M.robin at 21:14, 18 June 2026

2026-06-18T21:14:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 18 June 2026
Line 55:		Line 55:
	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	<references/>		<references/>



	[[Category:Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov]]		[[Category:Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov]]
Line 63:		Line 61:
	[[Category:Maggidim]]		[[Category:Maggidim]]
	[[Category:Twersky family]]		[[Category:Twersky family]]
			[[he:מנחם נחום מצ'רנוביל]]

Raphaelwilmowsky at 17:45, 16 June 2026

2026-06-16T17:45:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 16 June 2026
Line 48:		Line 48:
	* His son, Rabbi Moshe		* His son, Rabbi Moshe
	* His son-in-law's son-in-law, Rabbi [[Shalom Shachna of Prohobitch]]		* His son-in-law's son-in-law, Rabbi [[Shalom Shachna of Prohobitch]]

			== Further Reading ==

			* ''HaShidduch HaMufla BaArisah'', a gift booklet from a wedding celebration, Rabbi Shalom DovBer HaLevi Wolpe, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 2019

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	<references/>		<references/>

	~~== Further Reading ==~~

	* ''HaShidduch HaMufla BaArisah'', a gift booklet from a wedding celebration, Rabbi Shalom DovBer HaLevi Wolpe, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 2019

	[[Category:Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov]]		[[Category:Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov]]

Raphaelwilmowsky: Created page with "'''Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl''' (c. 1730 – 11 Cheshvan 1797), widely known as the '''''Me'or Einayim''''' — "Light of the Eyes" — after his celebrated work of the same name, was among the foremost disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and the founder of the Chernobyl Chassidic dynasty. From that dynasty grew several major branches of Chassidus, which together number thousands of Chassidim today, among them Tchernobyl, Talner, Skver, and Rach..."

2026-06-16T17:40:55Z

Created page with "'''Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl''' (c. 1730 – 11 Cheshvan 1797), widely known as the '''''Me'or Einayim''''' — "Light of the Eyes" — after his celebrated work of the same name, was among the foremost disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and the founder of the Chernobyl Chassidic dynasty. From that dynasty grew several major branches of Chassidus, which together number thousands of Chassidim today, among them Tchernobyl, Talner, Skver, and Rach..."

New page

'''Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl''' (c. 1730 – 11 Cheshvan 1797), widely known as the '''''Me'or Einayim''''' — "Light of the Eyes" — after his celebrated work of the same name, was among the foremost disciples of [[the Baal Shem Tov]] and the founder of the [[Chernobyl Chassidic dynasty]]. From that dynasty grew several major branches of Chassidus, which together number thousands of Chassidim today, among them [[Tchernobyl]], [[Talner]], [[Skver]], and [[Rachmastrivka]].

== Life ==

Rabbi Menachem Nachum was born in the town of [[Horonosk]], in the region of [[Volhynia]] in western [[Ukraine]], around 1730. His father was Rabbi Tzvi, a son of Rabbi Nachum the Gaon, known as Rabbi [[Adam Baal Shem]].

As a young man he was drawn to the path of Chassidus taught by [[the Baal Shem Tov]], and after the Baal Shem Tov's passing he accepted the authority of his successor, [[the Maggid of Mezeritch]]. Rabbi Menachem Nachum had already established himself as a rabbi with disciples of his own when he first heard of the Baal Shem Tov and resolved to travel to him for [[Shabbos]]. Before he arrived, the Baal Shem Tov told his wife, the Rebbetzin [[Rochel Leah]], to be wary of the approaching guest — for he was a thief. When the guest arrived, the Rebbetzin looked at him and asked in surprise: "This is a thief?" The Baal Shem Tov replied: "A great thief — with his good deeds he steals the entire [[World to Come]]." That visit left a lasting impression on Rabbi Menachem Nachum, and he became one of the Baal Shem Tov's devoted Chassidim.

=== His Rabbinate ===

After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Menachem Nachum came to the Maggid of Mezeritch. The Maggid welcomed him warmly and charged him with traveling among the towns to spread Chassidus. While his teacher was still alive, Rabbi Menachem Nachum began journeying through the communities of Volhynia, rousing the people through talks on Chassidus and ethical self-refinement. After the Maggid's passing he began to lead as a Rebbe, first in the town of [[Prohobitch]] and then in [[Chernobyl]]. Many of the great tzaddikim of his generation gathered in his presence.<ref>His grandson Rabbi [[Yaakov Yisrael Twersky]] of Cherkasy writes that at his grandfather Rabbi Nachum's table, tzaddikim robed in white would gather in his honor.</ref>

He passed away on the 11th of Cheshvan 1797 and was buried in Chernobyl.

