Elimelech Szapira

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Elimelech Szapira
Grodzhisker Rebbe
Term	1849 – 1892
Full name	Elimelech Szapira
Main work	Imrei Elimelekh
Born	c. 1823
Died	29 March, 1892 (1 Nisan 5652)
Dynasty	Grodzhisk
Successor	Yisroel Szapira of Grodzhisk Myer Yechiel Halsztuk, ABD Ostrovtse Klonimus Kalman Szapira of Piasetzno
Father	The Sorof of Mogelnica
Mother	Gitl Wajsblum (granddaughter of Noam Elimelech)
Wife1	Chaya Masza Rabinowicz
Issue1	Soro Devoiro Yerachmiel Chayim Myer Yechiel
Wife 2	Chana Brocho Szternfeld
Issue 2	Yeshayo Szapira Klonimus Kalman Szapira

Rabbi Elimelech Szapira of Grodzhisk (1823–1892) was the leading Hasidic rebbe of his time in Poland. He was a chosid (follower) of the Rizhiner Rebbe. After the death of his father, the Sorof of Mogelnica, he assumed leadership of the chasidim, who eventually numbered ten thousand.

His sons-in-law were the Kozhnitser Rebbe and Rebbe Osher the Second of Stolin-Karlin.

When he died, his surviving sons were aged two and three, the sons from his first marriage having predeceased him. Some of the chasidim waited for the sons to grow up; one eventually became the Piasetzner Rov. Other chasidim chose a grandson, Rabbi Yisroel Szapira as their next leader. A third group, including many learned rabbis, followed the scholarly Ostrovtser Rov.