The Rebbi’s House

The house at 1304 President Street in Brooklyn is a private residence that once served as the home of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. While the movement is headquartered at the famous 770 Eastern Parkway, this quiet, unassuming house on President Street was the Rebbe's personal sanctuary. He and his wife purchased the property in 1956 and lived there for decades, maintaining a level of strict privacy that was unusual for a leader who guided tens of thousands of followers. For most of his life, the interior of the house remained largely unseen by the public, as the Rebbe and Rebbetzin limited entry to invited guests. That changed following the passing of the Rebbetzin in 1988. During the year of mourning that followed, the Rebbe transformed the living room of this private home into a study hall, where he held prayer services and received visitors. He even began a practice of handing out dollar bills for charity, which drew thousands of people to his doorstep. Today, the house stands as a significant site of memory for the community, recently recognized by the co-naming of the street as Lubavitcher Rebbe Way to honor the residence where a global leader lived his most private life.