אשר מסטולין

Rabbi Asher Perlow of Stolin (5520/1759 – 26 Tishrei 5587/1826), called der Groyser Rebbe Asher and Rabbi Asher HaZaken, was the son of Rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin and the third rebbe of the Karlin dynasty, and the founder of its Stolin branch. He was born in Karlin to Leah and Rabbi Aharon, and was orphaned of his father at twelve; he was raised by his father’s talmid and successor, Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin. When Rabbi Shlomo was niftar in Tammuz 5552 most of the chassidim turned to him. He served first in Karlin, his father’s city, and later, because the chassidim there were hindered from growing their peyot, established his court in Stolin.

After his rebbi’s passing he traveled a great deal with his companion Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitch to Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh, and also to Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz, to the Ohev Yisrael of Apta and to the Maggid of Kozhnitz, who made the match between him and his wife Feiga; after that marriage he lived for a time in Kozhnitz and Zelechow. In 5559 he was arrested by the Russian government on an informer’s word together with Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi and Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitch, and was released in Kislev of that year.

He encouraged his chassidim to go up to Eretz Yisrael and worked to raise funds for them, keeping contact with Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk, one of the heads of the chassidic aliyah. He stood out particularly in the fervor of his tefillot; having a pleasant voice he often served as shaliach tzibbur, and the Maggid of Stepan said of him that when Mashiach comes with the seven shepherds they will honor Rabbi Asher of Stolin to daven before the amud. He led his community thirty-five years until he was niftar in Karlin, where he was buried. His son Rabbi Aharon filled his place as the fourth rebbe of the dynasty.