Meshulem Zusha of Anipoli
Rabbi Meshulem Zusha of Anipoli, also known as Zusha of Anipoli (died 2 Shevat [January 27, 1800]), was a towering figure of early Chassidic Judaism — a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch, a brother of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, an uncle of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov, and one of the founding personalities of the Chassidic movement.
Biography
Early Life
Rabbi Meshulem Zusha was born in the early eighteenth century to Avraham Eliezer Lipa (some say: R' Avraham). His exact birthdate is unknown, and little is recorded of his earliest years. His name appears in three variant forms in the sources: the popular form Zusha,[1] Zusya, and Zusman.[2]
The Tzemach Tzedek addresses him in a letter by the name "Zusman."[3]
In his youth, Zusha devoted himself primarily to the study of Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition. He and his brother Elimelech adopted the practice of galus — voluntary exile — setting out from home without money or food for journeys that sometimes lasted a year or more, never sleeping in the same place two nights in a row. This discipline of self-abnegation was a recognized path in the service of Heaven.
Joining the Chassidic Movement
It was during one of these wanderings that the two brothers encountered the Maggid of Mezeritch, Rabbi Dovber. They were immediately drawn to him and accepted him as their teacher. Within several years, both brothers had become among his most distinguished disciples.
Zusha became known for a singular approach to avodah — the inner service of G‑d — centered on anavah (humility), bittul (self-nullification), and a quality of simple, wholehearted devotion. In his ethical will, the Maggid[4] directed his disciples to follow Zusha's path in the trait of humility specifically.
Many came from afar to seek his counsel. Chassidim referred to him affectionately as "der Rebbe R' Zusha" — the Rebbe Reb Zusha. He lived in great poverty, learning near the stove on the floor of the beis midrash (house of study). Visitors who had traveled long distances to meet him were often struck by the contrast between the fame of his name and the plainness of his appearance and circumstances.
He had a distinctive habit of speaking about himself in the third person — "Zusha says." He explained this by saying that only the Almighty Himself can say Anochi ("I"), as in the opening words of the Ten Commandments: Anochi Hashem Elokecha — "I am the Lord your G‑d."
Marriage and Leadership
According to tradition, Zusha married twice. From his first marriage came a son, R' Tzvi Menachem, who later succeeded him as Rebbe of Anipoli. From his second marriage came R' Yisrael Avraham, who served as rabbi of Tcherni-Ostroha.
Zusha was appointed Rebbe in the town of Anipoli, where a large Chassidic community gathered around him.
Chassidic tradition records that Zusha brought thousands to teshuvah (repentance) through an unusual method: he would stand near someone who had committed a sin and confess that very sin aloud — as though speaking of himself. Hearing a tzaddik (righteous man) confess their own wrongdoing, those present would be stirred to genuine repentance.
His Bond with the Alter Rebbe
Zusha was celebrated for the extraordinary depth of his dveikus — cleaving to G‑d. The Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidus) said of him: "His avodah was in yirah ilaah — a higher level of awe — to such a degree that even within the very sanctuary of awe, his awe was a marvel." On another occasion, Zusha told the Alter Rebbe that he was greatly afraid, for a soul from the world of Atzilus — the highest of the four spiritual worlds — was coming toward him.
It is also told that when Zusha once fell ill, the Alter Rebbe personally attended to him.
The Alter Rebbe expressed his deep personal love for Zusha: "Three people I love with a love of the soul: Reb Zusha, Reb Nachum, and Reb Levi the Kohen."[5]
Zusha was also known for his extraordinary love of fellow Jews and worked extensively toward pidyon shvuyim — the redemption of captives.
The Alter Rebbe chose Zusha as one of the two signatories of approbation for his magnum opus, the Tanya (alongside Rabbi Yehudah Levi the Kohen).
His most famous teaching: "When I reach Heaven, if they ask me why I was not Elimelech — I will know what to answer. But if they ask me why I was not Zusha — I will have nothing to say."
It is related that the arrest of the Alter Rebbe had been decreed many years before it actually occurred. When Zusha heard of it, he declared: "Zusha does not want this." And so the decree was delayed until the year 5559 (1798–99).[6]
The Tanya
When the Alter Rebbe brought his foundational work the Tanya to print, he sent a special emissary to Zusha asking for his approbation. Zusha wrote a warmly enthusiastic endorsement, describing the Alter Rebbe in exalted terms: "the great gaon, a holy and pure man of G‑d, a shining mirror."
According to another account: at a certain gathering in Anipoli attended by disciples of the Maggid, the Alter Rebbe arrived and presented his writings to Zusha and Rabbi Yehudah Leib HaKohen for review. That night, the two pored over the manuscripts together. By morning, both were aflame with enthusiasm, and they instructed the Alter Rebbe to publish the work.
