Noam Elimelech by Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk: what it is and its publication
Noam Elimelech (נועם אלימלך), “The Sweetness of Elimelech,” is a classic work containing the teachings of the great Hasidic master Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and many key aspects of Hasidic ideology.
Quick facts
| Title | Noam Elimelech |
| Master | Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk |
| Editor | His son, Rabbi Elazar |
| Composition | 1786 (according to Sefaria) |
| First printing | Lemberg, Galicia, 1787 (according to Sefaria) |
How the book came to be
It was not authored by him directly but is based on written recordings of his lectures by his students. These were compiled by his son Elazar and published a year after his passing, at the request of his father, who did not want them released in his lifetime for undisclosed reasons.
The stars
The book has asterisks placed in seemingly random places within the text. Tradition has it that these were placed by the author intentionally and contain some meaning; they are therefore included in almost all printed editions.
Frequently asked questions
Did Rabbi Elimelech write it?
Not directly: his students recorded his lectures and his son Elazar compiled them.
What are the stars in the text?
Asterisks that, according to tradition, the author placed intentionally and that carry some meaning.
Sources
- Noam Elimelekh, entry on Sefaria