My Jewish Ancestors At Hasidic Movements

Recently I discovered at my family links to my Jewish ancestors which all of them were Chassidic so they made some search and discovered that my father side family were and are associated in several Hasidic movements: Biala, Zvhil, Munkacs and my mother side family Chabad. I made some research. I do like all three from my father side family however I simple can’t like Chabad because of many controversies.

Biala

Lineage

The Biala dynasty is part of the Prshiskhe dynasty whose first rebbe was Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok (the Holy Jew) of Prshiskhe, a disciple of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin (the Seer of Lublin). The Seer was a disciple of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, who was a disciple of Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch (the Maggid of Mezritch), the leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.

  • Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz of Prshiskhe, the “Holy Jew” (1766–1813), disciple of Rebbe Dovid of Lelów and the Seer of Lublin.
    • Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi Rabinowicz of Prshiskhe (died 1831), son of the Holy Jew.
      • Grand Rabbi Noson Dovid Rabinowicz of Shidlovtza (d. 7 Marcheshvan 1865), son of Rebbe Yerachmiel Tsvi
        • Grand Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Rabinowicz of Biala the author of Divrei Binah (d. 1905), youngest son of Rebbe Noson Dovid, son-in-law of Rebbe Yehoshua of Ostrova, author of Toldos Odom.
          • Grand Rabbi Noson Dovid Rabinowicz of Parczew (1866–1930), son of the Divrei Binah
          • Grand Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yehudo Rabinowicz of Mezritsh(1868–1942), son of the Divrei Binah
          • Grand Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Heshl Rabinowicz of Chelmand Lublin (1875–1932), author of Yeshuos Avrohom, son of the Divrei Binah
          • Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi Rabinowicz of Biala-Shedlitz (1878- 7 Marcheshvan 1906), son of the Divrei Binah
            • Grand Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowicz (1899–1947) Biala Rebbe of London, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel
              • Rabbi Dr. Tzvi (Harry) Rabinowicz, (did not become Rebbe, although authored several books in English on Hasidism) son of Rabbi Nosson Dovid
            • Grand Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowicz Biala Rebbe of Jerusalem (1900–1981)[citation needed], author of Chelkas Yehoshua and Seder HaYom.
              • Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi Yehudah Rabinowicz(1923–2003) Biala-Prshiskhe Rebbe of Har Nof, Jerusalem, eldest son of Rebbe Yechiel Yehoshua.
                • Grand Rabbi Elimelech Rabinowicz, Biala Prshiskhe Rebbe of Haifa, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi
                • Rabbi Simchah Ben Zion Yitzchok Rabinowicz, of Ramat Shlomo, author of Piskei Tshuvos, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi
                • Grand Rabbi Baruch Leib RabinowitzPrshiskhe Rebbe of London, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi
                • Grand Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Menachem Mendel Rabinowicz, Biala-Prshiskhe Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi
                • Grand Rabbi Pinchas Rabinowicz, Prshiskhe Rebbe of Sanhedria section of Jerusalem, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi
                • Grand Rabbi Rabinowicz, Prshiskhe Rebbe of Bnei Brak
                • Rabbi M. Rabinowicz, Biala-Prshiskhe Rav of Har Nof, son of Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi
              • Grand Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu(Reb “Duv’tche”) Rabinowicz(1928–1997), author of Lehavas Dovid, Biala Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of Rebbe Yechiel Yehoshua. He was mine 10th great granduncle 3 times removed.
                • Grand Rabbi Wolf Kornreich, Shidlovtze Rebbe of Jerusalem, son-in-law of Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu
                • Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowicz, Biala Rav of Bnei Brak, son of Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu
                • Grand Rabbi Yaakov Menachem Rabinowicz, Present Biala Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu
                • Grand Rabbi Avrohom Rabinowicz, the Biala-Ostrover Rebbe in Jerusalem, son of Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu
                • Grand Rabbi Yermiah Rabinowicz, Biala-Lentshner Rebbe of Beit Shemeshson of Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu
                • Grand Rabbi Aharon Shlomo Chaim Eleazar Rabinowicz, Biala Rebbe of America, in the Boro Parksection of Brooklyn, NY, son of Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu. He was mine 10th great granduncle 3 times removed.
              • Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Rabinowicz, (d. 2010) the previous Biala Rebbe of Ramat Aharon, son of Rebbe Yechiel Yehoshua.
                • Grand Rabbi Tzvi Rabinowicz, the present Biala Rebbe of Ramat Aharon, son of Rebbe Yaakov Yitzchok
                • Rabbi Baruch Rabinowicz son of Rebbe Yaakov Yitzchok
              • Grand Rabbi Betzalel Simchah Menachem Ben-Zion Rabinowicz, author of Mevaser Tov, the present Biala Rebbe of Jerusalem and Lugano, Switzerland; and the Chief Rabbi of Lugano, Switzerland, son of Rebbe Yechiel Yehoshua.

Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowicz, the Chelkas Yehoshua

Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua was but six years old when his father, the Rebbe of Siedlce, died as a young man. The Hasidim, bereft of their rebbe, mostly became followers of their late rebbe’s brother, the Mezritsher Rebbe. It was he who educated his young nephew Yechiel Yehoshua in the ways of Torah and Hasidus.

In 1924 the surviving Shedlitser Hasidim accepted Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua as their rebbe. In time his name spread over Poland and the numbers of his Hasidim grew.

With the outbreak of World War II, the Germans overran Poland. Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua managed to escape to the Russian-controlled zone, from which he was exiled to Siberia. Jews who survived the Siberian work camps testified that the Rebbe was the one who kept their spirit alive.

In 1947 he was able to emigrate to Mandatory Palestineand settled in Tel Aviv. He was in the forefront of activity to maintain adherence to traditional Judaism amongst the masses. He was one of the founders of the Chinuch Atzmai educational network, and he served on the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.

He died on the 21st of Shvat 1982 and was buried in the Polish admorim section on the Mount of Olives.[1]

The next generation

Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi Yehudah Rabinowicz of Biala-Peshischa

Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi Yehudah Rabinowicz was known as the Biala-Peshischa Rebbe (1923–2003). Born in 1923, he was the first-born son of the previous Biala Rebbe, known as the Chelkas Yehoshua. He became Rebbe after his father died in 1982 and opened his yeshiva in the Har Nof section of Jerusalem. [1] He was succeeded by his sons.

Following the death of Yerachmiel Tzvi, one of his sons, Rabbi M. Rabinowicz, became Biala-Prshiskhe Rav of Har Nof.

His eldest son, Rabbi Elimelech Rabinowicz, became the Biala Prshiskhe Rebbe of Haifa.

One of his sons is Rabbi Simchah Ben Zion Isaac Rabinowicz, the author of Piskei Tshuvos, a popular commentary on the Jewish legal classic Mishneh Brurah.

Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu Rabinowicz of BialA – Bnei Brak

Rabbi David Matisyahu Rabinowicz was Biala Rebbe in Bnei Brak, Israel. He authored Lehavas Dovid. He was well known for his warm prayers and his self-sacrifice for serving God. He travelled around the world to spread Hassidic teachings. He was commissioned by his father to open yeshivos around the Holy Land. His father called him “nekudas libi”, the “focus of my heart”. He died in 1997.

Rabbi Dovid Matisyahu of Biala had two daughters from his first wife, the daughter of Rabbi Shedrowitzsky, who died at a young age, and five sons from his second wife, the daughter of Rabbi Berkowitz, who survives him and presently resides in Bnei Brak. One of his sons-in-law and four of his sons succeeded him as Rebbe.

  • His oldest daughter (Rebbetzin Devorah) married Rabbi Yehudah Zev Wolf Kornreich, presently the Shidlovtza Rebbe of Jerusalem.
  • His second daughter (Rebbetzin Chavah) married Rabbi Yaakov Hager, son of the Seret Viznitz Rebbe of Haifa.
  • Rabbi David Matisyahu’s oldest son, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowicz, Biala Rav of Bnei Brak.
  • His second son is Rabbi Yaakov Menachem Rabinowicz, the Biala Rebbe of Bnei Brak. (He is the son-in-law of the late Kretshnifer Rebbe of Jerusalem.)
  • His third son is Rabbi Avraham Rabinowicz, the Biala-Ostrover Rebbe of Jerusalem.
  • His fourth son is Rabbi Yermiah Rabinowicz, the Biala-Lentshne Rebbe of Beth Shemesh.
  • His fifth son is Rabbi Aaron Shlomo Chaim Eleazar Rabinowicz, the Biala Rebbe of America.

