Menachem Mendel of Rimanov

Menachem Mendel of Rimanov
Menachem Mendel of Rimanov
File:Rimanov headstone.jpg Tombstone of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov.
Main work	Sifrei haRahak Rabbi Menachem Mendel me-Rymanów
Born	1745 Neustadt
Died	May 29, 1815
Buried	Rimanov
Dynasty	Rimenov
Father	Yosef Torim
Wife	Rivke
Children	Rabbi Nosson Leib, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov of Vilkomir, Feige, Chana

Menachem Mendel of Rimanov (1745–May 29, 1815) was a Hasidic Rebbe and author.

Biography

Born in Neustadt, Nowe Miasto, he was introduced to Hasidut at the age of 11 when he met Dov Ber of Mezeritch. He was taught by Elimelech of Lizhensk and Shmelke of Nikolsburg, and was the teacher of Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz and Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov.

As one of the five principal disciples of Elimelech of Lizhensk, he was an important Hasidic leader in Poland. He is known for his asceticism and mystical support for Napoleon, whose wars he identified with the battles of Gog and Magog, associated with the advent of the Messianic Age.

Although based in Rimanov, Menachem Mendel's court, which attracted many scholars, had previously been in Fristik. His writings and sermons were posthumously published, notably Sifrei haRahak Rabbi Menachem Mendel me-Rymanów. Others included the works Divrei Menachem, Menachem Tzion, and Be'erot HaMayin.

His colleagues included the Chozeh (seer) of Lublin, The Maggid of Koshnitz, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Opatow and the Maor Vashemesh (Rav Kalonymus Kalman Halevi Epstein of Cracow).