Michel Opotzkier
Rabbi Michel was one of the most important chassidim of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, and the Tzemach Tzedek.
With the Alter Rebbe[edit | edit source]
R' Michele was among the first chassidim of the Alter Rebbe.
His father, R' Meir Zalman, was among the hidden tzaddikim in the period before the revelation of the Baal Shem Tov, and received a blessing for long life from the Baal Shem Tov.
When his father was ninety years old, the Baal Shem Tov said to him: "At ninety one speaks[1] - you know what to say and yet you remain silent. Your son Michel will speak for you as well[2]."
He was among the greatest scholars of that time, expert in Bavli and Yerushalmi with the commentaries as well as in kabbalah seforim[3]. He first came to the Alter Rebbe when he was thirty-five years old.
The Alter Rebbe said about him: "I give praise and thanks to Hashem for each one who follows the ways of chassidus, and for R' Michel I give special thanks to Hashem. R' Michel is below in this world as an example of above."
He received a blessing from the Alter Rebbe for long life.
With the Mitteler Rebbe[edit | edit source]
When the Mitteler Rebbe came to Lubavitch, R' Michel arrived and stayed with the Mitteler Rebbe for five years. During that time, he had a fixed study schedule with the Tzemach Tzedek for five hours daily.
After the passing of the Mitteler Rebbe, he left Lubavitch and returned home bitter and broken, sinking into deep seclusion, saying "My spiritual Beis Hamikdash has been destroyed."
R' Michel once said to his student the Rashbatz: that with the Mitteler Rebbe he could not be under the same roof, although he could be within his four amos, but not when it was covered. And with the Tzemach Tzedek he could not be within his four amos[4].
With the Tzemach Tzedek[edit | edit source]
R' Michel traveled once to the Tzemach Tzedek.
The Tzemach Tzedek said about him: "Michel Opatzkier was in a state of tohu, and through great effort and the guidance of the grandfather (the Alter Rebbe) he was transformed to a state of tikun."
When his student the Rashbatz visited him, he instructed him to travel to the Tzemach Tzedek and said to him "Until today the light of Torah shines for me and I feel the pleasant sweetness in Torah study that I had when we learned together, the Tzemach Tzedek and I."
On that occasion, he sent a note through Rashbatz for the Tzemach Tzedek. When Rashbatz arrived in Lubavitch, he entered the shul and immediately the gabbai came out of the Rebbe's room saying the Rebbe asked to find the guest who brought a note from R' Michel.
The Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek said about him: "Angels dance around R' Michel and an angel is always ready to fulfill his mission."
He would fast from Shabbos to Shabbos. He lived in a hay loft. Once when Rashbatz came to him, he found him sitting in tallis and tefillin, voices were heard but no person was seen.
"Opoatzk" after which R' Michele was named - was the name of a kretchme (inn), and not the city of Opoatzk[5]. He served as a melamed in the town near Opoatzk[6].
Additional Reading[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Eliyahu Yochanan Gurary, Otzar Chassidei Chabad Vol. 1 pp. 198-202.