Editing Menachem Mendel Schneerson (section)

===Outreach, spiritual campaigns===

====Women and girls====
In 1951, Schneerson established a Chabad women's and girl's organization and a youth organization in Israel. Their mission was to engage in outreach exclusively directed at women and teens. In 1953, he opened branches of these organizations in New York, London, and Toronto. Schneerson equally addressed his teachings to both genders in a marked departure from an entrenched tendency to limit high-level Torah education to men and boys.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Heilman |first1=Samuel |last2=Friedman |first2=Menachem |title=The Rebbe: The Life and Afterlife of Menachem Mendel Schneerson |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2010 |page=176 |isbn=978-0-691-13888-6}}</ref> He addressed meetings of the organizations and led gatherings exclusively for women. Schneerson would describe the increase in Torah study by women as one of the "positive innovations of the later generations".<ref>Susan Handelman, [http://www.chabad.org/161694 The Rebbe's Views on Women Today]</ref>

====International outreach====
[[File:Electric_hanukkah_menora_van.jpg|right|thumb|215x215px|Local [[Chabad house]] drives around [[Paris France]] promote interest in [[Hanukkah]] services]]
That same year, Schneerson sent his first emissary to [[Morocco]] and established schools and a synagogue for the [[Moroccan Jews|Moroccan Jewish community]]. In 1958, Schneerson established schools and synagogues in [[Detroit, Michigan]], in [[Milan, Italy]], and in London. Beginning in the 1960s, Schneerson instituted a system of [[Chabad mitzvah campaigns|"mitzvah campaigns"]] to encourage the observance of ten basic Jewish practices, such as [[tefillin]] for men, [[Shabbat candles]] for women, and loving your fellow for all people.<ref name="commentarymagazine.com">{{Citation |author=Ruth R. Wisse |url=http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/the-rebbe-twenty-years-after/ |title=The Rebbe, Twenty Years After |journal=Commentary Magazine |date=June 1, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019205850/http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/the-rebbe-twenty-years-after/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Schneersohn's campaign brought the concept of tefillin to Jewish men everywhere, and he has been referred to as "the great modern popularizer of tefillin". Until his campaign, tefillin was largely the domain of the meticulously observant.<ref>Liel Leibovitz, [http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/196231/tefillin-the-love Tefillin The Love.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205091505/http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/196231/tefillin-the-love |date=February 5, 2016 }} Tablet Magazine. December 30, 2015.</ref>

Following the death of his mother Chana Schneerson in 1964, Schneerson began to offer an additional weekly sermon in her memory. These sermons consisted of original insights and unprecedented analysis of Rashi's Torah commentary, delivered at regular public gatherings. Schneerson gave these sermons each week until 1992.<ref>Chaim Miller, [http://www.chabad.org/476620 Rashi's Method of Biblical Commentary].</ref>

==== Chanukah campaign ====
[[File:The Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai.jpg|left|thumb|216x216px|Public Menorah lighting in [[Dubai]]]]
In 1973, Schneerson started a [[Hanukkah|Chanukah]] campaign to encourage all Jews worldwide to light their own menorah. After all-tin menorahs were given out that year, a military manufacturer was commissioned to distribute tens of thousands of additional menorahs. In 1974, a public lighting of a Chanukah menorah was held by the [[Liberty Bell]] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in years following, menorah lightings on public grounds were conducted in cities worldwide. Legal challenges to the lighting on public grounds reached the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], and it was ruled that public lighting did not violate the [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]]. Public lightings continue in thousands of cities today.<ref>Joseph Telushkin, Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History. HarperCollins, 2014. Page 498</ref>

====Lag BaOmer parade====
[[File:Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson3.jpg|thumb|The Rebbe waving to children at a [[Lag BaOmer]] parade|225x225px]]Chabad established an annual [[Lag BaOmer]] parade at '770', one of the largest celebrations of its kind, where thousands of Jews celebrate the holiday.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chabadneworleans.com/templates/blog/post.asp?aid=1203266&PostID=54258&p=1 |title=The Little Drummer Boy |publisher=CHABAD-LUBAVITCH OF LOUISIANA |access-date=July 5, 2020 |quote=Over the years (mostly when Lag B’omer fell on a Sunday) big parades were staged on Eastern Parkway (a major Brooklyn thoroughfare on which Chabad HQ – 770 – is located). Thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of Jewish children and their parents, teachers etc. would rally and then march in honor of Lag B’omer. |archive-date=July 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706165054/https://www.chabadneworleans.com/templates/blog/post.asp?aid=1203266&PostID=54258&p=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehebrewacademy.org/news-events/itemlist/tag/Lag+Baomer.html|title=The Hebrew Academy - A Yeshiva Day School serving Toddler through Eighth Grade - Lag Baomer|website=thehebrewacademy.org|access-date=February 20, 2021|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509005239/https://www.thehebrewacademy.org/news-events/itemlist/tag/Lag+Baomer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2020}}

