Maiden of Ludmir
Encyclopedia
The Maiden of Ludmir, (1805–1888), also known as the "Ludmirer Moyd", was the only female Rebbe
in the history of the Hasidic movement.
Hannah Rachel Verbermacher was born in the early nineteenth century in the shtetl
of Ludmir, Volhynia
region of modern day Ukraine
to Hasidic parents. Her father, Monesh Verbermacher. was a devout Hasid of Rabbi
Mordechai Twerski, known as the "Maggid
of Chernobyl
", as well as a wealthy businessman. He provided an extensive education for his only daughter, which included many fields of Torah study
.
She appears not to have been a remarkable child, but underwent a transformation in her late teens. Declining marriage, she started to fulfill all the commandments, including those not incumbent among women, and increased her Torah study. She gained fame as a scholar and holy woman with powers to perform miracles.
As her fame grew she assumed functions generally reserved for Hasidic Rebbes, such as receiving female audiences and accepting kvitlach
(prayer request notes), and to preside over a Tish (Hasidic celebration)
(the traditional Sabbath meal in the company of one's Hasidim) at which she would offer Torah teachings and pass shirayim (leftovers from a Rebbe's meal), although many accounts say that she did so from behind a screen out of modesty.
However, she remained an anomaly and had to withstand strong opposition from the fiercely traditional Hasidic community, who were made ill at ease by this unusual woman. At some point the pressure for her to refrain from her activities grew strong, and her father asked her to consult with his Rebbe, the Maggid of Chernobyl, on the matter. The Maggid convinced her to discontinue her unusual behavior, and encouraged her to marry and assume the traditional role for Hasidic women.
After the visit to the Rebbe, Hannah Rachel temporarily halted her activities as a Hasidic leader and teacher. She even married, although it is disputed how long the marriage lasted.
Later she moved to the Land of Israel
and settled in Jerusalem. There she attracted a small group of followers. On Shabbat
afternoons, they would come to hear her recite words of Torah, and on Rosh Chodesh
she would accompany them to Rachel's Tomb
for prayer. She died on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, and is buried on the Mount of Olives
.
In recent years, there have been some who have raised awareness about her life, and small numbers have begun visiting her grave to recite prayers.
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
in the history of the Hasidic movement.
Hannah Rachel Verbermacher was born in the early nineteenth century in the shtetl
Shtetl
A shtetl was typically a small town with a large Jewish population in Central and Eastern Europe until The Holocaust. Shtetls were mainly found in the areas which constituted the 19th century Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire, the Congress Kingdom of Poland, Galicia and Romania...
of Ludmir, Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
region of modern day Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
to Hasidic parents. Her father, Monesh Verbermacher. was a devout Hasid of Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Mordechai Twerski, known as the "Maggid
Maggid
Maggid , sometimes spelled as magid, is a traditional Eastern European Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories. A preacher of the more scholarly sort was called a "darshan", and usually occupied the official position of rabbi...
of Chernobyl
Chernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)
Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a...
", as well as a wealthy businessman. He provided an extensive education for his only daughter, which included many fields of Torah study
Torah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
.
She appears not to have been a remarkable child, but underwent a transformation in her late teens. Declining marriage, she started to fulfill all the commandments, including those not incumbent among women, and increased her Torah study. She gained fame as a scholar and holy woman with powers to perform miracles.
As her fame grew she assumed functions generally reserved for Hasidic Rebbes, such as receiving female audiences and accepting kvitlach
Kvitel
Kvitel refers to a practice developed by Hasidic Judaism in which a Hasid writes a note with a petitionary prayer and gives it to a Rebbe in order to receive the latter's blessing...
(prayer request notes), and to preside over a Tish (Hasidic celebration)
Tish
Tish may refer to:* Tish , a Hasidic gathering of Hassidim around their Rebbe* Tish Jones, a recurring fictional character in the television series Doctor Who...
(the traditional Sabbath meal in the company of one's Hasidim) at which she would offer Torah teachings and pass shirayim (leftovers from a Rebbe's meal), although many accounts say that she did so from behind a screen out of modesty.
However, she remained an anomaly and had to withstand strong opposition from the fiercely traditional Hasidic community, who were made ill at ease by this unusual woman. At some point the pressure for her to refrain from her activities grew strong, and her father asked her to consult with his Rebbe, the Maggid of Chernobyl, on the matter. The Maggid convinced her to discontinue her unusual behavior, and encouraged her to marry and assume the traditional role for Hasidic women.
After the visit to the Rebbe, Hannah Rachel temporarily halted her activities as a Hasidic leader and teacher. She even married, although it is disputed how long the marriage lasted.
Later she moved to the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
and settled in Jerusalem. There she attracted a small group of followers. On Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
afternoons, they would come to hear her recite words of Torah, and on Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
she would accompany them to Rachel's Tomb
Rachel's Tomb
Rachel's Tomb , also known as the Dome of Rachel, , is an ancient structure believed to be the burial place of the biblical matriarch Rachel. It is located on the outskirts of Bethlehem, a Palestinian city just south of Jerusalem, in the West Bank...
for prayer. She died on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, and is buried on the Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
.
In recent years, there have been some who have raised awareness about her life, and small numbers have begun visiting her grave to recite prayers.