Reb Menachem Mendel Horodoker (also known as Reb Mendel Vitebsker) was a great talmid of the Baal Shem Tov and Maggid of Mezritch. Initially charged by the Maggid with the task of spreading Chassidus in Russia, Reb Mendel later accepted leadership of the chassidim in White Russia after the Maggid’s passing. A short while later, Reb Mendel relocated to Eretz Yisroel, accompanied by a large group of chassidim. Author of the sefer “Pri Haaretz” amongst others, Reb Mendel passed away in Tverya on the second of Iyar, תקמ"ח (1788), and is buried there.
Two years after the Maggid appointed Reb Mendel to spread Chassidus in Russia, Reb Mendel visited the Maggid. In Yechidus, the Maggid asked, “What did you achieve with the Yidden of Russia?” Rabbi Mendel replied, “I found their clothes torn and hearts complete; I worked on making their clothes complete and their hearts torn.”
(The poverty stricken Yidden in Russian struggled to properly plan their activities and make a living, hence the torn clothes. Yet their hearts were complete, unaware of their true purpose. Reb Mendel helped them significantly increase their wealth, and cause their hearts to tear from the work of repairing their spiritual lives).
After the Maggid passed away, a letter arrived for Reb Mendel relaying the news. His talmidim decided it would be best to give Reb Mendel the letter after he lit Shabbos licht (as he lit the licht himself). Reb Mendel read the letter and said nothing. Shabbos continued as usual, with no noticeable changes in Reb Mendel’s mood or behavior. On Motzoei Shabbos, immediately after havdala, Reb Mendel fell in a faint...
One Simchas Torah, Reb Mendel lamented to the Alter Rebbe, his prodigy, that he knew one hundred pirushim on “Atah hareisa”, each describing a unique level of avoda. Being yet to achieve these levels, he did not want to recite the psukim. The Alter Rebbe responded, “A person can never stand in the place where his eyes reach. When he arrives at that point, his view will extend even further. Similarly, even if the Rebbe reached all the levels described in these pirushim, the Rebbe would see new levels to reach.”
Reb Mendel accepted the answer, and began reciting the psukim.