====Iran youth immigration====
In 1979, during the [[Iranian Revolution]] and [[Iran hostage crisis|Iranian hostage crisis]], Schneerson directed arrangements to rescue Jewish youth and teenagers from Iran and bring them to safety in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chabadnews.us/Old%20Aricles/AT%2000009.htm |title="Exodus" from Iran |publisher=Lubavitch Archives |access-date=November 13, 2013 |archive-date=July 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725050546/http://www.chabadnews.us/Old%20Aricles/AT%2000009.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Iranian government's hostility towards the United States was seen by Schneerson as behavior that could threaten the country's status as an "untouchable" superpower, and that would cause it to try to appease Arab countries, thus "endanger[ing] the security of Israel".<ref>Shlomo Shamir, August 24, 2013 [http://www.chabad.org/2320574 "The Israeli Journalist, Iran and the Rebbes Vision"]</ref> As a result of Schneerson's efforts, several thousand Iranian children were flown from Iran to the safety of New York.<ref>Joseph Telushkin, ''[[Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History]]''. HarperCollins, 2014. Pages 289–290</ref>

====Noahidism and Jewish outreach====
[[File:Chabad5.jpg|left|thumb|Chabad followers wrapping [[Tefillin|Teffilin]] with Jewish strangers on the street]]
In 1983, Schneerson launched a global campaign to promote awareness of the Supreme Being and observance of the [[Noahide Laws]] among all people,<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/62221 Universal Morality - The Seven Noahide Laws], chabad.org, 2006.</ref> arguing that this was the basis for human rights for all civilization.<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/62180 1983: Mankind - Life & Times], chabad.org</ref> Several times each year his addresses were broadcast on national television. On these occasions, Schneerson would address the public on general communal affairs and issues relating to world peace, such as a [[moment of silence]] in U.S. public schools, increased government funding for solar energy research, U.S. foreign aid to developing countries, and nuclear disarmament.<ref>Shmuley Boteach, April 13, 2014. [http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/rebbe-to-the-non-jews/ Rebbe to the non-Jews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195801/http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/rebbe-to-the-non-jews/ |date=September 10, 2014 }}, ''The Times of Israel''.</ref>

In 1984, Schneerson initiated a campaign for the [[Daily Rambam Study|daily study]] of [[Maimonides]]'s [[Mishneh Torah]].<ref>Torat Menachem Hitvaduyot 5744 [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16056&st=&pgnum=160 vol.3 pg. 1544] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429230720/http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16056&st=&pgnum=160 |date=April 29, 2014 }}</ref> Each year after the learning cycle there is Siyum celebration marking the end of the cycle and beginning of the new one. Many Jewish leaders have attended these events.<ref>Tekufat Limud HaRambam, Merkos L'Inyonei Chunuch, Brooklyn, 1987</ref>

====Sunday office hours for charity====
In 1986, Schneerson began a custom where, each Sunday, he would stand outside his office, greet people briefly, give them a dollar bill, and encourage them to donate to the charity of their choice.<ref name="Hoff47">Hoffman 1991, p. 47</ref> Explaining his reason for encouraging charitable giving among all people, Schneerson quoted his father-in-law, who said that "when two people meet, it should bring benefit to a third."<ref>Joseph Telushkin, ''[[Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History]]''. HarperCollins, 2014. Pages 506–507.</ref> People in line would often take this opportunity to ask Schneerson for advice or request a blessing. Thousands of people attended this event each week, which lasted up to six hours, and is often referred to as "Sunday Dollars".<ref>Eliezer Zalmanov, [http://www.chabad.org/1714766 What Does A Dollar from the Rebbe Represent]</ref>

Schneerson's wife, Chaya Mushka Schneerson, died in 1988.<ref name="Chaya Schneerson" /> During the week of [[Shiva (Judaism)|shiva]], Schneerson wrote a will in which he bequeathed his entire estate to [[Agudas Chasidei Chabad]], the Chabad umbrella organization.<ref>The Baltimore Sun, June 15, 1994 [https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/06/15/rabbi-schneerson-names-no-successor-in-will/ "Rabbi Schneerson names no successor in will"] </ref>

During a talk in 1991, Schneerson spoke passionately about Moshiach (the [[Messiah]]) and told his followers that he had done all that he could bring world peace and redemption but that it was now up to them to continue this task: "I have done my part, from now on you do all that you can." A few months later, when a reporter from [[CNN]] came to meet him at Dollars, he said, "Moshiach is ready to come now; it is only on our part to do something additional in the realm of goodness and kindness."<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/132931 "CNN with the Rebbe."] (October 20, 1991) ''Eye to Eye: Acts of Goodness and Kindness''. Jewish Educational Media (JEM). Retrieved December 28, 2014 ([http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/MediaPlayer/play.asp?id=1245197 Media Player w/captions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228114252/http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/MediaPlayer/play.asp?id=1245197 |date=December 28, 2014 }}) [[Gary Tuchman]] and his CNN crew were also given dollars.</ref>

====His message: become righteous====
On Sunday, March 1, 1992, Gabriel Erem, the editor of ''Lifestyles Magazine'', told Schneerson that on his ninetieth birthday, they would be publishing a special issue and wanted to know his message to the world. Schneerson replied that "'Ninety', in [[Hebrew Language|Hebrew]], is '[[tzaddik]]'; which means 'righteous.' And that is a direct indication for every person to become a real tzaddik—a righteous person, and to do so for many years, until 120. "This message", Schneerson added, "applies equally to Jews and non-Jews".<ref>Eli Rubin [http://www.chabad.org/2619824 "Everyone A Tzaddik: Miracles, Transmission and Ascent"]</ref>