In the time of the Rebbe Rashab it was still impossible to print
Jewish books in Russia without special permission from the
censor, and then only at the printing company under
government supervision established in Vilna. For this reason he
also did not print his discourses during the years of his
leadership. However he did give them out for his followers to
hand-copy or mimeograph. One of these volumes is presented
in the Exhibition:
81. Discourses of 1905-6, Mimeograph.
The only period when it was possible to print in Russia without
investigation by the government inspector was in the Kerenski
period, after the overthrow of the Czarist regime in 1917. From
that period the Exhibition presents:
82. Communal letter, printed in the month of Iyar, 1917.
* * *
The Rebbe Rashab did not officially accept the leadership until
1894, however immediately after the passing of his father the
Rebbe Maharash in 1823 he began saying and writing Chassidic
discourses. He continued to do so until his passing in 1920.
Presented in the Exhibition are:
83. The Rebbe Maharash’s discourses that the Rebbe
Rashab wrote in 1876, when he was 15 years old.
84. A page from a volume of his discourses, 1883.
85. A page from a volume of his discourses, 1920.
Also presented in the Exhibition:
86. A handwritten letter, 1878.
87. A responsa, 1918.
* * *
After the outbreak of the war in 1915 the Rebbe Rashab and
his family fled Lubavitch and settled in Rostov. He was unable
to take his whole collection of books with him, so he deposited
them for safekeeping in a warehouse in Moscow. The books
remain there (in Moscow) until today. Nevertheless, the Rebbe
Rashab did take with him his treasured collection of
manuscripts plus about a hundred books that he and his fathers
before him had acquired.
From these books the Exhibition presents:
88. A volume of Talmud Yerushalmi, printed in Zitamir,
with a number of notes in the Rebbe Rashab’s handwriting
on the margins.
Also presented in the Exhibition:
89. The Rebbe Rashab’s Passport.
This passport is not for travel outside of Russia, but for travel
inside Russia itself. It lists his journeys to Vitebsk, Moscow,
Petersburg, Vilna and Rostov, from 1903 on.
90. His Shtar T’noim, betrothal agreement, signed by the
Tzemach Tzedek.
This was written on 10 Sivan, 1865, when the Rebbe Rashab
was four and a half years old, about ten months before the
Tzemach Tzedek’s passing (13 Nissan, 5626 - 1866).
The Tzemach Tzedek wrote the first line: "Mazal Tov...," and
on the reverse side he added: "I too am obligated... So says
Menachem Mendel."
169. Portrait of the Rebbe Rashab, original picture, large. 
170. Printing from the original picture.
171. Same as above, artistically restored.
172. Portrait, by Yakov Lipshitz. 
173. Portrait, by Gertrud Zulkerkandl, 1935. 
174. Same as above.
175. Same as above.
176. Same as above, wearing a Shtrimal, his hand covered
by a handkerchief, while reciting a discourse. 
177. Portrait, by Nachum Yitzchok Kaplan.
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