11 Sivan: Wedding of the Rebbe Maharash and Rebbetzin Rivka (5609/1849)

A Wedding in the Rebbe's Family

On 11 Sivan 5609 (1849), the wedding took place of Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn — the future fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe (the Rebbe Maharash) — and his cousin, Rebbetzin Rivka. This marriage, formed at the very heart of the Chassidic "royal" family, became one of the most important events in the history of Chabad.

Rebbetzin Rivka — Keeper of Stories

Rebbetzin Rivka possessed a unique gift: she carefully recorded and preserved stories, traditions, and memoirs about previous generations of Rebbes. Thanks to her records, priceless testimonies about the life and teachings of the Alter Rebbe (the first Lubavitcher Rebbe), the Mitteler Rebbe, and the Tzemach Tzedek have reached us. Without these records, many details of Chassidic history would have been irretrievably lost.

Influence on Her Son — the Rebbe Rashab

Rebbetzin Rivka had an enormous influence on her son, Rabbi Shalom DovBer (the Rebbe Rashab), the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe. It was she who instilled in him a deep love for Chassidic traditions, taught him to cherish every word heard from previous Rebbes, and transmitted to him that fire of faith and devotion which he subsequently kindled in the hearts of thousands of his students. The union of the Rebbe Maharash and Rebbetzin Rivka was not merely a family event — it ensured the continuity of Chassidic tradition for many generations to come.