The Maggid of Mezritch: Difference between revisions
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[[File:מצבת המגיד ממזריטש.jpg|thumb|The Old Tombstone at the Gravesite of the Maggid of Mezritch and His Disciples Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli and Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaCohen in Anipoli]] | |||
The '''Maggid of Mezritch''' (also known as the Mezritcher Maggid, or simply, the Maggid), was the student and successor of the [[Baal Shem Tov]], the founder of the Chassidic movement. | The '''Maggid of Mezritch''' (also known as the Mezritcher Maggid, or simply, the Maggid), was the student and successor of the [[Baal Shem Tov]], the founder of the Chassidic movement. | ||
[[File:ציון המגיד ממעזריטש.jpg|thumb|The Gravesite of the Maggid of Mezritch]] | |||
== Life History == | == Life History == | ||
{{Chabad}} | {{Chabad}} | ||
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It is said that when he would deliver his Torah teachings in Chassidus and Kabbalah, all his disciples would be overwhelmed with inspiration to the point of physical reaction, except for the Alter Rebbe. | It is said that when he would deliver his Torah teachings in Chassidus and Kabbalah, all his disciples would be overwhelmed with inspiration to the point of physical reaction, except for the Alter Rebbe. | ||
Only two of his disciples, [[The Alter Rebbe|Rabbi Schneur Zalman]] - The alter | Only two of his disciples, [[The Alter Rebbe|Rabbi Schneur Zalman]] - The alter Rebbe the Rav of Wolpe (some say also [[Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]]) received his teachings in their entirety. | ||
Some say that in the Maggid's beis medrash they also studied many halachic rulings, not just Chassidus, as can be seen from several instances where the Alter Rebbe writes in a style that implies this. | Some say that in the Maggid's beis medrash they also studied many halachic rulings, not just Chassidus, as can be seen from several instances where the Alter Rebbe writes in a style that implies this. | ||
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The Chevra Kadisha and the Maggid's disciples divided among themselves who would handle his tahara (purification). In a din Torah, it was decided that the Chevra Kadisha and the disciples who were registered in their hometown's Chevra Kadisha ledger would handle the tahara. One of them was the Alter Rebbe, who was registered in the ledger in his town of Liozna. In the lottery the disciples drew to determine which limb each would attend to during the tahara, the Alter Rebbe received the note saying "rosho kesem paz" (his head is pure gold), meaning the immersion of the head. When the Maggid's body was brought to the mikvah, the Alter Rebbe said they should let their Rebbe immerse himself, and indeed they did so, and the Maggid immersed three times! | The Chevra Kadisha and the Maggid's disciples divided among themselves who would handle his tahara (purification). In a din Torah, it was decided that the Chevra Kadisha and the disciples who were registered in their hometown's Chevra Kadisha ledger would handle the tahara. One of them was the Alter Rebbe, who was registered in the ledger in his town of Liozna. In the lottery the disciples drew to determine which limb each would attend to during the tahara, the Alter Rebbe received the note saying "rosho kesem paz" (his head is pure gold), meaning the immersion of the head. When the Maggid's body was brought to the mikvah, the Alter Rebbe said they should let their Rebbe immerse himself, and indeed they did so, and the Maggid immersed three times! | ||
== His Testament == | ==== His Testament ==== | ||
There are at least two known tzavaos (spiritual wills) from the Maggid. The first tzavaah was signed, in addition to the Maggid himself, by his greatest talmidim: Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, and the Alter Rebbe. | There are at least two known tzavaos (spiritual wills) from the Maggid. The first tzavaah was signed, in addition to the Maggid himself, by his greatest talmidim: Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, and the Alter Rebbe. | ||
In this tzavaah, the Maggid writes, among other things, that after his passing, only these five disciples who signed at the bottom of the page should handle the tahara and burial of his body, and besides them, no one else is permitted to touch. | In this tzavaah, the Maggid writes, among other things, that after his passing, only these five disciples who signed at the bottom of the page should handle the tahara and burial of his body, and besides them, no one else is permitted to touch. | ||
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* And to the Alter Rebbe, obey everything he says and follow all his ways, for everything that comes from his mouth is a minor prophecy, and even if he had been among the Baal Shem Tov's disciples, he would have been among his greatest students. | * And to the Alter Rebbe, obey everything he says and follow all his ways, for everything that comes from his mouth is a minor prophecy, and even if he had been among the Baal Shem Tov's disciples, he would have been among his greatest students. | ||
