Menachem Mendel Explained

Menachem Mendel (Menahem Mendl) is a masculine Jewish first name. The name is sometimes used as either just Menachem or just Mendel. Menachem means to console or comfort, Mendel is a diminutive of Menachem. In 2005, Menachem was the 79th most popular name for boys, and the 38th most popular for white boys, born in New York City,^[1] and 971st most popular name for boys born in the USA.^[2]

Notable people with this name include:

• Menachem Mendel Krochmal of Nikolsburg (c. 1600  - 1660), known as the "Tzemach Tzedek"
• Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (c.1730  - c.1787), early leader of Hasidic Judaism and primary disciple of Dovber of Mezeritch, also known as "Menachem Mendel of Horodok".
• Menachem Mendel of Rimanov (1745  - 1815), Torah scholar and student of Elimelech of Lizhensk
• Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787  - 1859), Hassidic Rebbe, and student of Simcha Bunim of Peshischa
• Menachem Mendil Hager, the first Vizhnitzer Rebbe, also known as the "Tzemach Tzadik"
• Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (1789  - 1866), the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, also known as the "New Tzemach Tzedek", or the "Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch"
• Menahem Mendel Beilis (1874 - 1934) who was wrongly accused of ritual murder
• Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902  - 1994), the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe

Fictional characters

• Menahem-Mendl, Sholem Aleichem's character from a series of tales collected into books

Notes and References

1. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/press06/pr096-06-babynames.pdf DOHMH Bureau of Vital Statistics
2. http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/popularnames.cgi Social Security Administration