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz of Biala-Ramat Aharon

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz, was the son of Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowicz of Biala. He was the Biala Rebbe of the Ramat Aharon section of Bnei Brak, Israel. He died in 2010 and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Tzvi Rabinowicz, the present Biala Rebbe of Ramat Aharon.

Rabbi Ben Zion Rabinowicz of Biala

Rabbi Ben-Zion Rabinowicz of Biala was born in Polandon January 30, 1935 – 26th Shevat 5695. He is the youngest son of Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua of Biala. During the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, his father who was not yet the Rebbe, was caught whilst trying to escape to his brother in London and was sent to Siberiaby the Russians. The young Ben-zion and his sister escaped with many other children across Europe eastwards into Russia and then down into Iran (Persia).

They were eventually brought to the Holy Land by Zionists, who were saving Jewish children from starvation and disease in Iran, and bringing them to the Holy Land. The Ponevezher Rov — Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman — heard that there were some special children in this group from Poland, descended from famous Rebbes. He removed the young Rebbe-to-be and his sister from the care of the secular Zionists. After the war their father made it to Palestine and was reunited with his children. Rabbi Ben Zion married Rebetzin Beila Brocho Babad, daughter of Rabbi Avrohom Moshe Babad, ABD Sunderland. He learned in the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak, and in the Gateshead Kolel in England.

He became Rabbi of Lugano, Switzerland, in 1980. He became Rebbe in 1981 upon the death of his father, as did his brothers. His first wife died in 1995, and in 1998 the Rebbe remarried the widow Rebbetzin Steinwurtzel, the mother-in-law of the present Karlin-Stolin Rebbe. In addition to his position as the Rabbi of Lugano, Switzerland, the Rebbe also spends much time in Jerusalem and Safed in Israel, where he has synagogues.

In Safed the Rebbe began a congregation in the old Kosover Synagogue. He does a lot of work helping to teach unaffiliated Jews learn about their Jewish heritage.

The Rebbe Shlita is the author of an extensive body of Torah literature, including both Hasidic discourses and Talmudic commentaries, of which over thirty volumes have been published in Hebrew. These include the Rebbe’s own works, Mevaser Tov, as well as compete seforim and maamarim that appear in the numerous works of published literature from the entire house of Biala. Techias HaMeisim is the third book by the Rebbe to have been translated into English, alongside The Merit of the Righteous Women and The Reward of the Righteous Women.[2]

Successors of Rebbe Dovid Matisyohu

Grand Rabbi Wolf Kornreich of Shidlovtza

Rabbi Yehudah Wolf Kornreich – the Shidlovtze Rebbe of Jerusalem

Grand Rabbi Wolf Kornreich of Shidlovtze is the son-in-law of Grand Rabbi David Mattisyahu Rabinowitz of Biala. He was very close with Grand Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowitz of Biala. He has a growing following in Jerusalem.

He found the lost tomb of Grand Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowitz of Shidlovtze and commissioned the building of a new ohel which now marks the grave.

Rabbi Yaakov Menachem Rabinowicz, current Biala Rebbe of Bnei Brak

After the death of his father, Rabbi Dovid Matisyohu, Rabbi Yaakov Menachem Rabinovich was prevailed upon by his father’s students and adherents to take upon himself the responsibility of guiding the followers of his late father. As he was a prominent Talmid Chochom [Torah scholar] and experienced counselor, even while his father was alive, the Biala Chasidim promoted him as the most worthy to continue onward the legacy of his father and grandfather. Already active in outreach programs for others in the USA who lack understanding and knowledge of their Jewish roots and traditions, he has already made a name for himself in many Jewish communities in the US where his yearly visits are attended by hundreds who seek his blessing, counsel and advice.

Rabbi Avraham Yerachmiel Rabinowicz, the Ostrova-Bialer Rebbe, in his synagogue in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem, October 11, 2006.

