Avraham HaMalach
The holy Rabbi Avraham — known as Rabbi Avraham HaMalach ("the Angel") or "the Holy One" — was the only son of the Maggid of Mezeritch, the foremost disciple and successor of the Baal Shem Tov.
Life
He was born in 5501 (1741) in the town of Fastov. He married the daughter of R' Meshulam Feivish of Kremenitz, author of the work Mishnас Chachamim.
In the cities of Poland he was called "HaMalach" — the Angel — because he was utterly pure and entirely detached from the material concerns of this world. In Russia he was known as "the Holy One," for he was set apart and elevated above ordinary life.
The Maggid arranged that the Alter Rebbe and R' Avraham HaMalach would study together in chavrusa (paired study). The Alter Rebbe would teach R' Avraham the revealed dimension of Torah (nigleh), while R' Avraham would teach him its esoteric dimension (nistar). The deep bond forged between them left a lasting mark: even among the descendants of HaMalach — the Ruzhiner dynasty — it is accepted that the system of Chabad is rooted in the teachings of R' Avraham HaMalach, but clothed in the garments of the Alter Rebbe.[1]
In his final testament before passing, the Maggid instructed his son to defer to the Alter Rebbe, for the Alter Rebbe's first instinct was like a minor prophecy, and every word from his mouth was spoken with divine inspiration (ruach hakodesh). To the Alter Rebbe himself, the Maggid gave instructions to ensure that his son R' Avraham HaMalach would sit on his seat of leadership.
Leader of the Chassidic Community
Immediately after the passing of the Maggid of Mezeritch, three of his disciples drew up a kesav hitkashrut — a written declaration of allegiance — to R' Avraham HaMalach, accepting him as their Rebbe.
R' Avraham HaMalach did take upon himself the mantle of leadership, especially after the Alter Rebbe wrote to him urging him to accept it, invoking the Maggid's explicit instruction before his passing.
But it quickly became clear that the circumstances of that time demanded a leader who had the fortitude to confront the Mitnagdim (opponents of Chassidus) directly and unwaveringly — someone who would not be intimidated by the bans and proclamations being issued against the Chassidim. R' Avraham's nature was one of sublime otherworldliness; such open confrontation was not his path.
It was therefore decided to establish a leadership council with a general coordinator — one empowered by R' Avraham HaMalach and the entire Chevra Kaddisha (the inner circle of the Maggid's disciples) — who would have the full authority to act independently and to direct all the Chassidic centers as he saw fit. The Chevra Kaddisha convened in a general assembly and elected the Alter Rebbe as this general coordinator and representative, granting him the authority to organize the activities of the various centers, oversee their outreach efforts across the country, and visit the communities of the Maggid's disciples from time to time.
R' Avraham HaMalach held the seat of leadership for approximately four years. He passed away on 12 Tishrei 5537[2] at only thirty-seven years of age, and is buried in Fastov, near Kyiv.
He left behind two sons and a daughter.
His son, Rabbi Shalom Shakhna of Probishtch, was raised after his father's passing in the home of R' Shlomo of Karlin. He later married Chava, a granddaughter of Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl. He too passed away young, leaving two sons — Rabbi Avraham and Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, the founder of the Ruzhiner dynasty.
His daughter was the Rebbetzin Bluma Rabinowitz. Among her great-great-grandchildren was Rabbi Zusha Friedman, the rabbi of Odessa.
Works
- Chesed L'Avraham — printed in Czernowitz in 1851, with a special approbation from Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin.
Further Reading
- Likkutei Sichos, vol. 27, p. 274 — an elucidation of the spiritual character of R' Avraham HaMalach.
- Sefer HaSichos 5688, p. 19.
External Links
- How Did Rabbi Avraham HaMalach Influence the Foundations of the Chabad Path? — Ohr VeChayus, Kislev 5782.