ר׳ מנחם מנדל מרימנוב

ר׳ מנחם מנדל מרימנוב (1745–1815) was a formative Galician Hasidic leader and one of the principal disciples of ר׳ אלימלך מליז׳נסק. Born at Nowe Miasto to ר׳ יוסף חריף, he received traditional rabbinic education and encountered Hasidism while studying in Nikolsburg. He subsequently attached himself for years to ר׳ אלימלך, whose ecstatic devotional style and understanding of the tsaddik shaped his leadership. After his teacher’s death he served and taught in several Galician communities before establishing his best-known court at Rymanów. His preaching emphasized prayer, ascetic discipline, economic justice and the sanctification of ordinary material life. He trained an influential circle including ר׳ נפתלי צבי מרופשיץ, ר׳ יחזקאל פנט, ר׳ צבי הירש מזידיטשוב and ר׳ צבי אלימלך שפירא מדינוב. During the Napoleonic wars he joined ר׳ יעקב יצחק הלוי הורוביץ מלובלין and ר׳ ישראל הופשטיין מקוז׳ניץ in prayer connected with hopes that Napoleon’s victory might further redemption. His teachings were recorded by disciples rather than published by him; מנחם ציון and דברי מנחם appeared posthumously. He died at Rymanów on 19 Iyar 5575 and was buried there.