Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Morgenstern of Kotzk, known as the Kotzker Rebbe (1787 - 22 Shevat 1859), was the founder of Kotzk Chassidus. He became renowned for his sharp intellect and his demand for absolute dedication to genuine avodas Hashem, along with his strong aversion to any trace of falsehood or deception.

Life History

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He was born to Rabbi Leibush Halperin (who changed his family name after the suppression of the Polish uprising).

With the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek

Between the Tzemach Tzedek and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (who were both called by the same name and title - "Menachem Mendel"), there was a close connection. They had one specific ideological dispute: The Kotzker Rebbe believed that one should take a minyan of young married men and elevate them to high spiritual levels, which would then positively influence the entire world, while the Tzemach Tzedek advocated for individual influence on each Jew. Despite this dispute, when a chassid wanted to travel to the Tzemach Tzedek, the Kotzker Rebbe said "Mendel Mendel - for a gezeira shava (biblical hermeneutical comparison)."

They also shared a common talmid: Rav Meshil Gelbstein.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel and His Dynasty - and the Alter Rebbe's Siddur

When Rabbi Menachem Mendel would daven privately, he would daven from the Alter Rebbe's siddur.

His son-in-law, Rabbi Avraham of Sochatchov, author of Avnei Nezer, would also daven from the Alter Rebbe's siddur, and he was not pleased when the chazzan would not daven in this nusach.

It is also told about his great-grandson, Rabbi Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern, the Rebbe of Sokolov-Kotzk, that "he was particular to generally daven from the siddur - this being the siddur of the Admur MaHaRaShaZ of Liadi, which was especially dear to him."

The Rebbe on Rabbi Menachem Mendel

During dollars distribution on 26 Adar I 5752, a Jew passed by who introduced himself as a descendant, and the Rebbe told him: "The Kotzker was sharp ('iz geven a sharfer'), meaning that he gave his opinion openly, and in a very clear manner, without fear of what those gathered around him would say. And may Hashem bless you to go in the same path."