Rabbi Shimon Maryles (Hebrew: רבי שמעון מרילס) (1758–1849) from Jarosław (Yiddish: Yeruslav), also known as Rabbi Shimon Yerslover, was the founder of Yeruslav Hasidism (Hebrew: חסידות ירוסלב).
Biography
Maryles was born in Łuków, to his father Rabbi Israel Leib (Elbaum) Likover from Józefów, the son of Rabbi Yaakov Kopel Likover, of Lukov; and his mother Esther Etel Weissblum.
As a child, his father moved to Józefów, leaving Maryles with his grandfather Rabbi Yakov Kopel Likover.
Rabbi Ya'akov Koppel made a living from his inn and a whirlpool managed by employees. He himself sat day and night in Talmudic Study and his name became known in the area as a true scholar and as a generous person. He was opposed to the Hasidic Movement. It is recounted that the Ba'al Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidus, tried to attract Rabbi Ya'akov Kopel to Hasidism but he was unsuccessful. Rabbi Yaakov Koppel was offered various rabbinic positions and he rejected all of them, including the rabbinate proposed to him by the community in Amsterdam. He died on February 22, 1769.
His son Rabbi Israel Leib followed him and strongly opposed Hasidism.
In his youth, Maryles, son of Rabbi Israel Leib, was pursued by his rabbi and cousin the prominent Chozeh MiLublin (his mother was Rabbi Israel Leib's sister) and Rabbi Shimon became Hasidic. As a result, his father was so upset that he told him not to say Kaddish for him with the addition of 'Veyatsmach' as per the custom of Hasidim (Nusach Sefard). He firmly held that it would be better not to say Kaddish at all than to recite that version.
After his marriage, Maryles lived with his wife's family in Jaroslaw.
Teachers
The first of his rebbes was Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk.
When Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, the "Chozeh/Seer of Lublin," began to head the community, Rabbi Shimon joined him, even though Rabbi Elimelech was still alive. He always had viewed the "Chozeh" as the highest authority and saw himself as his devoted follower. At the same time, he also received the authority of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, who lived in close proximity to Jarosław, as instructed by the "Chozeh."
After the death of the Chozeh and of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, in 1825, he traveled extensively to Rabbi Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz, who was one year younger than him, until his death. Then he continued to travel to Rav Naftali's son, Rabbi Menashe, even though he was forty years younger than him. He also traveled to Rabbi who was the assistant of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov and succeeded him after his death, and to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov, who began to lead the community after the passing of the Chozeh. In his old age he would often travel to Rabbi Sholom Rokeach of Belz. It is said that when he once arrived at Rabbi Shalom at the age of ninety, the latter told him that at such an age he should stay at home, but he replied to him "at home, one rots" ("בבית מתעפשים"). He had a place of honor in Belz, and many of his Divrei Torah and stories were preserved by Belz's followers.
He was close to many of the Admorim of his generation and although he lived until ninety-one and was becoming blind, he continued to travel to the admorim, young and old.
Also among his many teachers were: Rabbis Moshe Leib of Sassov, of Peshawarsk, of Premishlan, of Kosov, Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, Shalom of Kaminka and Issachar Dov Av Beit Din of Sokal (father-in-law of Rabbi Sholom Rokeach of Belz).
Rabbinate
After the passing of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, his disciples appointed Rabbi Shimon to a Rebbe without asking him, for fear of being refused.
Good relations existed between him and the rabbis of the city: Rabbi Yehuda Heller-Wallerstein, Rabbi Naphtali Hertz Sharif, and Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, author of "Beer Yitzhak". The "Dayan Hagadol" in the city was Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horwitz, brother of Rabbi author of "Noam Megadim".
He was involved in public affairs in the city, and personally handled the existence of the institutions, such as Mikveh and Kosher slaughter. When they were building the Great Synagogue and held a comprehensive fundraiser, Rabbi Shimon took an active part, despite having his own synagogue (kloyz). He also served as the chairman of the committee of seven members of dignitaries, which was set up on 19 January 1834 to raise funds, so that the poor children could also be exempt from the Austrian army.
His secretary (the gabbai) of Rabbi Shimon was Menachem Mendel (Mendish) Taustein.