Noam Elimelech

First printed in Lemberg in 1788, this classic text of Polish Chassidism went through several editions within a relatively short span of time: two Lemberg editions in the same year (1788), Shklov 1790, and the present one, Slavuta 1794, making our edition the fourth. However, one must take into account that one of the Lemberg editions was restricted just to the section of the work known as “Likutei Shoshanah,” (see Vinograd, Lemberg 38), thus making ours the third complete edition. See also H. Liberman, Ohel Rachel, Vol. I (1980) pp. 199-200. Published by the author’s nephew, Israel Abraham, son of Meshulam Zushye of Annapoli, the book bears the latter’s endorsement. Indeed, according to Chassidic tradition, it was R. Zushye who first introduced his brother R. Elimelech to R. Dov Baer, Maggid of Mehzritch, the successor to the Baal Shem Tov. R. Elimelech of Lizhensk (1717-87) founded the Polish school of Chassidism. His disciples included R. Abraham Joshua Heschel of Apta, R. Jacob Isaac Horowitz - the “Seer of Lublin” – R. Israel of Kozhnitz and R. Mendel of Rymanov.