Israel Matzav

Overnight music video

The Rebbe Elimelech (1717-1787) and his brother Reb Zisha were among the greatest students of the Mezritcher Maggid. It was the older Reb Zisha who first introduced his younger brother to the wellsprings of Hassidus and brought him under the tutelage of the Mezritcher Maggid who was the Baal Shem Tov’s successor and leader of all the Hasidim at that time. Together they became great Hasidic leaders in their own right, traveling from town to town in self-imposed exile, fasting and arousing feelings of repentance among their brethren. Most of the Mezritcher Maggid’s students came to the threshold of Rebbe Elimelech when the Maggid departed this world. (see Ohel Elimelech #1) Many of his other pupils became great Hasidic leaders and masters too, such as the four Rebbes mentioned above as well as Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Epstein the author of Maor VeShemsh, and Rav Naftali of Ropshitz author of Zera Kodesh among others. He is therefore appropriately called the “Rebbe of Rebbes.”

In this video, Avraham Fried sings a prayer written by Reb Elimelech (commonly known as the Noam Elimelech after his most famous book) in which God is asked to help us each to see the good in the other and not the shortcomings, that we should only speak honestly and properly about each other, that none of us should God forbid harbor resentment for another, and that God should strengthen our love for Him knowing that this will bring Him pleasure.

The song is nearly as beautiful of the prayer.

Much of what you'll see in the video is the area in and around the Noam Elimelech's grave in Lizhansk, Poland. I've never been there, but three of my kids have (I think - they've been to Poland).

Let's go to the videotape.



And for those who know the difference, a reminder: I'm a Litvak not a chasid. Don't get any ideas!

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:25 AM