Rabbi Avraham Rabinowicz – Ostrova-Bialer Rebbe

Grand Rabbi Avraham Yerachmiel Rabinowicz, Shlita, son of Grand Rabbi Dovid Matisyohu and direct descendent of the Yid Ha Kadosh. The Rebbe is dedicated to the strengthening and growth of every person he meets. His synagogue is a place of meeting for every kind of person in Givat Shaul and beyond. He is recognized as a miracle worker and Talmid Chacham.

The Rebbe is known for his generosity, kindness and love for peace and humanity. By looking at every Jew with an open and accepting heart, he has been able to touch the lives of thousands of Jews. Countless people, ranging from simple beggars to high-ranking Army and government officials, visit the Rebbe on a daily basis in his headquarters in Jerusalem to seek his guidance and blessings.

The Rebbe runs a very active yeshiva, where students come to learn at all hours of the day and night about Judaism, Torah, Israel, and much more. Through the yeshiva, the Rebbe supports over 100 families with food, Jewish education, emotional support, guidance, and counseling. The yeshiva also serves as a full service synagogue with daily prayers, Shabbat and holiday services.

The Rebbe has been often called “the miracle worker” because of his gift of successful spiritual advice, blessings, and the high level of prayer he provides for everybody who comes to see him. The Rebbe sees the essence of every Jew with purity and love. He emphasizes kindness, warmth, and goodness towards one another as the essence of Judaism and Torah.

There are countless stories of the Rebbe making miracles for those who have come to see him. Having defied all medical and scientific odds, sick people who were told by their surgeons and physicians that they had no chance of living were miraculously cured after seeing the Rebbe and taking his advice. People seeking blessings in business and ‘parnasa’ have seen wondrous changes in their financial success after seeking and following the Rebbe’s guidance. Couples having troubles in their relationships and singles seeking their soul-mates have been blessed with peaceful and fruitful homes for them and their families. Barren and infertile women have been granted children as a result of the Rebbe’s prayers. And those seeking spiritual guidance and Torah knowledge have reached the peaks of holiness thanks to the Rebbe’s teachings.

The Rebbe’s life is dedicated to the service of the Jewish people. He lives a very humble life with his wife and children in a small apartment in Jerusalem and uses all the funds he raises to support his community. Many people only have food and a bed to sleep in as a result of the Rebbe’s fund raising activities. [2]

The Biala Rebbe of America on Hannukah

Rabbi Aaron Rabinowitz – Biala Rebbe of America

Grand Rabbi Aaron Shlomo Chaim Eleazar Rabinowicz, the Bialer Rebbe of America, was born in Bnei Brak. He is the son-in-law of the Dezher Rebbe of Boro Park. His chasidic court is located in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, NY. He was appointed by his father to be the Biala Rebbe in America after his father’s death. He also has two synagogues in Israel, in Beitar and in Jerusalem, and he spends much time there. He has published a biography of his father and grandfather in Yiddish entitled Der Heyliger Rebbi fun Biala: Tiferes Avos. He has also re-published several books from the Biala dynasty: Sefer Divrei Binah and Yishrei Lev by the first Bialer Rebbe, with indexes and, recently, an English-Hebrew edition of Sefer Seder HaYom by his grandfather, the Chelkas Yehoshua.

The Bialer Rebbe of America has a website.[3]

Main books of Biala Hasidism

The main books of the Biala Hasidus are:

  • Toldos Adam (by Rebbe Yehoshua of Ostrova, the father-in-law of the first Biala Rebbe)
  • Divrei Binah (by the first Biala Rebbe)
  • Aron Eidus (by Rebbe Shraga Yoir of Białobrzegi, the brother of the Divrei Binah)
  • Zichron Mishlei (by Rebbe Meir Shlomo of Mezritch, the son of the Divrei Binah)
  • Yeshuas Avraham (by Rebbe Avrohom Yehoshua Heshl of Lublin, the son of the Divrei Binah)
  • Chelkas Yehoshua and Seder HaYom (by Rebbe Yechiel Yehoshua)
  • Lehavas David’ (by Rebbe Dovid Matisyahu of Biala-Bnei Brak)
  • Mevaser Tov (by Rebbe Ben-Zion of Biala-Lugano)—parts of which have been translated into English

A translation of Seder HaYom into English has recently been published by the Biala Rebbe of America. The version of the prayer-book used by Biala Hasidim is called Siddur Chelkas Yehoshua.

