Lyubavichi

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Lyubavichi (Russian: Люба́вичи; Yiddish: לובאוויטש, Lyubavitsh) is a village in Rudnyansky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia. In the days of the Russian Empire, it was a shtetl in Orshansky Uyezd, in Mogilev Governorate. It is known to have existed since at least 1654. For two weeks in 1812, was occupied by Napoleonic troops. Had 2500 inhabitants in 1857. In the late 19th- early 20th centuries in the village there was the largest market in the Mogilyov province with a turn-over of over 1.5 million roubles. With the introduction of communism, its well-known hasidic leadership left Lyubavichy, and its Jewish population gradually declined and secularized. On November 4, 1941 , 483 local Jews were massacred by the Nazis and their collaborators, ending the village's historic Jewish presence.

The place is primarily known worldwide as the namesake and former headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch branch of Hasidic Judaism.

[edit] Present day maps

[edit] Smolensk Oblast of Russian Federation

Dnieper River in Smolensk, capital of Smolensk Oblast 2008 commemorative coin, showing image of Smolensk

Map of the administrative divisions of Smolensk Oblast in present day Russia. Lyubavichi is located in southern west Rudnyansky district, near to Belarus

[edit] Neighbouring regions and geography

Winter landscape in Eastern Smolensk Oblast. The flat landscape is typical of the regional East European Plain

Present day map of Belarus with surrounding borders and geography. Lyubavichi is located just north of a line between Orsa and Smolensk, within the Russian Federation

[edit] Historical maps

[edit] Within the Russian Empire

During Napoleon's invasion of Russia the region around Lyubavichi was crossed by the French army 19th century image of Mogilev (Mahilyow), capital of Tzarist Mogilev Governorate

1882 map of White Russia regions. In Tzarist Russian Empire, Lyubavichi was in Mogilev Governorate of present day Belarus

Route of Napoleon's 1812 invasion and retreat from Russia, showing diminishing size of French army

[edit] Within the Jewish Pale of Settlement

Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (1789-1866), 3rd Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism is buried in Lyubavichi, along with his predecessor Dovber Schneuri (1773-1827) and successor Shmuel Schneersohn (1834-1882)

Map of the Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire, where Jews were permitted to live

[edit] See also

Geographical region:

• White Russia

In present day Russia:

• Smolensk Oblast (Capital Smolensk)

In previous region of Imperial Russia:

• Mogilev Governorate (Capital Mogilev)

Present neighbouring regions of Belarus:

• Vitsebsk Voblast (Capital Vitebsk)
• Mahilyow Voblast (Capital Mogilev)

River basin:

• Dnieper River

[edit] External links

• History of Chabad in the village of Lubavitch (Hebrew)

Coordinates: 54°50′N 30°58′E / 54.833°N 30.967°E / 54.833; 30.967

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