The Rabbi Who Opposed Napoleon: A Story of Faith and Resistance

In the year 1779, Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power as Emperor of France. He brought with him promises of freedom, enlightenment, and progress, easing the burden on Jews, abolishing ghettos, establishing a Jewish Sanhedrin, and even proposing the establishment of a Jewish autonomy in the Land of Israel.

Thirteen years after his appointment, in 1812, Napoleon declared war on Russia. Many Jews in Russia hoped for the victory of the French ruler, who seemed to favor them as opposed to Tsar Alexander, who imposed a heavy burden on the Jews. There were also prominent Jewish figures who supported this, like the Maggid of Kozhnitz and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, who were tired of Russian oppression. However, one great Jewish leader opposed Napoleon with all his might, declaring war on the ambition to come under French rule. This was Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman believed that Napoleon carried with him secularism and recklessness, and thus, one must not be under his reign. As the French advanced, he fled with his family deep into Russia, not fearing for Jewish lives, but unwilling to live under French rule at any cost.

He wrote, "If Bonaparte triumphs, Jewish wealth will increase, and the prestige of Israel will be elevated. But the hearts of Israel will become estranged from their Father in Heaven. If our Lord Alexander triumphs, even though poverty will increase and Israel will be humbled, the hearts of Israel will bond and cleave to their Father in Heaven."

During his travels, he established contacts with Russian military commanders and assisted them with information about the French positions and plans. One of the Rabbi's followers infiltrated Napoleon's command headquarters under some pretense and sent information to the Russians.

Ultimately, Napoleon failed in his campaign against Russia. Although the Russians suffered greater losses, General Winter was on their side. The offensive began in summer, but the Russians burned all of Moscow, leaving hundreds of thousands of French soldiers without shelter and food. Cutting supply lines, the harsh winter slowly intensified, snow clogged the roads, freezing the soldiers and causing disease. Napoleon began to retreat, but crossing the rivers in winter was perilous. Russian ambushes decimated his troops, and eventually, of the large French army that invaded Russia, only about 20,000 soldiers remained. Napoleon returned in disgrace.

The Rabbi of Chabad passed away not long after Napoleon's defeat, declaring himself like a Russian army general fighting against the French. He died before returning home, still caught in the upheavals caused by the war. His family said that this war shortened his life by ten years, but he rejoiced in its outcome.