Zev Wolf of Zhitomyr
Rabbi Zev Wolf of Zhitomyr, author of Ohr HaMeir, was among the foremost disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch and served as maggid — communal preacher and halachic guide — in Zhitomir.
Life edit
He was born into a family descended from R' Shaul Wahl. His mother's name is known to have been Yehudis. He married Attya Esther and settled in Zhitomir, where he served as maggid. After his first wife's passing he married a second time, wedding Tuba, daughter of R' Tzvi Hirsh Margolios, rabbi of Mezeritch. He was among the foremost disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch, and was also close to R' Pinchas of Koritz. Unlike most of the Maggid's disciples, R' Zeev did not maintain a Chassidic court of his own, and supported himself by leasing a tavern.
In his later years he lived in Ivanitz, near Zhitomir, where he passed away and was buried on the 5th of Sivan 5553 (1793).[1]
In 5558 (1798) his work Ohr HaMeir was printed by his disciple R' Eliezer of Zhitomir. It is considered one of the foundational texts of Chassidic thought, and received the approbation of R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and other leading rabbis.
In 5758 (1998) — exactly two hundred years after the printing of his work — his gravesite was discovered and a new ohel was erected over it by the organization Derech Tzaddikim, with the assistance of the Rebbe's emissary and rabbi of Zhitomir, R' Shlomo Wilhelm.[2] R' Wilhelm also studies and engages deeply with Ohr HaMeir in a special way.
R' Moshe Pick of the veteran Chabad community in Beit Shemesh is a grandson of a disciple of the Ohr HaMeir, and publishes booklets and pamphlets of his teachings, working to disseminate them.
In the Words of Our Rebbeim edit
A remarkable expression of his stature was said in the name of the Alter Rebbe: "When Moshiach comes, all of Israel will be on the level of R' Zeev of Zhitomir as he is now, and R' Zeev himself will then be on the level of the Baal Shem Tov, and the Baal Shem Tov himself will then be on a level 'which not every mind can bear.'"[3]
It is known[4] that R' Zeev Wolf visited the Alter Rebbe in Liadi together with R' Shlomo of Karlin.[5] It is told that the two arrived for Shabbos, and when the food was served at the Shabbos meal it was found to be heavily oversalted. R' Shlomo and R' Zeev stopped eating, while the Alter Rebbe continued. When the two asked him about this, the Alter Rebbe replied that ever since his return from the Maggid of Mezeritch he had lost all sense of taste.[6] During that same visit R' Zeev remained in the Alter Rebbe's home for close to three months, while R' Shlomo of Karlin departed.
Ohr HaMeir is among the works distinctively cited in the writings of our Rebbeim, even though it is not numbered among the texts of Chabad Torah.[5] Some say that the style and content of his work is close and similar to the style of Chabad Torah.[7]
Family edit
- R' Yisrael Dov Ber — maggid of Zhitomir, son-in-law of R' Chaim of Krasna.
- R' Menachem Mendel of Berditchev.
- R' Tzvi Hirsh.
- R' Yosef.
- R' Dovid.
- R' Yechiel Michel.
- R' Pinchas of Kulak.
Notes edit
- ↑ As demonstrated by R' Shmuel Kraus in his article in Beis Moshiach, issue 324. Some suggest different dates.
- ↑ Beis Moshiach, issue 159, p. 80.
- ↑ Shmu'os V'Sipurim, vol. II, p. 61.
- ↑ See Likkutei Diburim, vol. I, p. 191 ff.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Template:Hebrewbooks. A partial collection of his Torah teachings as cited in the works of our Rebbeim was gathered by R' Eliyahu Matusov in Kovetz He'oros U'Biurim — Ohalei Torah, issue 678.
- ↑ Reshimos Devarim, p. 77, 5769 (2009) edition.
- ↑ In the name of R' Shlomo Wilhelm.