ר׳ שמואל שמלקה הלוי הורוביץ מניקלשבורג

ר׳ שמואל שמלקה הלוי הורוביץ מניקלשבורג (1726–1778) was an influential rabbi and early Hasidic leader who brought the teachings of ר׳ דוב בער המגיד ממזריטש into Moravia. Born in Chortkiv, he was the brother of ר׳ פינחס הלוי הורוביץ, later rabbi of Frankfurt and author of הפלאה. Both brothers studied in the Maggid’s circle. ר׳ שמלקה served first at Ryczywół and then at Sieniawa before his appointment in 1773 as rabbi of Nikolsburg (Mikulov). By 1775 he held the chief rabbinate of Moravia. His intense devotional style attracted disciples and established a Hasidic prayer community, although it also met resistance within an established communal structure. Among figures associated with his circle were ר׳ משה לייב מסאסוב and ר׳ יעקב יצחק הורוביץ החוזה מלובלין. He died in Nikolsburg in 1778. His teachings were printed only after his death, notably as דברי שמואל and נזיר השם; their nineteenth-century publication dates are not treated as lifetime movements. No securely authenticated portrait was located.