Zvhil is the name of a Hasidic dynasty, with adherents today in Jerusalem, Boston, and New York. The dynasty originated with Rabbi Moshe of Zvhil, the son of Rabbi Yechiel Michl, the “Magid of Zlotshev”. He was also the grandson of Rabbi and Rabbi Aharon of Karlin. As in several inter-related Hasidic dynasties, family tradition held that Rabbi Moshe was a descendant of King David.

Zvhil is the name of a Hasidic dynasty, with adherents today in Jerusalem, Boston, and New York.

The dynasty originated with Rabbi Moshe of Zvhil, the son of Rabbi Yechiel Michl, the “Magid of Zlotshev”. He was also the grandson of Rabbi Yitzchok of Drubitsh and Rabbi Aharon of Karlin. As in several inter-related Hasidic dynasties, family tradition held that Rabbi Moshe was a descendant of King David.

Rabbi Moshe died in 1831 and was succeeded by his son Rabbi Yechiel Michl Goldman of Zvhil. The last rebbe to reside in Zvhil was Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Korff. Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel was also the Tsar-appointed Chief Rabbi of Russia.

The town of Zvhil (Ukrainian: Zvyahel) is located in Volhynia, in present-day Ukraine. Today it is known as Zviahel. The Jewish version of the name, Zvhil, instead of Zvyahel can be attributed to the similarity between Zvhil and Zvul (one of the holy names for the ancient Jewish Temple in Hebrew, pronounced ‘Zvil’ by Ukrainian Jews).

Zvhil is the name of a Hasidic dynasty, with adherents today in Jerusalem, Boston, and New York. The dynasty originated with Rabbi Moshe of Zvhil, the son of Rabbi Yechiel Michl, the “Magid of Zlotshev”. He was also the grandson of Rabbi and Rabbi Aharon of Karlin. As in several inter-related Hasidic dynasties, family tradition held that Rabbi Moshe was a descendant of King David. Rabbi Moshe died in 1831 and was succeeded by his son Rabbi Yechiel Michl Goldman of Zvhil. The last rebbe to reside in Zvhil was Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Korff. Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel was also the Tsar-appointed Chief Rabbi of Ukraine. The town of Zvhil (Ukrainian: Zvyahel) is located in Volhynia, in present-day Ukraine. Today it is known as Novohrad-Volynskyi. The Jewish version of the name, Zvhil, instead of Zvyahel can be attributed to the similarity between Zvhil and Zvul (one of the holy names for the ancient Jewish Temple in Hebrew, pronounced ‘Zvil’ by Ukrainian Jews).

Zvhil is the name of a Hasidic dynasty which originated with Rabbi Moshe of Zvhil, the son of Rabbi Yechiel Michl, the Magid (Preacher) of Zlotshev. He was also the grandson of Rabbi Yitzchok of Drubitsh and Rabbi Aharon of Karlin. As in several inter-related Hasidic dynasties, family tradition held that Rabbi Moshe was a descendant of King David.

Rabbi Moshe died in 1831 and was succeeded by his son Rabbi Yechiel Michl. The last rebbe to reside in Zvhil was Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel. Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel was also the Tsar-appointed Chief Rabbi of the Ukraine.

The town of Zvhil is located in Volhynia, in present-day Ukraine. Today it is known as Novohrad-Volynskyi. The Jewish version of the name, Zvhil, instead of Zvyahel can be attributed to the similarity between Zvhil and “Zvul” (one of the holy names for the ancient Jewish Temple in Hebrew).

Today, there are three Zvhiller Rebbes, who are cousins. One is the Zvhil Mezhbizh Rebbe of Boston, MA, Grand Rabbi Yitzhak Aharon Korff, a descendant of Reb Yechiel Michl. The other two, Rabbi Avraham Goldman in Jerusalem and Rabbi Shlomo Goldman in Union City, New Jersey, are descended from Reb Yechiel Michel’s younger brother, Reb Shlomke of Zvhil.