== Restoration of the Tziyun == | ==== Restoration of the Tziyun ==== | ||
In the cemetery of Anipoli, an ohel was built in an area shared by the Maggid and several of his disciples, including Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli and Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaKohen, author of 'Ohr HaGanuz.' However, during World War II, the cemetery and ohel were destroyed. After the cemetery's restoration, they poured a concrete layer over the area where the ohel had stood and erected a new joint matzeiva for the Maggid and his disciples. | In the cemetery of Anipoli, an ohel was built in an area shared by the Maggid and several of his disciples, including Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli and Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaKohen, author of 'Ohr HaGanuz.' However, during World War II, the cemetery and ohel were destroyed. After the cemetery's restoration, they poured a concrete layer over the area where the ohel had stood and erected a new joint matzeiva for the Maggid and his disciples. | ||
Reb Aharon Chazan, a Chabad chassid (whose wife, Mrs. Nechama Leah, was an eighth-generation descendant of the Maggid and seventh-generation descendant of R' Avraham the Malach) who was in Russia, visited the Maggid's ohel before making aliyah in 1966 and discovered the deplorable neglect of the site. He arranged for concrete to be poured over the Maggid's resting place, despite the tremendous difficulty in obtaining such materials at that time, particularly for a tzaddik's kever. When he arrived in Eretz Yisrael, he told the Skulener Rebbe, who was his friend, about the condition of the tziyun. In a letter, the Rebbe responded that he wanted to transfer the matter of maintenance to the (Lubavitcher) Rebbe. | Reb Aharon Chazan, a Chabad chassid (whose wife, Mrs. Nechama Leah, was an eighth-generation descendant of the Maggid and seventh-generation descendant of R' Avraham the Malach) who was in Russia, visited the Maggid's ohel before making aliyah in 1966 and discovered the deplorable neglect of the site. He arranged for concrete to be poured over the Maggid's resting place, despite the tremendous difficulty in obtaining such materials at that time, particularly for a tzaddik's kever. When he arrived in Eretz Yisrael, he told the Skulener Rebbe, who was his friend, about the condition of the tziyun. In a letter, the Rebbe responded that he wanted to transfer the matter of maintenance to the (Lubavitcher) Rebbe.<blockquote>"And also regarding the holy gravesite of the light of Israel and his holiness, the Great Maggid of Mezritch, I request that your honor write me the details that I can show your letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe shlita and others. | ||
I spoke by telephone with a member of the household of the aforementioned Rebbe shlita, Rabbi [..] Chadakov, and he told me that we should prepare some details to meet with and show to his holy honor. Namely, the state of the matter and how much the repair of the gravesite will cost, who will do this work, how to send the money, who will handle the matter, and so forth." | |||
– From a letter of the Skolener Rebbe to Rabbi Aharon Chazan</blockquote> | |||
== His Family == | == His Family == | ||
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* "Dibros HaMaggid" - Most were recorded at the time by his great talmid Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. | * "Dibros HaMaggid" - Most were recorded at the time by his great talmid Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. | ||
(Almost none of the seforim from his library remain in our possession. One of the rare exceptions is the sefer "Tiferes HaKodesh" which uniquely bears the Maggid's signature. | (Almost none of the seforim from his library remain in our possession. One of the rare exceptions is the sefer "Tiferes HaKodesh" which uniquely bears the Maggid's signature. | ||
== See Also == | |||
* | * Sholosh Tenuos (Niggun) | ||
== Further Reading == | == Further Reading == | ||
* Rabbi Avraham Chanoch Glitzenstein, | * Rabbi Avraham Chanoch Glitzenstein, '''The Book of History - The Maggid of Mezeritch''', Kehot, Kfar Chabad, 5736 (1976). | ||
* | * Nathaniel Laderberg, "The Gate to Nothingness - Chassidic Teaching in the Philosophy of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch", Reuven Mass Publishing Jerusalem 5771 (2011), from the series '100 Gates - Jewish Philosophy and Cultural Criticism' | ||
* Avinoam | * Avinoam Bir, "The Journey to the Destination - The Nature of Mystical Experience in the Philosophy of the Maggid of Mezeritch", Daat 81 (2016), pp. 278-299. | ||
== External Links == | |||
* His book 'Maggid Devarav L'Yaakov' - on the website | |||
* His book 'Or Torah' - on HebrewBooks | |||
* '''Exciting Discovery: The Hidden Beis Midrash of the Maggid of Mezeritch Revealed''' 17 Kislev 5781 (2020) | |||