ר׳ מנחם נחום טברסקי מצ׳רנוביל

ר׳ מנחם נחום בן ר׳ צבי הירש טברסקי (1730–1797), known as the בעל מאור עיניים, was a foundational Hasidic preacher and founder of the Chernobyl dynasty. Born in the Volhynian region and orphaned young, he was raised by an uncle and educated in Lithuanian yeshivot. After early study of Lurianic Kabbalah and ascetic practice, he became a disciple of ר׳ ישראל בעל שם טוב at Medzhybizh and, after the Besht’s death, of ר׳ דוב בער המגיד ממעזריטש. He travelled through Ukrainian towns preaching Hasidic teaching, ethical refinement, charity and the redemption of impoverished Jewish debtors. In 1773 he established his court at Chernobyl, where his humility and teaching attracted a substantial following. His homilies were edited by disciples and published posthumously at Slavuta in 1798 as מאור עיניים on the Torah and ישמח לב on aggadic passages. These became early classics of Hasidic thought. He died in Chernobyl on 11 Cheshvan 5558 and was succeeded by his son ר׳ מרדכי טברסקי.