Lineage The Zvhill-Monsey DynastyRabbi Isaac of Drubitsh (d. 1752)Rabbi Yechiel Michl, the Maggid of Zlotshev (1726-1781), son of Rabbi Isaac. A disciple of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism.Rebbe Moshe of Zvhill, son of Rabbi Yechiel Michl.Rebbe Mechele of Zvhill, son of The Rebbe MosheRebbe Mordechai of Zvhill, son of The Rebbe MecheleRebbe Shlomo “Shlomke” of Zvhill, Jerusalem, son of Rebbe MordechaiRebbe Gedalia Moshe of Zvhill, Jerusalem, son of Rebbe Shlomo.Rebbe Mordechai of Zvhill, Jerusalem, son of Rebbe Gedalia Moshe Rebbe Yosef of Zvhill, Jerusalem, son of Rebbe Mordechai of ZvhillRebbe Yaakov Leib Goldman Shli”ta, Monsey, son of Rebbe Yosef of Zvhill, Jerusalem

Munkacs Munkatch (or Munkacs) Hasidism (חסידות מונקאטש) is a Hasidic sect within Haredi Judaism of mostly HungarianHasidic Jews. It was founded and led by Polish-born Grand RebbeShlomo Spira, who was mine 5th cousin 19 times removed which who was the rabbi of the town of Strzyżów (1858–1882) and Munkacs (1882–1893). Members of the congregation are mainly referred to as Munkacs Hasidim, or Munkatcher Hasidim. It is named after the Hungarian town in which it was established, Munkatsh (in Yiddish; or in Hungarian: Munkács; today: Mukachevo, in Ukraine).

The largest Munkacs community is in Boro Park, Brooklyn; there are also significant Munkacs communities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Monsey, New York; and other communities can be found across North America, in Europe, Israel, and Australia.

Lineage of the Munkacs Chasidic Dynasty

Zvi Elimelech Spira of Dynów
Bnei Yisoschor
Eluzar Spira of Strzyżówand Łańcut
Yodai Binah
Shlomo Spira of Strzyżówand Munkatch
Shem ShlomoZvi Hirsh Spira of Munkatch
Darchei TshuvaChaim Elazar Spira of Munkatch
Minchas Elazar
Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowiczof Munkatch
Moshe Leib Rabinovichof Munkatch
Current Rebbe.

Pre-World War II Munkacs

The Rebbe of Munkatch, Grand Rebbe Chaim Elazar Spira, who led the community from 1913 until his death in 1937, was the most outspoken voice of religious anti-Zionism. He had succeeded his father, Grand Rebbe Zvi Hirsh Spira, who had earlier inherited the mantle of leadership from his father, Grand Rebbe Shlomo Spira. Rabbi Chaim Elazar led his community with unsurpassed dignity, and drew worldwide respect and honor for Munkács. His keen understanding and vast knowledge in Jewish as well as worldly matters drew thousands of people to his home where they sought his advice and blessings. Under his leadership, the Munkács Jewish community grew by leaps and bounds, and at the time of his death in 1937, over half of the town’s inhabitants were Jewish. After his death in May 1937, leaving an only daughter, Frima, he was succeeded as rebbe by his son-in-law, Grand Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinovich, who led the Munkacs dynasty with much success, until the outbreak of World War II. After World War II, Rabbi Baruch resigned as Rebbe.

Munkacs today

Munkacs World Headquarters in Boro Park

After the Holocaust, the Munkatch dynasty and community was re-established in the United States in Brooklyn, New York, and developed a close affinity with the Satmar Hasidim, who also originated from North-Eastern Hungary (namely Szatmár county, hence the name of the dynasty). Currently, the Munkacs dynasty is led by the son of Rabbi Baruch, Grand Rebbe Moshe Leib Rabinovich.

The sect’s main Brooklyn synagogue, which also serves as world headquarters for Munkacs Hasidim, is located in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. The Hasidic group also boasts a plethora of educational and charitable institutions across the United States, Canada, England, Israel, and Australia.

