|
Rabbi
Mordechai of Chernobyl
Born:
1772
Died: Anativka (Ukraine) 1837
Rabbi Mordechai's father was Rabbi
Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, student of
the Baal
Shem Tov and the Maggid
of Mezritch.
Rabbi
Mordechai is the founder of the Chernobyl Chassidic dynasty.
Rabbi Mordechai married the daughter of the great Rabbi
Aharon of Karlin,
after
her death he married the daughter of Rabbi David Lykess who was a student of the
Baal Shem Tov. From these two women he had 8 sons and one daughter. His sons
became prominent rabbis and were a part of the effort in spreading Chassidut
throughout Russia and the Ukraine.
Rabbi Mordechai was in charge of sustaining all the Nistarim (hidden
tzaddikim) in his generation. Throughout his life R' Mordechai collected
tremendous amounts of charity from people, before his death he regretted not
collecting even more than he did.
His thoughts, sermons and discourses were published in his book Likutei
Torah, which was praised by other famous Chassidic leaders, for its
holiness.
Throughout
his teachings R' Mordechai stressed the importance of pure speech and pure
thought as a condition for a proper prayer connection. He also spoke of
including all of the souls of Yisrael in one's prayer, even evil people. By
doing so, evil people will stand a better chance of repenting (teshuvah).
Rabbi
Yisrael of Rizhin named one of his sons Mordechai, while Rabbi Mordechai of
Chernobyl was still alive. Asked about this, Rabbi Yisrael replied "Our
uncle from Chernobyl is already a few years above this world, as if he is not in
this world" Amazingly R' Mordechai of Chernobyl left the world a few years
later, exactly at the same day that Mordechai (Rabbi Mordechai Faybush of
Hosiatin) was born, 35th day of the Omer.
While still alive, Rabbi Mordechai prepared his place of rest in the small town
of Anativka, near Kiev. He selected such a place "because there is no house
of idol worship, and the sound of impure bells wont disturb my rest in the
grave".
Chernobyl Chassidut has survived the ravages of the Holocaust and is today
throbbing with new vitality under the inspired leadership of the Skverer Rebbe,
Rabbi David Twersky, who has created a small town in New York State named New
Square.
May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi
Mordechai of Chernobyl protect
us all, Amen.
|