משה לייב מסאסוב

Rav Moshe Yehudah Leib Erblich of Sassov (c. 5505/1745–4 Shevat 5567/1807), the Sassover Rebbe, was an admor of the third and fourth generations of the chassidic movement, rebbe of thousands of chassidim and one of the great spreaders of Chassidut in Galicia. His father, Rav Yaakov of Brody, stood among the misnagdim; the son nonetheless found his way into the heart of the movement, learning for thirteen years under Rav Shmelke of Nikolsburg, who himself brought him to learn under the Maggid of Mezritch, and learning as well under Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk. He stood in the generation of the Chozeh of Lublin, the Kozhnitzer Maggid, and Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.

After a period in Apta he settled in Sassov in Galicia, where his court drew many followers and became an important chassidic center; his work in Apta and Sassov did much for the spread of Chassidut in Poland, and above all in Galicia. Among his talmidim were Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Ziditchov, Rav Menachem Mendel of Kosov, Rav Yaakov Yitzchak of Peshischa — the Yid HaKadosh — Rav Meir of Premishlan, Rav Yissachar Dov of Radoshitz, and Rav Avraham David of Butchatch.

Above all he is remembered for the ahavat Yisrael that burned in him. “One who cannot draw the pus from the wound of a Jewish child sick with the plague,” he said, “has not yet reached half the level of ahavat Yisrael”; and he told that he learned ahavat Yisrael from a gentile in a tavern, who asked his fellow whether he truly loved him — “How can you say you love me, if you do not know what I lack?” He married off a poor couple at his own expense, and hearing the musicians, said: “May it be that on the day of my passing these players accompany me to my grave.” Years later, chassidim tell, that band was riding to a wedding when their horses bolted and could not be stopped — until they came upon a levaya, which proved to be the Sassover’s own; the musicians remembered his words and played. Agnon brought the story in Hachnasat Kallah.

His Torah notes were printed in the kuntresim Likutei Ramal and Torat HaRamal, and in the three volumes of Chiddushei HaRamal, published by a descendant, Rav Nechemiah Shapira, in 5681/1921 — chiddushim on several masechtot of Shas together with his maamarim on the Torah and his hanhagot. He was niftar on 4 Shevat 5567/1807 and buried in Sassov; his father, niftar four years after him, was laid at his side, and chassidim of the surrounding towns would go up to daven at his kever each year on the yahrtzeit. His son Rav Yekusiel Shmuel Shmelke, named for his father’s rebbi Rav Shmelke of Nikolsburg, succeeded him as rebbe of Sassov.