Weekly Letter: The Origin of the Name Schneur

As we celebrate the yartzeit of the Aleter Rebbe, R’ Schneur Zlaman, on the 24 of Teves – We share an interesting letter by Rabbi Nissan Mindel in which he explains the origin of the name: Schneur. Rabbi Mindel – author of the classic two-volume set : Rabbi Schneur Zlaman of Liadi (biography) and The Philosophy of Chabad – had done extensive research and study of the subject matter. His writings were reviewed by the Rebbe before going to print.

MERKOS L’INYONEI CHINUCH B.H.
Chabad Research Center Feb. 23, 1969
770 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11213

The Editor
The Jewish Post and Opinion
Sir:
Meaning of Schneur

Your correspondent (Feb. 14th) who introduces himself “as an expert on Jewish names” and categorically declares as “just nonsense” your reporter’s explanation of the name “Schneur”, meaning a “double light,” betrays a serious flaw in his competence. He is obviously unaware of the factual explanation of the name cited by the Maharshal (Rabbi Solomon Luria) in his Yam shel Shlomo (Gittin, ch. 4, par. 26), where it is related of a controversy between a husband and wife as to the naming of their newborn son. Each parent wished to name the son after his/her father, whose names were Meir and Uri, respectively. The controversy was settled by naming the boy “Schneur”, meaning “Two Lights” – for both Meir and Uri (M. Teitelbaum, Harav miLadi (Warsaw 1913, Part I, p. 249)) (see CHIDA – Maarechet Hagedolim, end of letter shin).

As an expert on Jewish names, N. Pearlroth might do well to consult Sefer Kuntres Hashemos by Rabbi B. Tkacz (Tel Avis, 1955), where he will find in Vol. I, p. 99 (and elsewhere) the name Schneur appearing in a group of names, such as Uri, Shraga, Shimshon, etc., all connoting “light.”

I refer also to Ch,M. Hillman, Bet Rebbi (2nd ed. Berditschev, 1903) p. 126, note 10; A. Ch. Glitzenstein, Sefer Hatoldos Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1967), p. 6f, and, humbly, my own work just oof the press, Rabbi Schneur Zalman (KPS, 1969), Vol. I, p. 24f) – the last named work is in English.

Whether or not the name Schneur was originally “Senior” is, after all, conjectural. But its literal Hebrew meaning – on the basis of the above sources – cannot be disputed. It is undoubtedly the case of the founder of Chabad, as well as in the case of the Hebron boy named after him.

Nissan Mindel