== With the Alter Rebbe ==

A celebrated story attests to Rabbi Menachem Nachum's extraordinary spiritual stature. The [[Alter Rebbe]] was once sitting with his circle of fellow disciples — the ''chavarayya kaddisha'', the holy fellowship — in [[Mezeritch]], deep in conversation. Suddenly the Alter Rebbe began to tremble, so intensely that the very chair beneath him shook. His companions asked him what had come over him, and he pointed in a certain direction: Rabbi Nachum was there. But he is so far away, they said. The Alter Rebbe replied: Rabbi Nachum has the power to inspire awe even from a great distance.<ref>[http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=35561&st=&pgnum=136 ''Tiferes Avos'', published by the Ahavat Yisrael Institute of the Vizhnitz Chassidic community], Bnei Brak, 1993.</ref>

The Alter Rebbe also said: "There are three for whom I feel a love of the soul: Rabbi Zusha, Rabbi Nachum, and Rabbi [[Leib HaKohen]]."<ref>From the stories of the ''mashpia'' (Chassidic mentor) Rabbi Shmuel Gronem — ''Reish Mem Ches Osios'' and ''Lemaan Yeid'u Banim Yivaledu''.</ref>

The [[Frierdiker Rebbe]] (the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) records<ref>''[[Hayom Yom]]'', 15 Tammuz.</ref> that his father, the [[Rebbe Rashab]] (Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn), wrote in one of his discourses: "From the delight the soul takes in G‑dliness, a physical heaviness can result." It was said of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl that his body grew stout from the fervor with which he answered ''Amen, Yehei Shemei Rabbah'' — the great congregational response in [[Kaddish]], affirming G‑d's greatness.

The Alter Rebbe instructed that his grandson — a son of the [[Mitteler Rebbe]] — be named Menachem Nachum in honor of his dear friend.

== The Shidduch of His Grandson with the Mitteler Rebbe's Granddaughter ==

The Chassid Rabbi [[Yitzchak Horowitz]] related that the Maggid of Mezeritch once told his disciples that [[Moshiach]] would come either from the descendants of his eldest disciple — Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl — or from the descendants of his youngest — the Alter Rebbe. In light of this, a match was eventually arranged: Rabbi Menachem Nachum's grandson, Rabbi [[Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasy]], son of Rabbi [[Mordechai of Chernobyl]], married [[Devorah Leah Twersky]], daughter of the [[Mitteler Rebbe]] and granddaughter of the Alter Rebbe.

From this union, part of the Chabad dynasty descends. One line runs: (1) Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael and his wife Rebbetzin Devorah Leah; (2) their daughter Rebbetzin Chana, who married Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (a son of the [[Tzemach Tzedek]]); (3) their daughter, who became the wife of the Rebbe Rashab and mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

A second line runs: (1) Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah; (2) their daughter Rebbetzin Sara (the second), who married Rabbi Aharon of Shklov; (3) their daughter Rebbetzin Rivka, who became the wife of the [[Rebbe Maharash]].<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=31602&st=&pgnum=92&hilite= Igros Kodesh, vol. 2, p. 26].</ref>

== Melodies ==

* Lulav melody of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl — as sung by Rabbi Dovid Horowitz
* [[Simchah niggun|Simchah melody]] of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl — as sung by Rabbi Dovid Horowitz

These are melodies eight and nine in the [[Masoret HaNiggunim]] project.

== Works ==

* [http://chabadlibrarybooks.com/24871 ''Me'or Einayim'' on the Torah]
* [http://chabadlibrarybooks.com/24843 ''Yismach Lev'' on the Aggados of the Talmud]

== Family ==

* His son, Rabbi [[Mordechai of Chernobyl]]
* His son, Rabbi Moshe
* His son-in-law's son-in-law, Rabbi [[Shalom Shachna of Prohobitch]]

== Notes ==
<references/>

== Further Reading ==

* ''HaShidduch HaMufla BaArisah'', a gift booklet from a wedding celebration, Rabbi Shalom DovBer HaLevi Wolpe, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 2019

[[Category:Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov]]
[[Category:Disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch]]
[[Category:Chernobyl Chassidic Rebbes]]
[[Category:Maggidim]]
[[Category:Twersky family]]

Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl - Revision history

M.robin at 21:14, 18 June 2026

Raphaelwilmowsky at 17:45, 16 June 2026