1 Shevat · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Nosson Nota of Chelm
Rabbi Nosson Nota ben Avraham of Chelm (1812) - a disciple of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk and Rabbi Mordechai of Neshviz - author of Neta Shaashuim.
Yahrzeit - 1 Shevat
Burial place - Chelm, Poland
Rebbe Nosson Nota Broide differed from other Chassidic rebbes of his generation. At that time, the position of Chassidic rabbi was mostly passed down by inheritance. The Rebbe, Reb Nota, was an exception in that he was not the son of a Rebbe, yet he became a Chassidic rebbe himself. He left behind a Chassidic dynasty of his own that continued along the path of Chassidus. His descendants also went on to lead the Lelov and Boston Chassidim.
Rabbi Nota's father was Rabbi Avraham, son of Rabbi Aharon. The family was descended from Rav Shaul Wahl, known for having been King of Poland for a single day. Reb Nota was a chassid of Rabbi Baruch of Medzhibuzh and Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, as well as the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin. In particular, he was close to Rav Mordechai of Neshviz. Reb Nota Chelmer, as he was called, was regarded as a hidden tzadik who preferred not to reveal himself until Rav Mordechai of Neshviz asked him to do so.
It is not known exactly when Reb Nota was born, but it is known that he passed away on 1 Shevat, 1812.
Many Chassidic stories are told about the village of Chelm. It is fitting to tell the story of the Chelmer Rebbe, Reb Nota. Here is what the Chassidim say about how Reb Nota became a Rebbe.
In his youth, Reb Nota worked as a melamed (children's teacher) for a leaseholder in a village near Włodawa. He taught Hebrew to the leaseholder's grandchildren; the leaseholder was the overseer of the estate's forest. Reb Nota spent his days teaching the children, and at night his duty was to go into the forest and make sure the peasants did not steal wood from it. When the village peasants found out who the new watchman was, they laughed heartily and said, "We'll have no trouble with a 'little Jew' like him as watchman."
On the very first night that the melamed stood watch, the peasants came into the forest and immediately began cutting down trees. The Chassidic legend continues that as soon as they set to work, the peasants heard a mournful cry echoing through the entire forest. They went to find the source of the weeping, but everything in the forest grew dark, and the crying seemed to come from every direction. They wandered through the forest until at last they came upon a cave, from which a clear light was shining, and from within they heard weeping that tore at their hearts. Inside the cave they saw Reb Nota lying on the ground, praying and in mourning. The peasants stood in astonishment at his prayers over the destruction of the Temple. Soon they too were weeping over Reb Nota's grief for the exile, until dawn broke and they had to return to their work on the lord's estate. The peasants were so moved by Reb Nota's heartfelt lament that they could no longer bring themselves to steal wood from the forest.
The leaseholder's wife began watching Reb Nota's ways, until one Friday night she saw a light shining from the room where Reb Nota slept and heard a wondrous song, like that sung by angels. She told her husband, the leaseholder, what the villagers were saying about their melamed, and what she herself had seen on Friday night.
Reb Nota's reputation as a tzadik (righteous man) spread throughout the region. Reb Nota himself learned what was being said about him in the village and went to Rav Mordechai of Neshviz, explaining that since his holy powers were now known, he wished to flee the area. Rav Mordechai of Neshviz told him that it had been destined that he become a leader and a strong protector of the Jewish people whenever necessary.
For some time, Reb Nota remained the leaseholder's melamed, teaching the boys by day and studying and praying in the cave in the forest by night, until he became known first in Włodawa and then in Chelm, and became a Rebbe with thousands of Chassidim. Most remarkably, even after becoming a Rebbe, Reb Nota continued to travel to other rebbes to draw inspiration.
Reb Nota's sons were Rabbi Aharon and Rabbi Tzvi. His daughter Malka married Tzvi, the son of the Chozeh of Lublin.
For decades after his passing, Reb Nota's teachings remained unpublished. Some of them were destroyed in a fire in Chelm. Only a single manuscript survived. Rabbi Shlomo Leib of Lenczna, who succeeded Reb Nota, passed it on to his grandson, who in turn passed it on to Rabbi Nechemia, Reb Nota's grandson, who published it under the title Neta Shaashuim in 1891.