Shmelke of Nikolsburg

Shmuel Shmelke HaLevi Horowitz of Nikolsburg also known as the Rebbe Reb Shmelke was an early Hasidic master and kabbalist, who is amongst the most important figures of early Polish Hasidism. A leading disciple of Dov Ber of Mezeritch, he held rabbinic positions in Rychwal and Sieniawa, where he successfully introduced Hasidic Judaism to the region. From 1773 to 1778, he served as the Chief Rabbi of Moravia, basing himself in the town of Nikolsburg (Mikulov), where he introduced Hasidic philosophy to the chagrin of the city's conservative Misnagdic population. Despite efforts to depose him from his office, he was nevertheless mostly successful in introducing Hasidic Judaism to Moravia. He is the progenitor of the Nikolsburg Hasidic dynasties which includes Boston Hasidism.