Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudylkiv

link=File:סאדילקאב.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|The synagogue in Sudylkiv, home of the author of the Degel Machaneh Ephraim link=File:סאדילקאב_2.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|The gravestone of the Rabbi of Sudylkiv Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudylkiv (5508 (1748) – 17 Iyar 5560 (1800)), best known by the name of his work the Degel Machaneh Ephraim, was a grandson and disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. He was celebrated as a maggid — a preacher and oral teacher whose every word was like a precious gem — but unlike other members of his family, he did not lead an independent Chassidic court.

Biography

He was born in 5508 (1748) to his father Rabbi Yechiel Ashkenazi and his mother Rebbetzin Adel, daughter of the Baal Shem Tov.

In his youth he merited to know his grandfather the Baal Shem Tov personally, and retained Torah teachings he had heard directly from him — teachings he later published in his work Degel Machaneh Ephraim.

After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, he became a disciple of his uncle Rabbi Tzvi, son of the Baal Shem Tov. On 7 Sivan 5521 (1761), when Rabbi Tzvi stepped back from leading the broader Chassidic movement and relocated to Pinsk, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim went with him.

He also drew deeply from the teachings of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye, author of the Toldos Yaakov Yosef.

He served as maggid (preacher) in the town of Sudylkiv, and was widely known for his gift of oral teaching and preaching — though he did not establish a Chassidic court of his own.

His influence was felt among the disciples of both the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch. Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Somaritcht, for instance, mentions his influence in his work Kesem Paz. It is also widely held that he had a formative influence on Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, having offered him words of encouragement and inspiration on the day of his bar mitzvah.

Around 5547 (1787) he returned to Mezhibuzh, where he passed away on 17 Iyar 5560 (1800).

His Work

• Degel Machaneh Ephraim