Rav Mordechai of Kremnitz

Early years

Rav Mordechai of Kremnitz zy"a, a Chassidic Rebbe of the fourth generation, was born in Kremenets, Ukraine, in 1745 or 1746. He was the third son of Rav Yechiel Michel of Zlatshuv and his wife Miriam. Rav Yechiel Michel was a talmid of the Baal Shem Tov and of the Maggid of Mezritch.

His mother, Miriam, was the daughter of Rav Meir Poperish, the famed redactor and organizer of the writings of the Arizal, such as the Eitz Chaim. Rav Mordechai married the daughter of Rav Eliezer Melamed of Kolbasov. He became a talmid of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk.

Torah and leadership

After his father passed away, Rav Mordechai began to serve as Rebbe. He became one of the great Rebbes of his generation, and many followers from Volhynia travelled to him. Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel, the Apta Rav and author of Ohev Yisroel, said that his soul came from the supernal palace of song, the Heichal HaNegina, and that his niggunim had the power to move people to return and do teshuvah.

Together with the Apta Rav, he was in charge of collecting tzedakah for the poor of Eretz Yisroel, an important communal position. He himself was poor and destitute.

His best-known talmid was Rav Meir of Premishlan, a talmid muvhak (a primary disciple). It is told that whenever Rav Meir wished to bring about some great salvation from Heaven, he would put on the shtreimel he had inherited from his rebbe, and through it he would bring the salvation about.

Among his other talmidim were Rav Avraham Dov Auerbach of Ebrich and Rav Yeshayah Shor, author of Kalil Tiferes. Rav Nosson of Breslov began his path into Chassidus with Rav Mordechai.

Teachings and seforim

Rav Mordechai composed a siddur arranged according to the Arizal, called Straight Prayer, which was printed in Berditchev and is known as Siddur Berdichov.

Later years and passing

His sons were Rav Yitzchok Yaakov of Magrov, Rav Yosef Yuska of Valtshisk, Rav Yechiel Michel of Vishnowitz, Rav Yisroel and Rav Binyamin. His sons-in-law included Rav Aharon of Karlin, author of Bais Aharon, Rav Shlomo of Granov, Rav Tzvi Aryeh of Tzfas, Rav Meir Yehuda of Bokowsk and Rav Yosef David Landa Malik. Rav Yitzchok Yaakov married the daughter of Rav Shalom Shachna of Fahrabitz, and Rav Yisroel married the daughter of Rav Chaim Hager of Kosov.

Rav Mordechai passed away on 13 Tammuz 5580 (1820) in Kremenets. He was eulogized by Rav Moshe Elyakim Beriah of Kozhnitz in his sefer Be'er Moshe.

Legacy

Rav Meir of Premishlan instructed his nephew, Rav Yissachar, to name his son Mordechai, and this son became Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna.

To this day, the dynasties of Premishlan, Nadvorna and Kretshnif, which descend from his talmidim, sing his niggunim. They also continue his custom of reciting LeDovid Hashem Ori VeYishi on the Yomim Noraim responsively, chazan and kahal, during pesichas ha'aron (the opening of the ark).