Monday, May 3, 2010

Yorzeit of Rav Menachem Mendel of Rymanov - Segulah

Today is the Yorzeit of Rebbe Menachem Mendel ben R' Yosef "Charif" Thurm of Rimanov He was one of the 4 main talmidim of the Rebbe, Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk.
 
He said he would do a favor for one who lights a candle for his neshama. Light a candle and say "le'illui Nishmas HaRav HaTzadik Menachem Mendel ben Reb Yosef zy"a"
Then pray to Hashem in his merit.
 
The Rebbe Rav Mendel of Rymanov used to say that only on the eve of Shabbos, after immersing in the waters of the mikveh, could he understand a shtikel, a piece, of the Noam Elimelech (Ohel Elimelech 92)
 
Before Rav Mendel Rimanover was revealed as a Tzaddik and Rebbe possessing ruach hakodesh, divine intuition, he appeared at Rebbe Elimelech's table as just another chassid, a regular devoted follower.

One Shabbos, the Rimanover was sitting with all the other chassidim when the shamash brought in the Rebbe's soup and placed it in front of the Rebbe. The Rebbe took the bowl of soup in his hands, overturned it, and spilled its contents onto the table. Suddenly gripped with fear, the Rimanover shouted, "Oy! Rebbe! Surely they will put us all in jail. You must stop immediately!"

The other guests almost burst out laughing at hearing such strange remarks coming from Reb Mendel, but they restrained themselves in the presence of their holy Rebbe. Rebbe Elimelech said to Reb Mendel, "Relax, my son, we are all safe. We are all here right now." The others were astonished at the Rebbe's remarks until Rebbe Elimelech explained what had transpired that had led him and Reb Mendel to say what they did.

"A high-ranking government official had decided to pass a harsh decree against the Jews. He had tried many times before, unsuccessfully, to write out charges and have the king stamp and seal them with his ring. Today he wrote out the charges once again, determined that this time nothing would stop him from carrying out his wicked plan. He was about to use sand to blot the ink and dry it when I overturned my soup bowl. The official became momentarily confused, picked up the inkwell instead, and proceeded to spill ink all over the accusatory letter he had just written! This young man," the Rebbe concluded, indicating Reb Mendel, "was able to witness what I did, but only by divesting himself fully from the physical world. He forgot that we were in fact here in this room. He imagined that I had actually used my hand and physically overturned the inkwell. He became frightened, and in his terror he called out for fear that we would be arrested for my actions."
Now everyone understood what lofty a level of ruach hakodesh this young man could perceive. (Ohel Elimelech 185)
 
Once, Reb Mendel of Rimanov told his teacher, Rebbe Elimelech, that he actually saw the angel who removes the light before the darkness and the darkness before the light (as described in the first blessing of the ma'ariv service). The Rebbe Reb Elimelech responded: "But I have already seen this angel in my youth!"
(Ohel Elimelech 156)
 
Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov once related to Reb Moshe Chaim Efraim of Sudilkov, the author of Degel Machaneh Efraim and grandson of the Ba'al
Shem Tov:
"My holy master and teacher Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk used to meditate on the awe and fear of the Almighty every day. Each day when he would do this, his whole body would shake and tremble, and fear and trepidation would seize him. Everyone present could see him trembling violently from the sheer awe of Hashem and the majesty of the Almighty. All his tendons and ligaments could be seen, thick and taut as ropes; his face would change colors and a certain vein below his ear would begin bulging. I received a tradition from my Rebbe that there is a vein located below the ear that only trembles from fear of the day of death. With my Rebbe, this vein trembled daily from his great fear of Hashem." (Eser Tzachtzachos 2; Seder Doros HeChadash, part 4)
 
Once, in his youth, Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov was studying in the beis midrash under Rav Daniel Yaffe in Berlin. He studied the works of Rav Alfas (the Rif ) on the Talmud diligently, and his soul thirsted longingly for self-perfection. Once, he learned so much in one sitting that his tongue stuck to his palate. He began to pray deep in his heart and cried to Hashem to enlighten him and brighten his darkness. He prayed and prayed, until he fell into a deep sleep and dreamt. In his dreams he saw the Rif himself! The Rif showed him an image of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk and told him to travel to the Rebbe, for there he would succeed in attaining his goal. (Ohel Elimelech 183)
 
Before the Rebbe Elimelech passed away on the twenty-first of Adar in the year 5547 (1787), he lay his hands on his students and gave to them of his own splendor. To the holy Rebbe Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin, he gave the light and power of his eyes. To the holy Rebbe Yisrael, the Maggid of Koznitz, he gave the power of his heart. To the holy Rebbe Mendel of Pristik (later known as the Rimanover), he gave the spirit of his mind, and to the holy Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apt, he gave his power of speech. And after his passing, the land shined with their glory. (Ohel Elimelech 186)
 
