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Rabbi Zusha, of Hanipoli (1718-1800)

Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of Hanipol (Anipoli), Reb Zusha (sometimes spelled Zusya) (1718-1800) was an Orthodox rabbi and one of the great Hassidic Rebbes of the third generation. He was a well known tzaddik and the brother of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk. Rabbi Elimelech was about 5 years older than Rabbi Meshulam Zusha.

Both of them were born in the city of Tarnów - Galicia, to Reb Eliezer Lipa(e), who was the son of the great Torah scholar Rabbi Elimelech (whom Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk was named after). Rabbi Meshulam Zusha was named after the father of his mother, also a great Torah scholar. Both Rabbi Zusha of Hanipol and Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk were prominent disciples of the holy Maggid of Mezeritch, part of his inner circle of students, known as the Chevraya Kadisha ("Holy Brotherhood") together with other great Tzaddikim such as Rabbi Nachum of Czernobyl, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, Rabbi Aharon (HaGadol) of Karlin, Rabbi Shmuel (Shmelke) of Nikolsburg Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, and Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi- founder of ChaBaD Chassidism.
He was known for his deep emotional approach towards prayer and his great piety.

Rabbi Zusha of Hanipol was one of the two Tzaddikim, together with the holy Reb Leib HaKohen, whom the Alter Rebbe of ChaBaD Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi consulted with before printing his magnum opus The Book of Tanya in 1797. Both gave their approval.

In the world to come, I shall not be asked, "Why were you not Moses?" I shall be asked, "Why were you not Zusha?"