Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk (Talmid of the Maggid of Mezritch): Difference between revisions

From 5528, he began gathering talmidei chachamim who followed his path, which was characterized by great enthusiasm and supreme deveikus. To nullify their yeshus, they would perform various actions, such as wearing strange clothing or rolling in the streets, thus degrading themselves. The unusual behavior of his chassidim aroused bewilderment and strong opposition from those around them, both non-Jews and Jews. When he went to debate with the misnagdim in Shklov together with the Alter Rebbe and was asked about his chassidim's behavior, he had no answer, which led to an intensification of the conflict over Chassidus. Later, the Alter Rebbe claimed that the immoderate behavior of his chassidim was among the factors that led to the cherem placed on chassidim in Lithuania. Only the Maggid's rebuke helped stop their behavior. Rabbi Avraham stopped leading chassidim and completely submitted himself to his teacher and friend Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Horodok.

He married Ruchama, the sister of the Maggid of Mezritch and widow of Rabbi Noach Altschuler (whose son is Rabbi Shalom Shachna Altschuler, father of the Tzemach Tzedek). In 5537, he joined the group of olim led by his friend-teacher Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and stood by his side in leading the large group. His signature can be found on most letters sent abroad alongside the signature of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk.