At the age of 6 he defeated high-ranking officials in simultaneous chess exhibitions, where he played against as many as 30 players at a time, moving quickly from board to board. He had a photographic memory for chess and could repeat all 30 games, move by move. He was known as "Shmulik der vunder kind" -- Shmuel the wonder child.

At the age of 9, my father came to America and gave chess exhibitions across the country, astounding the players and the audience. He gained the title of International Grandmaster at the age of 36, after winning a tournament in England.

My father was a descendant of Rabbi Yonasan Eibshitz, who descended from the great Kabalist, the Arizal. He grew up in an orthodox home, and throughout his life he was known as a man who observed Shabbat. As chess was his livelihood he refused to play it on Shabbos or Yom Tov. (Ed's note: although it is permissible according to Jewish law to play chess on Shabbat, one is enjoined not to be involved with one's business matters on Shabbat.)

Even the anti-Semitic Russian government had to change the chess tournament schedule to accommodate his observance of Shabbat.

Whenever my father competed outside of New York City he always lost weight. Since he wouldn't compromise on the kosher dietary laws, and little was available in local markets, he carried a suitcase of tuna, salmon and boxes of matzos. He found Shabbos hosts by calling the Lubavitcher Rebbe's office to ask for names of families in the cities he was visiting.

Upon turning 70 he asked the Rebbe if he should retire. The Rebbe told him to continue playing because it was a Kiddush Hashem- a proud demonstration of a Jew succeeding without compromising. My father complied and never retired. He wrote seven books on chess and was a chess consultant for the New York Times, Chess Life Magazine, the Herald Tribune, World Journal Tribune, and the Jewish Press. He was a television commentator during two World Chess Championships. He bears the honor of being the only person ever to have beaten Bobby Fischer in a match.

At the venerable age of 70 he traveled to Russia to face former world champion Vassily Smyslov. My father beat his opponent, and received a standing ovation from the audience of one thousand Russians. In 1986 he was inducted into the "United States Chess Hall of Fame." On his 80th birthday the United Chess Federation saluted him with a party in a kosher restaurant.

My parents lived in Crown Heights in the 40's, before the Rebbe became the leader of Chabad. My father walked the Rebbe home from Shul on Shabbos for nearly one and a half years. He later attended some of the Rebbe's farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings). At one memorable farbrengen the Rebbe spoke about the Jewish message that can be learned from chess.