RYMANOWER (of Rymanow), MENAHEM MENDEL

RYMANOWER (of Rymanow ), MENAHEM MENDEL (d. 1815), ?asidic ?addik. A pupil of *Elimelech of Lyzhansk, he was born in Przytyk but spent most of his life in Rymanow. ?asidic tradition relates that in his youth he attended various yeshivot, finally settling at that of Shmelke of Nikolsburg (Mikulov). Legends about Menahem Mendel are included in stories concerning his pupil, Naphtali ?evi *Ropshitser. An ascetic, he became known for his regulations dealing with women's dress; he also instituted regulations concerning weights and measures. According to legend, he saw the Napoleonic wars as the battles of Gog and Magog which will precede redemption and the coming of the Messiah and he prayed for Napoleon's victory. Menahem Mendel appears in *David of Makow's list (1798–1800) of the cursed ?addikim of the generation (Shever Poshe'im, in M. Wilensky's ?asidim u-Mitnaggedim, 2 (1970), 102).

Menahem Mendel's works are Ilana de-?ayyei (1908), a commentary on the Pentateuch; Mena?em ?iyyon (1851), sermons for Sabbath and festivals, collected by his pupil Ezekiel *Panet;Divrei Mena?em (1863), sermons for Sabbath; Ateret Mena?em (1910), practical talks and interpretations of the law; and Torat Mena?em (1876), sermons on the weekly portions.

bibliography:

M. Buber, Tales of the Hasidim, 2 (1966³) 123–38; idem, Gog u-Magog (1967²); L.I. Newman, ?asidic Anthology (1963), index s.v.Rimanover The Menachem Mendel; Dubnov, ?asidut, 318–9, 458; Horodezky, ?asidut, index; M.E. Gutman, R. Mendel mi-Rymanow (1953); idem, Mi-Gedolei ha-?asidut, 3–4 (1931); L.H. Grosman, Shem u-Sherit (1943), 101.

[Esther (Zweig) Liebes]