Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812) was a Jewish religious leader who founded Chabad Hasidism and wrote the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch HaRav.
Hasidic Judaism: A Jewish religious movement that emerged in Eastern Europe in the eighteenth century, emphasizing devotional fervor and the presence of God in everyday life. Shneur Zalman founded Chabad as a distinctive branch of this movement.
Tanya: A foundational work of Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1796, presenting a systematic account of the soul and religious life. Shneur Zalman's central work explains the spiritual psychology behind Chabad practice.
Dov Ber of Mezeritch: An eighteenth-century Hasidic leader who succeeded the movement's founder, Israel ben Eliezer, as its principal teacher. Shneur Zalman studied with him and became one of his leading disciples.
Moses of Mezeritch: An alternate English name for Dov Ber of Mezeritch, the Hasidic master who taught Shneur Zalman. This common name appears in accounts of the teacher who shaped his early Hasidic formation.
Chabad Rebbe: The spiritual leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement, traditionally drawn from the Schneersohn dynasty after its founder. Shneur Zalman established the leadership model later Rebbes continued.
Chabad: A Hasidic movement whose name abbreviates its emphasis on the intellectual faculties of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. It is the movement Shneur Zalman established and the framework for his teachings.
Shulchan Aruch HaRav: A code of Jewish law written by Shneur Zalman of Liadi, combining legal rulings with explanations of their reasoning. It records his legal rulings and remains a major source in Chabad practice.
Israel ben Eliezer: The eighteenth-century Jewish mystic known as the Baal Shem Tov, regarded as the founder of Hasidism. His movement provided the religious inheritance Shneur Zalman developed into Chabad.
Aaron HaLevi Horowitz of Staroselye: A Hasidic leader and disciple of Shneur Zalman who established the Staroselye branch after his teacher's death. His succession dispute illustrates competing interpretations of Shneur Zalman's legacy.
Hasidic–Mitnagdic schism: The historical conflict between Hasidic communities and their opponents, known as Mitnagdim, over religious authority and practice. Shneur Zalman's imprisonment and public disputes formed part of this wider conflict.