory in his spartan home and office. A master of simplicity, the Rebbe allowed the soul's essential G-dliness to shine through to his students, rippling out to the rest of the world.

He lifted post-Holocaust Jewry out of depression, helping to rebuild its spirit by rallying millions to his bold Mitzvah campaigns. Instead of being apologetic and defensive about Jewish observance, the Rebbe invented the Mitzvamobile concept, bringing Mitzvot on the spot for people on the go.

It can be said that the Rebbe was an orthodox rebel, a traditional radical. In the 60's, when the Jewish establishment was shocked by the youth's rebellion and cried: "Student unrest! Hippies! This is a lost generation!" The Rebbe declared, "The apathetic ice of America is finally beginning to thaw! Young people now realize they need not conform to society's norms!"

The Rebbe urged his students to reach out and bring Jewish youth in touch with their roots. Initially, the Rebbe's outreach was ridiculed by detractors, but after seeing Lubavitch's success in the field, others began to imitate his efforts. The Rebbe's love for each and every Jew was unconditional. Non judgmental, he accepted every Jew 'as is' regardless of affiliation and level of observance, and tried to raise their goals.

The Rebbe fervently promoted the Jewish belief in the coming of Moshiach predicting the imminent Redemption, blended with a down-to-earth concern for the here and now. Others in the past shouted: "The Messiah is coming! Sell your homes and leave for the Holy Land!" The Rebbe declared: "We are at the dawn of a New Era! Build homes! Build institutions! Let us prepare by finding meaning in the vision today."

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, US Congress proclaimed the Rebbe's birthday as "Education Day USA." and awarded him the national scroll of honor. In 1995, the Rebbe was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for "outstanding and lasting contributions."

Even after his passing in 1994, the Rebbe's wisdom, inspiration and direction continue to live, with a global network of over 3,000 Chabad outreach and educational centers in major and minor communities everywhere.