Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl

Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (c. 1730 – 11 Cheshvan 1797), widely known as the Me'or Einayim — "Light of the Eyes" — after his celebrated work of the same name, was among the foremost disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and the founder of the Chernobyl Chassidic dynasty. From that dynasty grew several major branches of Chassidus, which together number thousands of Chassidim today, among them Tchernobyl, Talner, Skver, and Rachmastrivka.

Life edit

Rabbi Menachem Nachum was born in the town of Horonosk, in the region of Volhynia in western Ukraine, around 1730. His father was Rabbi Tzvi, a son of Rabbi Nachum the Gaon, known as Rabbi Adam Baal Shem.

As a young man he was drawn to the path of Chassidus taught by the Baal Shem Tov, and after the Baal Shem Tov's passing he accepted the authority of his successor, the Maggid of Mezeritch. Rabbi Menachem Nachum had already established himself as a rabbi with disciples of his own when he first heard of the Baal Shem Tov and resolved to travel to him for Shabbos. Before he arrived, the Baal Shem Tov told his wife, the Rebbetzin Rochel Leah, to be wary of the approaching guest — for he was a thief. When the guest arrived, the Rebbetzin looked at him and asked in surprise: "This is a thief?" The Baal Shem Tov replied: "A great thief — with his good deeds he steals the entire World to Come." That visit left a lasting impression on Rabbi Menachem Nachum, and he became one of the Baal Shem Tov's devoted Chassidim.

His Rabbinate edit

After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Menachem Nachum came to the Maggid of Mezeritch. The Maggid welcomed him warmly and charged him with traveling among the towns to spread Chassidus. While his teacher was still alive, Rabbi Menachem Nachum began journeying through the communities of Volhynia, rousing the people through talks on Chassidus and ethical self-refinement. After the Maggid's passing he began to lead as a Rebbe, first in the town of Prohobitch and then in Chernobyl. Many of the great tzaddikim of his generation gathered in his presence.^[1]

He passed away on the 11th of Cheshvan 1797 and was buried in Chernobyl.

With the Alter Rebbe edit

A celebrated story attests to Rabbi Menachem Nachum's extraordinary spiritual stature. The Alter Rebbe was once sitting with his circle of fellow disciples — the chavarayya kaddisha, the holy fellowship — in Mezeritch, deep in conversation. Suddenly the Alter Rebbe began to tremble, so intensely that the very chair beneath him shook. His companions asked him what had come over him, and he pointed in a certain direction: Rabbi Nachum was there. But he is so far away, they said. The Alter Rebbe replied: Rabbi Nachum has the power to inspire awe even from a great distance.^[2]

The Alter Rebbe also said: "There are three for whom I feel a love of the soul: Rabbi Zusha, Rabbi Nachum, and Rabbi Leib HaKohen."^[3]

The Frierdiker Rebbe (the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) records^[4] that his father, the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn), wrote in one of his discourses: "From the delight the soul takes in G‑dliness, a physical heaviness can result." It was said of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl that his body grew stout from the fervor with which he answered Amen, Yehei Shemei Rabbah — the great congregational response in Kaddish, affirming G‑d's greatness.

The Alter Rebbe instructed that his grandson — a son of the Mitteler Rebbe — be named Menachem Nachum in honor of his dear friend.

The Shidduch of His Grandson with the Mitteler Rebbe's Granddaughter edit

The Chassid Rabbi Yitzchak Horowitz related that the Maggid of Mezeritch once told his disciples that Moshiach would come either from the descendants of his eldest disciple — Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl — or from the descendants of his youngest — the Alter Rebbe. In light of this, a match was eventually arranged: Rabbi Menachem Nachum's grandson, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasy, son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, married Devorah Leah Twersky, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe and granddaughter of the Alter Rebbe.

From this union, part of the Chabad dynasty descends. One line runs: (1) Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael and his wife Rebbetzin Devorah Leah; (2) their daughter Rebbetzin Chana, who married Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak (a son of the Tzemach Tzedek); (3) their daughter, who became the wife of the Rebbe Rashab and mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

A second line runs: (1) Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah; (2) their daughter Rebbetzin Sara (the second), who married Rabbi Aharon of Shklov; (3) their daughter Rebbetzin Rivka, who became the wife of the Rebbe Maharash.^[5]

Melodies edit

Lulav melody of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl — as sung by Rabbi Dovid Horowitz
Simchah melody of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl — as sung by Rabbi Dovid Horowitz

These are melodies eight and nine in the Masoret HaNiggunim project.

Works edit

Family edit

His son, Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl
His son, Rabbi Moshe
His son-in-law's son-in-law, Rabbi Shalom Shachna of Prohobitch

Notes edit

↑ His grandson Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Twersky of Cherkasy writes that at his grandfather Rabbi Nachum's table, tzaddikim robed in white would gather in his honor.
↑ Tiferes Avos, published by the Ahavat Yisrael Institute of the Vizhnitz Chassidic community, Bnei Brak, 1993.
↑ From the stories of the mashpia (Chassidic mentor) Rabbi Shmuel Gronem — Reish Mem Ches Osios and Lemaan Yeid'u Banim Yivaledu.
↑ Hayom Yom, 15 Tammuz.
↑ Igros Kodesh, vol. 2, p. 26.

[1] His grandson Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Twersky of Cherkasy writes that at his grandfather Rabbi Nachum's table, tzaddikim robed in white would gather in his honor.

[2] Tiferes Avos, published by the Ahavat Yisrael Institute of the Vizhnitz Chassidic community, Bnei Brak, 1993.

[3] From the stories of the mashpia (Chassidic mentor) Rabbi Shmuel Gronem — Reish Mem Ches Osios and Lemaan Yeid'u Banim Yivaledu.

[4] Hayom Yom, 15 Tammuz.

[5] Igros Kodesh, vol. 2, p. 26.

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