There is a story told of the Rebbe's brother, the Rebbe Reb Zisha of Hanipoli. After Rebbe Elimelech passed away, his disciples approached Reb Zisha and asked him to be their new leader.
Reb Zisha declined. This is what he told them:
 
"The Torah is eternal and alludes to everything that has happened and will happen for all generations. The pasuk 'And a river went forth from Eden to water the garden, and from there it split into four paths' (Bereishis 2:10) alludes to the paths of Chassidus and great Tzaddikim of our times. 'Eden' alludes to our holy master the Ba'al Shem Tov. The river is his disciple, the holy Mezritcher Maggid, and the garden refers to my brother, the Rebbe Reb Elimelech. The Torah flows as water from the Ba'al Shem Tov by way of the Mezritcher Maggid to the Rebbe Elimelech. From there it separates into
four paths, and they are the holy Rebbe the Chozeh of Lublin, the holy Rebbe the Koznitzer Maggid, the holy Rebbe Reb Mendel Rimanover, and the holy Ohev Yisrael the Apta Rav. You need no Rebbe other than them."
 
All quotes from MiPeninei Noam Elimelech published by targum/feldheim.
 
To purchase a copy, make a donation to help support the next project, dedicate a newsletter or sefer please contact me:
 
Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
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chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
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Sunday, May 2, 2010

Lag BaOmer

 
From the upcoming MeOros Kedushas Levi Volume II on the Moadim
 
 

Lag BaOmer


"And Yaakov called it Gal Ed – (the pile or mound of testimony)." (Bereshis 31:47)


This verse alludes to Lag BaOmer because Gal has the same letters as Lag.1 This concept can be explained based on the statement of our sages (Mechilta Yisro 20:2) at the sea [Hashem] appeared as a young man, and at the giving of the Torah [Hashem] appeared as an old man.


The parable [to which this can be compared] is to a young child who is being taught to accustom himself to go to school. His father gets him used to going by giving him something that the young child desires. So he tells the boy that in school they have there for him something that the child wants and desires. By getting him used to going to school this way he [eventually] studies much Torah [there].


Similarly the Holy One showed us at the splitting of the sea great wonders and miracles, and their primary purpose was not the wonders and miracles in and of themselves, but rather the miracles and wonders were done and shown to us in order that we know that there is a G-d in the world and desire to serve Him. (Just as a child is convinced to go to school by getting sweets and candy we were on a level of katnus or child like mentality and we were convinced to serve Hashem by being shown an amazing display of wonders and miracles.) Therefore Hashem did for us wonders and miracles at the splitting of the sea in order to get us to desire to receive the Torah on the day of its giving and to serve Him wholeheartedly. We find that the primary purpose of the wonders and miracles was to get us to accept the Torah at the Mount Sinai event and to desire to serve Hashem and receive His Torah.2 (Once we received the Torah at Mount Sinai we have matured in our understanding and therefore Hashem is revealed as an elder.)


This aspect of the Exodus from Egypt shines until Lag BaOmer, and from Lag BaOmer and on begins a new illumination, that of the event at Mount Sinai which is the receiving of the Torah.3 We have already written (here in this vort) that the light of the Exodus from Egypt was a preparation for Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah), and that the miracles and wonders where done for us to desire Matan Torah. This then is the meaning of "and he called it Gal Ed," once Gal has arrived which alludes to Lag BaOmer then the aspect of the illumination of accepting the Torah begins to shine forth. The word Ed comes from the same meaning as (Yechezkel 16:7) "great charm or fine ornaments – Eday Edayim," and (Shemos 33:5) "leave off your finery – Hored Edyach." So that until Lag BaOmer or the thrity third day of finery and ornaments, the illumination of the Exodus shines and from Lag BaOmer on the illumination of Kabalas HaTorah shines which is alluded to in the word Ed which alludes to the Torah (which is like a fine ornament).


Notes:

  1. Lamed=30 and Gimel=3 in gematria they are thirty three hinting at the the 33rd day of the Omer known as Lag BaOmer. See also Pri Etz Chaim Shaar Sefiras haOmer Chap. 7; Siddur Ba'al HaTanya Shaar Lag BaOmer p. 304b; Meor VaShemesh ad loc. Bereshis 31:47.

  2. See also Kedushas Levi Yisro sv O Yevuar Anochi where he explains the difference between revelation of Hashem at the Splitting of the Sea vs. at Mount Sinai in greater detail.

  3. See also Avodas Yisroel of the Koznitzer Maggid Behar sv Hineh Kesiv where he quotes Rav Levi Yitzchak as explaining that in all essence Lag BaOmer concludes the sefirah of the omer; See also Maor VaShemesh Emor sv Uvekutzrechem who explains that we must rectify our character traits during sefirah until the thirty third day in the fifth week which alludes to the sefiros attributes of Hod within Hod. And that this ends with Lag BaOmer, and from then on the light of Shavous begins to shine.

 
Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022
eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list to keep updated about new projects here:
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Noam Elimelech, Kedushas Levi, Pirkei Avos more!
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