Menachem Mendel of Rimanov
Encyclopedia
Menachem Mendel of Rimanov (1745–1815) was a Hasidic
Rebbe
and author. Born in Neustadt
, Nowe Miasto
, he was introduced to Hasidut at the age of 11 when he met Dovber of Mezeritch
. He was taught by Elimelech of Lizhensk
and Shmelke of Nikolsburg
, and was the teacher of Naftali of Ropshitz
and Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov.
As one of the three principal disciples of Elimelech of Lizhensk, he was an important Hasidic leader in Poland
. He is known for his asceticism
and mystical support for Napoleon
, whose wars he identified with the battles of Gog and Magog
, associated with the advent of the Messianic Age
.
Although based in Rimanov
, Menachem Mendel's court, which attracted many scholars, had previously been in Fristik
. His writings and sermons were posthumously published, notably Sifrei haRahak Rabbi Menachem Mendel me-Rymanów. Others included the works Divrei Menachem, Menachem Tzion, and Be'erot HaMayin.
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
and author. Born in Neustadt
Neustadt
- Germany :* in Baden-Württemberg:** Titisee-Neustadt, a town in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald* in Bavaria:** Bad Neustadt an der Saale, the capital of the Rhön-Grabfeld district...
, Nowe Miasto
Nowe Miasto
Nowe Miasto is a common place-name in Poland.There are two Polish towns called Nowe Miasto:* Nowe Miasto Lubawskie in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship , seat of Nowe Miasto County...
, he was introduced to Hasidut at the age of 11 when he met Dovber of Mezeritch
Dovber of Mezeritch
Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch was a disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidic Judaism, and was chosen as his successor to lead the early movement...
. He was taught by Elimelech of Lizhensk
Elimelech of Lizhensk
Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk , a Rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement, was known after his hometown, Leżajsk near Rzeszów in Poland...
and Shmelke of Nikolsburg
Shmelke of Nikolsburg
Shmelke of Nikolsburg was one of the great early Chasidic Rebbes. Born Shmuel Horowitz Shmelke of Nikolsburg (1726 Chortkiv, Galicia - 1778 Nikolsburg, Moravia) was one of the great early Chasidic Rebbes. Born Shmuel Horowitz Shmelke of Nikolsburg (1726 Chortkiv, Galicia - 1778 Nikolsburg,...
, and was the teacher of Naftali of Ropshitz
Ropshitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Ropshitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty, or rabbinical family and group who are descendants of Rabbi Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz . Ropshitz is the name of a town in southern Poland known in Polish as Ropczyce....
and Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov.
As one of the three principal disciples of Elimelech of Lizhensk, he was an important Hasidic leader in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. He is known for his asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
and mystical support for Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, whose wars he identified with the battles of Gog and Magog
Gog and Magog
Gog and Magog are names that appear primarily in various Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, as well as numerous subsequent references in other works. Their context can be either genealogical or eschatological and apocalyptic, as in Ezekiel and Revelation...
, associated with the advent of the Messianic Age
Messianic Age
Messianic Age is a theological term referring to a future time of universal peace and brotherhood on the earth, without crime, war and poverty. Many religions believe that there will be such an age; some refer to it as the "Kingdom of God" or the "World to Come".- Terminology: "messianic" and...
.
Although based in Rimanov
Rymanów
Rymanów is a town of 3,585 inhabitants . in Poland's Subcarpathian Voivodeship. It is a capital of a separate commune within the powiat of Krosno...
, Menachem Mendel's court, which attracted many scholars, had previously been in Fristik
Frysztak
Frysztak is a village in the Gmina Frysztak, Strzyżów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland, 17 km from Krosno. Frysztak lies in the historical region often referred to as Galicia. It is located on a hillock near the river Wisłok, on the road from Rzeszów to Krosno...
. His writings and sermons were posthumously published, notably Sifrei haRahak Rabbi Menachem Mendel me-Rymanów. Others included the works Divrei Menachem, Menachem Tzion, and Be'erot HaMayin.