Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk – Noam Elimelech
Date of Passing: 21-Adar. He is known as the "Noam Elimelech", his book about the importance of the tzaddikim. He is the brother of Reb Zusha of Anipoli.
(1717- 1786) Rabbi Eliezer Lipman and his wife Miroush, well-to-do small town merchants, were known as pious and charitable people. Of their seven sons, two rose to great fame in the world of Chassidism: Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of Anipoli and Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk. Even as young boys the two brothers immersed themselves in torah study, in both its revealed and mystic forms, particularly the kabbalistic teachings of the Ari (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, 1534-1572).
For a number of years they went into self-imposed exile, wandering from town to town spreading Torah and inspiring people to mend their ways. The brothers became attracted to the growing movement of Chassidut, becoming outstanding disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch.
Rabbi Elimelech became one of the leading figures of Chasidism. He developed the idea of making the personality of the tzaddik the focal point of a chasid’s existence; he believed that the tzaddik, the accomplished righteous man, has the mission “to give life to all the worlds by virtue of his Divine soul.” This concept is expressed in his book Noam Elimelech, which is one of the principal works on Chassidut. To read a selection of teachings, stories, and parables of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk, see the The Pearls of Noam Elimelech series of articles.
Among his students were such leading figures as the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin, the Maggid of Koznitz, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rymanov, Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz, Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov, and Rabbi Klonymos Kalman Epstein, known as the Maor VaShemesh. A man of unrivaled greatness, he was admired by his disciples and has been so by chasidim through the ages.
Rabbi Elimelech left behind three righteous sons, Rabbi Elazar of Lizhensk, Rabbi Lipa Eliezer of Chemelnick, Rabbi Yaakov of Maglanitza and two righteous daughters, Esther Etil and Mirish.
Used with kind permission from Daily Zohar Tzadikim.
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