Uziel Meizlish
Rabbi Uziel Meizlish was among the foremost disciples of the Baal Shem Tov,[1] and after the Baal Shem Tov's passing came under the guidance of the Maggid of Mezeritch, at whose instruction he composed the work Tiferes Uziel. He was among the earliest disseminators of Chassidus in Poland.
Life[edit | edit source]
He was born in 5504 (1744) to his father R' Tzvi Hirsh, rabbi of Smititch, and his mother Dreizil.[2] From his youth he was known for his exceptional brilliance.
At a very young age he married the daughter of R' Shlomo of Zhelichov. He then began drawing close to the path of the Baal Shem Tov — though at first in secret.[3]
After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov he accepted the authority of the Maggid of Mezeritch, while also regarding himself as a disciple of R' Menachem Mendel of Premishlan, R' Avraham of Padlusk, and R' Nachman of Kosov.
During this period he was appointed rabbi of Ostrovtse, but when the Misnagdic leaders of the community learned that he was a Chassid they removed him from the rabbinate. He relocated to Richwal and later settled in Neustadt (Nawidwar).
Among the disciples of the Maggid he was held in great esteem. He was closely bound to R' Chaim Chaikel of Amdur, R' Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, the brothers R' Pinchas Horowitz of Frankfurt and R' Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg, and the brothers R' Zusha of Anipoli and R' Elimelech of Lizhensk. They called him Eved Hashem — Servant of God — with Uziel Ben Dreizil serving as the acronym. In that same spirit, the tzaddikim of his generation testified that he had never tasted the flavor of sin.
In the Kherson Geniza,[4] a pidyon nefesh — a note of supplication — was found, asking that it be placed at the Holy Ark of the Baal Shem Tov on behalf of the Maggid of Mezeritch. Fifteen of the Maggid's foremost disciples signed this note. Following those signatures appear the names of R' Uziel and, after him, the Alter Rebbe, chosen as two emissaries from among the Maggid's circle to deliver the note. In the Maggid's will, also found in the Geniza,[5] R' Uziel's signature again appears, followed by that of R' Shlomo of Lutsk, as witnesses that the will was written and signed in their presence.
Many disciples gathered under his guidance.
He passed away in Neustadt in the prime of his life, on the 28th of Kislev 5546 (1785).
Descendants[edit | edit source]
- His son-in-law, the gaon R' Zelig, son of the holy R' Yitzchak of Zikhlин, and father of the holy R' Shmuel Aba of Zikhlin.
- His son, the gaon R' Aryeh Leib Meizlish, father of R' Shmarya Yosef Meizlish, who was the father-in-law of R' Shalom Zak,[6] father of R' Yehuda Leib Zak.[7]
His Disciples[edit | edit source]
- R' Efraim Fishel of Strikov.
- R' Aharon of Zhelichov ("R' Ahar'le the Silent").[8] He passed away in his prime, around 5538 (1778),[9] and his teacher delivered a eulogy for him.[10] In his Tiferes Uziel, R' Uziel cites Torah teachings from this disciple.[11]
External Links[edit | edit source]
- His Works
- Tiferes Uziel — Vol. I: on the Torah. Vol. II: on Nevi'im, the festivals, and Gemara. HebrewBooks
- Kerem Shlomo – Chosam Tahor — novellae on halachic topics. HebrewBooks
- Tiferes HaTzvi — on tractate Beitzah. HebrewBooks
- Etz HaDaas Tov on tractate Shabbos and Kesubos. HebrewBooks
- Menorah HaTehorah — on tractate Shabbos. HebrewBooks
His Teachings[edit | edit source]
A person needs great warmth in the Torah of God and in the fear of Him — great longing and desire — and the opposite toward transgression, for the evil inclination burns within a person with passion. One must therefore overpower one's inclination and cool oneself through fear and shame before the Blessed One.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ He even cites teachings in his name — see Tiferes Uziel, Tel Aviv, 5722 (1962), p. 68.
- ↑ Daughter of R' Avraham Natan Neta Meizlish, author of Neta Sha'ashu'im on the Talmud and Simchas Nasan — novellae on every folio — after whom his son-in-law R' Hirsh was named "R' Neta'l's." He was a grandson of R' Aryeh Leib Sirkis, a descendant of the Bach and stepson of the Taz, with whom he maintained a halachic correspondence. In 5426 (1666), while serving as av beis din of Kolomyia, he was sent together with his brother by their father the Taz to investigate Shabbetai Tzvi.
- ↑ According to other accounts, R' Uziel never actually merited being in the presence of the Baal Shem Tov, and the persecution by the Misnagdim began only when he drew close to the Maggid of Mezeritch.
- ↑ Letter 226.
- ↑ Letter 241.
- ↑ Who was a grandson of R' Shalom son of R' Menachem Nachum Zak, av beis din of Bird and the Galilee, a descendant of the Maharal of Prague through his son-in-law R' Avraham HaLevi Heller Wallerstein.
- ↑ Father-in-law of R' Dov Weinberg of Shedlitz, among the founders of Kfar Saba, who was the father-in-law of R' Boruch Mordechai Goldman — emissary of Yeshivas Etz Chaim — who was the father-in-law of R' Pinchas Zelig Hominer, a grandson through his daughter of the Chabad Chassid R' Dovid HaLevi Zeldovitch, who was of the family of our Rebbeim through the Rebbetzin Sterna Sara, mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn.
- ↑ Also called R' Ahar'le Shtumer (the Mute), for "more than twenty years — some say forty — he sat absorbed in Torah and divine service with wondrous devotion, and spoke with no one in the world." This is not R' Aharon HaKohen of Zhelichov, author of Ohr HaGanuz LeTzaddikim, who offers commentary on the Tanya.
- ↑ He left behind a young son and daughter. His son, R' Moshe Ber, emigrated in his later years to the Holy Land, passed away there on the 12th of Menachem Av 5607 (1847), and was buried in the ancient cemetery of Tiberias, near the grave of R' Zeev Wolf of Charnoostrov. His daughter married the holy R' Shmuel of Amdur, also known as "R' Shmuel Galil Rav," author of the responsa Teshuvos Shmuel, son of R' Yosef of Amdur and Krakow, son of R' Shmuel of Fürth and Shedlov, author of Beis Shmuel on Even HaEzer. His widow, Mrs. Faiga, later married the holy R' Asher of Stolin, at the instruction of the Maggid of Kozhnitz, and they resided in Zhelichov for an extended period.
- ↑ This eulogy was printed in his work.
- ↑ "I heard from my disciple, distinguished in Torah and fear of Heaven" (p. 64).
- ↑ From his work, on the verse in Bereishis 31:40: "By day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night."