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20 Nisan · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Yechezkel Panet of Karlsburg - the "Mareh Yechezkel"

Rabbi Yechezkel ben Yosef Panet of Karlsburg (1783–1845), author of "Mareh Yechezkel". Yahrzeit - 20 Nissan Resting Place - Karlsburg   Rabbi Yechezkel Panet was born in the town of Biala in Silesia to Rabbi Yosef and Breindel in 1783. He studied in Leipnik under Rabbi Baruch Frankel-Teomim (the "Baruch Ta'am"), in Prague under Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fischels, Rabbi Shmuel Landau, and Rabbi Elazar Fleckeles, and at the Kloiz of Lintschütz with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Rabin, the rabbi of Lintschütz and father of Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz. He learned the ways of Chassidus from the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, and from Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, his foremost rebbe. He was appointed rabbi of Ustrik in Galicia, later rabbi of Tarcal in Hungary, and eventually began his most famous role as rabbi of Karlsburg and Transylvania. Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, founder of the Sanz Chassidic dynasty, together with his followers, studied a discourse explaining the foundations of the Chassidic movement. After his marriage he moved to Galicia, where he grew close to Rabbi Mendel. It is known that he wrote a letter to his father in which he explained the essence of Chassidus and described his teacher, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov. This letter, which has been reprinted many times, is one of the most significant documents in the history of Chassidus. Rabbi Yechezkel Panet was appointed rabbi of Ustrzyki Dolne, and later he took up the rabbinate of Tarcal in Hungary. In 1823 he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Karlsburg and all of Transylvania. Rabbi Yechezkel is considered the spiritual father of Transylvanian Jewry, which before his arrival had been a spiritual wasteland. He brought in teachers and shochtim and established mikvaot in various towns. In 1832 his position as Chief Rabbi of Transylvania was officially recognized by the government, and he was granted authority to adjudicate monetary claims. He was the father of the Chassidic movement in Transylvania. The first printed book of the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov is "Menachem Tzion" (Chernovtsy, 1851), containing Chassidic discourses that Rabbi Yechezkel heard from his holy teacher. His sons were students of the Chatam Sofer, though they followed Chassidic customs. His eldest son, Rabbi Chaim Betzalel Panet, was rabbi of Tasnad (1803–1874), and his second son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Panet, was rabbi of Dej (Deish) (1818–1884), founder of the Dej (Deish) Chassidic dynasty. Works "Mishmeret Yechezkel," "Mishmeret Yechezkel" on Tractate Chullin, "Mishmeret Yechezkel" on the Torah, "She'erit Tzion," "She'erit Tzion," "Igeret Kodesh."   In the photo - a letter of acceptance (Ktav Kabbalah) of a new shochet in the Karlsburg community, signed by four of its rabbis. Kislev 1833. Below it, another letter of acceptance with seven signatures, headed by the signature of the city and region's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi "Yechezkel Panet." Karlsburg, Nissan 1834. The entire document was written by the "Mareh Yechezkel." May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael! (https://www.kedem-auctions.com/en/content/letter-acceptance-new-shochet-carlsberg-community-handwritten-and-signed-rebbe-yechezkel)