Charitable institutions

The Munkacs Hasidic movement is famous for its many charitable organizations, which were founded by the current Grand Rebbe Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich and his wife, Rebbetzin Perl Rabinovich. The Munkacs Bikur Cholim(“Visiting the sick”), Mazkereth Frima, founded by the Munkacser Rebbetzin in memory of the current Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Frima Rabinovich, is highly respected for helping Jewish people, regardless of affiliation, when they are ill in a hospital, taking care of their needs, such as financial aid for doctors’ bills and other accommodations, both religious and general, as well as the needs of their families who visit them. Munkacs is also very active in the Ukrainian town of Mukachevo, the birthplace of the Hasidic sect, where it helps run and fund synagogues, free kosher soup kitchens, educational and religious programs.

Educational institutions

Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich founded a network of large educational institutions, both yeshivas and girls’ schools, running from pre-school through high school, as well as post-graduate advanced-learning kollels for married men. The girl’s schools are called Bnos Frima, and the yeshivas Tiferes Bunim. Munkacs also operates youth summer camps, Chaim V’Shalom, in the Catskill Mountains during the summer months.

Publishing

Hotzoas EMES (Hebrew acronym for O’hr T’orah M’unkacs) publishes the works of the rebbes of Munkacs, as well as periodicals on news and subjects of interest to the Munkacs Hasidic community. To date, they have published hundreds of works, which are used by Talmudic scholars around the world.

Spiritual lineage from Baal Shem Tov

Dynasty

  • Grand Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dynów, author of B’nei Yisoschor, a disciple of the Seer of Lublin
    • Grand Rabbi Eleazar Spira of Strzyżów and Łańcut, author of Yod’ei Binah, son of the B’nei Yisoschor
      • Grand Rabbi Shlomo Spira of Strzyżów and Munkatch, author of Shem Sh’lomo, son of the Yod’ei Binah

Suggested Reading

Yitsḥak Alfasi, “Rabi Ḥayim El‘azar Shapira mi-Munkatsh,” in Shishim giborim,pp. 132–137 (Jerusalem, 1998/99); Allan Nadler, “The War on Modernity of R. Hayyim Elazar Shapira of Munkacz,” Modern Judaism 14.3 (1994): 233–264; Aviezer Ravitzky, Messianism, Zionism, and Jewish Religious Radicalism, trans. Michael Swirsky and Jonathan Chipman (Chicago, 1996), pp. 40–51; Shmuel ha-Kohen Weingarten, “Ha-Admor mi-Munkatsh, Rabi Ḥayim El‘azar Shapira: Ba‘al teḥushah bikortit,” Shanah be-shanah (1980): 440–449.

Chabad

Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch[2] (Hebrew: חב”ד לובביץ; Yiddish: חב״ד ליובוויטש), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world’s best-known Hasidicmovements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups[3] and Jewish religious organizations in the world. Unlike most Haredigroups, which are self-segregating, Chabad operates mainly in the wider world and caters to secularized Jews.

Founded in 1775 by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the name “Chabad” (חב״ד‎) is an acronym formed from three Hebrew words—Chokhmah, Binah, Da’at (the first three sefirot of the kabbalistic Tree of Life) (חכמה, בינה, דעת‎): “Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge”—which represent the intellectual and kabbalistic underpinnings of the movement.[4][5] The name Lubavitch derives from the town in which the now-dominant line of leaders resided from 1813 to 1915.[6][7] Other, non-Lubavitch scions of Chabad either disappeared or merged into the Lubavitch line. In the 1930s, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, moved the center of the Chabad movement from Russia to Poland. After the outbreak of World War II, he moved the center of the movement to the United States.

In 1951, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson formally accepted the leadership as the seventh Chabad Rebbe. He transformed the movement into one of the most widespread Jewish movements in the world today. Under his leadership, Chabad established a large network of institutions that seek to satisfy religious, social and humanitarian needs across the world.[8] Chabad institutions provide outreach to unaffiliated Jews and humanitarian aid, as well as religious, cultural and educational activities. Prior to his death in 1994, Schneerson was believed by some of his followers to be the Messiah, with his own position on the matter debated among scholars. Messianic ideology in Chabad sparked controversy in various Jewish communities and is still an unresolved matter. Following his death, no successor was appointed as a new central leader.

