מנחם מנדל הגר מקוסוב

Rav Menachem Mendel Hager of Kosov (5528/1768–17 Cheshvan 5586/1825), known by the name of his sefer Ahavat Shalom, was the first Rebbe of the Kosov dynasty, which he led from 5562/1802 until his passing. He was born in Kolomyia to Rav Yaakov Koppel and his wife Chaya, and learned by Rav Moshe Yehuda Leib of Sassov, Rav Ze’ev Wolf of Cherni-Ostraha, Rav Meshulam Feivush Heller of Zbarazh, and Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Nadvorna.

He spent his days learning limudei kodesh, and took up business only so far as it fed his household and no further. Accepting the rabbanut of Kosov, he became within a short time the guide of thousands of chassidim; he and his rebbetzin, Shaina Rachel, stand at the head of the line of Hager rebbes from which Vizhnitz, Seret-Vizhnitz and other courts descend. The tzaddikim of the generation spoke of him in large terms: the Chozeh of Lublin said he was in the category of a king, Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa said his feet burned to go to him, and Rav Yechezkel of Shinova said that at his kever he felt the kedushah he had felt in Eretz Yisrael. When the rebbetzin of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov was niftar, Rav Moshe Leib placed his two children, a son and a daughter, in the hands of his talmid of Kosov to raise and teach; some three months later Rav Moshe Leib himself was niftar.

Among his talmidim were Rav Eliezer Ze’ev of Butchach, Rav Shmuel of Shinova, and Rav Menachem Mendel Stern of Sighet. His son Rav David of Zablotov married Pessia Leah, the daughter of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov who had been raised in his home, and his daughter Sarah Leah married Rav Yechiel Michel Mazal. His Torah was gathered in Ahavat Shalom, with a second collection, Ahavat Shalom Tinyana, printed in Sighet in 5667/1907. He was niftar on 17 Cheshvan 5586 and buried in the beit hakevarot of Kosov; his son Rav Chaim took his place as Rebbe there.