Sfira and hadlaka on Lag Beomer in Nikolsburg

Description

Nikolsburger Rebbe Sfiras Haomer and celebrating Lag Be'omer bonfire tradition in the Nikolsburg Shul Court, Monsey, NY 5768-2008 ניקלשבורג Shmelke of Nikolsburg From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke Halevi of Nikolsburg (1726 Chortkiv, Galicia - 1778 Nikolsburg, Moravia) was an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and one of the great early Chasidic Rebbes. He was the oldest son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Chortkiv. He traced his lineage back directly to the prophet Samuel who was also a Levite. In their early years, Shmelke and his brother Pinchas - who would also become a famous rabbi - studied Torah together for a long time. After traveling to Mezritch and meeting the great chasidic master Rabbi Dov Ber the Maggid, they became his ardent followers. After serving as rabbi in Ritchval and Shinive, Shmelke was invited, in 1773, to become the rabbi of Nikolsburg in Moravia, where he made a powerful impact. On the first day of his being Rabbi of Nikolsburg; Abraham Trebitch a native of Nikolsburg reports him performing a miracle and bringing rain. It is told that his strong attachment to Chasidus angered many members of the community, which led to bitter quarrels that were quelled as a result of the personal intervention of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk. Rabbi Shmelke established a major yeshivah that attracted numerous outstanding students. Among these were such luminaries as Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, Rabbi Yisrael of Koznitz, Rabbi Mordecai Benet and Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov. Nikolsburg today The current Nikolsburger Rebbe Although Nikolsburg was not a dynasty, Reb Shmelke's 6th generation descendant chasidic leader Rabbi Mechel Lebowits Shlit"a was named Nikolsburger Rebbe by the Vizhnitz Rebbe Reb Mordechai Hager from Vishnitz Monsey. Having a Yeshiva, Kolel and thousands of followers over the world, he has a tremendous influence to many, his Torahs and letters are recorded in many seforim, Igros yechiel and Divrei Yosef. [edit]External links Biography of current Nikolsburger Rebbe Partial list of the current Rebbe's Seforim The current Rebbe singing one of his compositions after giving a tish in London