7 Tevet · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izhbitza
Rabbi Mordechai Yosef ben Yaakov Leiner of Izhbitza
Yahrzeit - 7 Tevet;
Resting place - Izhbitza;
He is best known for his work "Mei HaShiloach."
Rabbi Mordechai Yosef was born in Tomashov (Poland) in 1801 to his father Reb Yaakov, son of Reb Mordechai of Skula, a descendant of Rabbi Shaul Wahl. At the age of two, he was orphaned. He became a student of Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, where he joined Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk and Rabbi Yosef of Yartzev; both were also born in Tomashov. When Rabbi Menachem Mendel became the Rebbe of Kotzk, Reb Mordechai Yosef became his student there; then in 1839 he himself became Rebbe in Tomashov, and later moved to Izhbitza.
His leading disciple was Rabbi Yehuda Leib Eiger, grandson of Rabbi Akiva Eiger.
Among his students were Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, his son Rabbi Yaakov Leiner, and his grandson Rabbi Gershon Henoch Leiner of Radzyn.
Mordechai Yosef Leiner is buried in the Jewish cemetery in Izhbitza.
Rabbi Leiner was the right-hand man of the Kotzker Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, who entrusted him with overseeing the chassidim. In 1840, Leiner had a public and dramatic falling-out with the Kotzker Rebbe. The day after Simchat Torah of that same year, Leiner left Kotzk with many of his followers to form his own chassidic circle.
Rabbi Leiner is best known for his work "Mei HaShiloach" ("מי השילוח"), a popular collection of his teachings on the weekly Torah portion and Jewish holidays, published by his grandson, Rabbi Gershon Leiner, and usually printed in two volumes. It has been translated into English twice.
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
(https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/905-Rabbi-Mordechai-Yosef-Leiner)