Rav Menachem Mendel Hager Tzemach Tzaddik

Rav Menachem Mendel Hager Tzemach Tzaddik (Tishrei 29, 5645 / 1884 - 140th Yahrzeit)

Rav Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz, mechaber of Tzemach Tzedek, was named for his grandfather, Rav Menachem Mendel Hager of Kossov (1768-1825), founder of the Vizhnitz dynasty. Born to Rav Chaim of Kossov, who betrothed him to Miriam, daughter of Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin, when his son was only six years old. The wedding took place in 1844. In 1854, he moved to Vizhnitz, a small town at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, thirty miles from the Romanian border. Shortly thereafter, his father was niftar. He assumed the mantle of Vizhnitz when he was only twenty-four. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Boruch.