Rav Avrohom Hamalach Friedman zt"l
הרב אברהם המאלך בן דוב בער פריעדמאן זצ"ל
Tishrei 12 , 5537
Rav Avrohom Hamalach Friedman zt"l
Rav Avraham HaMalach, the son of Rav Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, was born in (approx.) 5501 (1741). He was the son-in-law of Rav Meshulam Feivish of Kremenitz, author of Mishnas Chachamim.
From his youth, he was noted for his exceptional sanctity and piety and quickly became a source of inspiration and a living legend in his own lifetime. The Chassidim nicknamed him the angel – HaMalach!
He was the rebbe of Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad dynasty, in the hidden Torah, whereas Rav Shneur Zalman was his rebbe in the revealed Torah. Once when they were studying together, the Malach explained a simple straightforward passage of revealed Torah as if it was esoteric and mystical Kabbalah. When Rav Shneur Zalman complained to the Maggid of Mezritch that his son, the Malach, was learning nigla (revealed Torah) as if it was nistar (esoteric, hidden Torah), the Maggid replied: “Leave him alone; you study your way and let him study according to his way of understanding. You’ll show him the exterior garments and he will show you the inner hidden depths of meaning.”
Rav Avraham would often afflict himself with fasts and self-mortification. He sat all day wrapped in his tallis and crowned in his tefillin, isolated in a closed room, studying Torah. He was so secluded from the world that although the chassidim and tzadikim held him in very high esteem, he was unable to succeed his father and lead others.
He himself said: “There is such a thing as a tzadik who cannot lead the generation. The generation cannot relate to him because he is of such lofty intellect that he cannot descend to them to lead them.”
Rav Nachum of Czernoble secured him a position as maggid in Fastuv where he remained all his days in seclusion. Rav Avraham passed away at the young age of thirty-six. Rav Pinchas Koritzer said of him that had he lived longer, all the tzadikim of the generation would have bowed before him.
Some of the Malach’s teachings were gathered in the volume Chessed L’Avraham. His sons were Rav Shalom Shachna of Prohobitsh and Rav Yisrael Chaim of Ludmir. He passed away on the 12th of Tishrei, 5537 (1776), and was laid to rest in Fastuv.
See also Shivchei Habesht p.77-80; Dor Deah Vol. 1 p.74; Sippurei Chassidim Torah p.265, Moadim p.373, 426; Migdal Oz p.389-399.
Stories of Rav Avrohom Hamalach Friedman zt"l
The late Kopyczynitzer Rebbe, Rav Moshe Mordechai, a descendant of the Malach, told the following story, heard from his father:
The Malach married the daughter of Rav Feivish of Kremenetz, mechaber of Mishnas Chachomim. Rav Feivish was so consistent and devoted to his Torah studies that he declined to attend his own daughter’s wedding, to avoid bitul Torah.
Later, however, when he heard of the illustriousness of his mechutan, the great Maggid, he decided to pay him a visit. He arrived on a Friday afternoon, hoping to be invited for the Shabbos meals. The Maggid, however, instructed his son, the Malach, to invite his father-in-law for the Friday night seuda.
As the Malach entered the house with his father-in-law and began singing Sholom Aleichem, welcoming the malochim that escort Yidden home from shul on Friday evening, Rav Feivish fainted. After he was revived, the Malach turned to him and said, “You saw your malochim. If you had seen my malochim, if you had seen my malochim…!”
Chassidim understood this to mean that Rav Feivish actually saw the malochim that escorted him home from shul that week. Were he to have seen the malochim that escorted his son-in-law home, the people might not have been able to revive him.
www.hamodia.com/features/this-day-in-history-12-tishreiseptember-16/