Rav Pinchas Menachem was born in Czenstechov, His father was the son-in-law of Rav Yitzchok Meir Alter, the Chiddushei HaRim, the first Gerrer Rebbe.
Rav Pinchas Menachem himself was a son-in-law of his uncle, Rav Avrohom Mordechai, son of the Chiddushei HaRim. His second marriage was to his cousin Nechemia Rottenberg’s daughter, the Rebbetzin of Dzhevitza.
His preliminary education began under his grandfather (the Chiddushei HaRim of Ger), who loved him very much; after the Chiddushei HaRim’s petira, Rav Pinchas Menachem traveled, along with the majority of the Chassidim, to Rav Heinich of Alexander, until Rav Heinich’s petira in 5630.
When Rav Pinchas Menachem’s brother-in-law, the Sefas Emes, began to lead a large group of Chassidim, he joined them and accepted his brother-in-law’s leadership unequivocally.
Rav Pinchas Menachem was known to make an impression on all who saw him. When he visited Rav Avrohom Landau of Tshechanov, Rav Avrohom went out to greet him. Upon returning to his room he told his followers, “This yungerman has a true Tzelem Elokim, and he has never ruined it or blemished it even slightly!”
After the petira of the Sefas Emes, many Chassidim flocked to Rav Pinchas Menachem. But he once explained that he refused to accept them, saying that he had no Heavenly revelation or directive to do so! And because he feared any false pride he closed his doors. However one of the great Torah scholars (who remains anonymous) approached and advised Rav Pinchas Menachem, warning him that “the Heavenly displeasure at his refusal would be much worse than any false pride,” and so he agreed to accept them as his followers, hoping in his humility that “someone would get some benefit from it all.”
He settled in Piltz and served as its Rav. He was fond of Piltz because previously, his cousin Rav Pinchas Eliyohu had also served in the rabbinate there. (Rav Pinchas Eliyohu was often nicknamed Rav Pintshe, while Rav Pinchas Menachem was affectionately known as Rav Mendele.)
Even after Rav Mendele left Piltz for Virshov and later to Czenstechov, where his Chassidim then numbered in the thousands, he was still remembered as being from Piltz. The reason for his departure remains unknown until today.
Rav Pinchas Menachem left instructions in his tzavo’a that no ohel be erected. Although he also instructed that he be buried in Piltz, the citizens of Czenstechov refused to allow this and so his levaya was delayed for three days until the issue was resolved. In the end he was laid to rest in Czenstechov near his son, Rav Yitzchok Meir, who passed away in his father’s lifetime.
Rav Chanoch Gad Yustman, HY”D, of Vilon-Czenstechov succeeded him; the rest of his sons did not serve as Rebbes.
His other children were:
- Esther, the wife of Rav Abba Bumtz
- Chaya, the wife of Rav Yitzchok Meir Marantz
- Berocha, the wife of Rav Yitzchok Meir Eibschitz
- His son, Rav Yitzchok Meir, who passed away in his father’s lifetime
- Feiga, the wife of Rav Chanoch Heinich Rottblat of Lodz
- His son, Rav Avrohom Mordechai
- Freida Reitza, the wife of Rav Meir Yoskovitz
- Rochel, the wife of Rav Yechezkel Biderman.