The Alter Rebbe wept and said: the great ones have no need for such a book, and the lesser ones will not benefit from it. They replied: the great ones do need it — and the lesser ones will benefit as well.[7]
In his approbation, Zusha writes: "Good is what he has done, and how wondrous the kindness G‑d has shown — that He placed it in his pure heart to show the people of G‑d His holy ways."
The Alter Rebbe's Script
During one of the Alter Rebbe's visits to the court of the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Maggid instructed him to standardize the form of the letters used in sacred writing (Sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzos) so that they would accord with both the legal decisors and the Kabbalistic tradition.[8] The Alter Rebbe spent four additional weeks at Mezeritch working on this task. On his journey home, he passed through Anipoli — and learned that Zusha had already instructed his personal scribe[9] to write according to the very new script the Alter Rebbe had just standardized — because Zusha had heard a divine proclamation from the heavenly retinue that this would henceforth be the correct form of the letters.[10]
A Megillas Esther belonging to R' Zusha, written in the Alter Rebbe's script, has been preserved and passed down — eventually reaching R' Moshe Shleifshtein of Tzfas — and differs from the Alter Rebbe's standard form in only a word or two.
His Stature as a Scholar
The Alter Rebbe referred to Zusha as a gaon — a title reserved for the greatest Torah scholars. He explained: whenever Zusha found a passage in Torah difficult, he would pray to G‑d to illuminate his eyes — and would receive deep and genuine understanding as a result.
In another account, the Alter Rebbe related: when the holy brothers Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg and Rabbi Pinchas of Frankfurt (known as the author of HaHafla'ah) came to their teacher, the Maggid, they posed a powerful difficulty on the Rambam (Maimonides). When they approached Zusha, they found him deep in thought — but the moment they turned to him with their question, he answered it immediately, showing that the difficulty was no difficulty at all. The Alter Rebbe concluded: "Judge for yourselves — is he not worthy of the title 'prince of Torah'?"[11]
Some hold that Zusha served as rabbi of Anipoli for twenty-one years, and that he privately prayed to G‑d that this fact be forgotten — so that his greatness in Torah would remain hidden.
Passing
On 2 Shevat 5560 (January 27, 1800), Zusha passed away from illness. He was buried near his teacher, Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch.
The original inscription on his tombstone read: "Here lies the holy one… one who served G‑d with love, who rejoiced in suffering, and who brought many back from sin."
In time, a new stone was erected bearing only the words: The Rebbe Reb Zusha.
Children
- R' Tzvi Menachem — Rebbe of Anipoli. Died 5574 (1814).
- R' Yisrael Avraham of Tcherni-Ostroha. Born 1772, died 21 Teves 5574 (1814), at age 42. He served as son-in-law and successor of Rabbi Ze'ev Wolf of Tcherni-Ostroha after the latter's immigration to the Land of Israel. After R' Yisrael Avraham's passing, his widow also immigrated to the Land of Israel.
Writings
- Menoras Zahav ("The Golden Menorah") — a collection of his life story and teachings, first published in Warsaw in 1902, with approbations from Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Shvadron and the Sdei Chemed.
- Butzina Kadisha ("The Holy Lamp") — life and teachings.
- Approbation to the Tanya.
Notes
- ↑ See also Reshimos (winter diary, 5695), Kfar Chabad, issue 888, p. 14.
- ↑ See the works of the holy R' Yissachar Ber of Zlatshov — Mevaser Tzedek (parshas Toldos and parshas Terumah) — and of his son-in-law the holy R' Avraham Chaim of Zlatshov — Orach LeChaim (parshas Beshalach, parshas Vayikra, and parshas Behaaloscha).
- ↑ Letter in manuscript. (Rabbi Yehoshua Mondshein.)
- ↑ From the Cherson Geniza.
- ↑ From the stories of the mashpia (Chassidic mentor) R' Shmuel Gronem — Remazei Osios and Lemaan Yeid'u Banim Yivoladu.
- ↑ Cited in Padeh Beshalom, p. 83.
- ↑ R' Meir Avtzan, heard from the Chassidim R' Y. Mitamid and R' Berel Yafe. Cited in the book Ben LeAshri.
- ↑ The Frierdiker Rebbe (Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) emphasizes in a letter: "that he arrange the form of the letters according to the system of the Kabbalists in the Chabad way."
- ↑ The holy Rabbi Dovid the Scribe of Anipoli, of whom it is told that the Maggid of Mezeritch commanded him to devote himself to sacred writing, and instructed his disciples to reveal to him the mystical secrets of the letters.
- ↑ See at length in the collection Yada Am, vol. 5, p. 71. For further detail see Igros Kodesh of the Frierdiker Rebbe, vol. 9, p. 53, and the references in the notes there.
- ↑ Midor El Dor by R.M.N. Twersky, p. 51.
[Category::Disciples of the Maggid of Mezeritch]]