In 2018, Marcin Wodzińskiestimated that the Chabad movement accounted for 13% of the global Hasidic population. The total number of Chabad households is estimated to be between 16,000 and 17,000.[1] The number of those who sporadically or regularly attend Chabad events is far larger; in 2005 the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs reported that up to one million Jews attend Chabad services at least once a year.[9][10][11] In a 2020 study, the Pew Research Centerfound that 16% of American Jews attend Chabad services regularly or semi-regularly.[12]

History

The Chabad movement was established after the First Partition of Poland in the town of Liozno, Pskov Governorate, Russian Empire (now Liozna, Belarus), in 1775, by Shneur Zalman,[13] a student of Dov Ber of Mezeritch, the successor to Hasidism’s founder, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. The movement was moved to Lyubavichi (Yiddish Lubavitch), today’s Russia, by the second Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Dovber Shneuri, in 1813.[6] The movement was centered in Lyubavichi for a century until the fifth Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Dovber left the village in 1915[7] and moved to the city of Rostov-on-Don. During the interwar period, following Bolshevik persecution, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, under the Sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, was centered in Riga and then in Warsaw. The outbreak of World War II led to the Sixth Rebbe to move to the United States. Since 1940,[13]the movement’s center has been in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.[14][15]

While the movement spawned a number of offshoot groupsthroughout its history, the Chabad-Lubavitch branch is the only one still active, making it the movement’s main surviving line.[16] Historian Jonathan Sarna has characterized Chabad as having enjoyed the fastest rate of growth of any Jewish religious movement in the period 1946–2015.[17]

In the early 1900s, Chabad-Lubavitch legally incorporated itself under Agudas Chasidei Chabad (“Association of Chabad Hasidim”).

Early community histories of Chabad produced by members or former members of the Chabad community include Toldot Amudei HaChabad (Konigsberg, 1876) by Michael Levi Rodkinson and Beit Rebbe (Berdichev, 1902) by Hayim Meir Heilman.[18][19][20]

Controversies

Further information: Category:Chabad-Lubavitch related controversies

Several movement-wide controversies have occurred in Chabad’s 200-year history. Two major leadership succession controversies occurred in the 19th century; one took place in the 1810s following the death of the movement’s founder, the other occurred in the 1860s following the death of the third Rebbe. Two other minor offshoot groups were formed later in the movement’s history. The movement’s other major controversy is Chabad messianism, which began in the 1990s.

Succession disputes and offshoot groups

Main article: Chabad offshoot groups

A number of groups have split from the Chabad movement, forming their own Hasidic groups, and at times positioning themselves as possible successors of previous Chabad rebbes. Following the deaths of the first and third rebbes of Chabad, disputes arose over their succession.

Following the death of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Chabad rebbe, a dispute over his succession led to a break within the movement. While the recognized successor was his oldest son, Rabbi Dovber Schneuri, a student of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Rabbi Aaron HaLeviassumed the title of rebbe, and led a number of followers from the town of Strashelye (forming the Strashelye dynasty). The new group had two rebbes, Rabbi Aaron and his son Rabbi Haim Rephael. The new group eventually disbanded following Rabbi Haim Rephael’s death.[16][158] One of the main points the two rabbis disagreed on was the place of spiritual ecstasy in prayer. R’ Aaron supported the idea while Rabbi Dovber emphasized genuine ecstasy can only be a result of meditative contemplation (hisbonenus). Rabbi Dovber published his arguments on the subject in a compilation titled Kuntres Hispa’alus (“Tract on Ecstasy”).[159]

Following the death of the third Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (the Tzemach Tzedek), a dispute over his succession led to the formation of several Chabad groups. While Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn was recognized as the heir to the Chabad-Lubavitch line, several of his brothers formed groups of their own in the towns of Kopys(forming the Kapust dynasty), Nezhin (forming the Niezhin dynasty), Lyady (forming the Liadi dynasty), and Ovruch (forming the Avrutch dynasty). The lifespan of these groups varied; Niezhin and Avrutch had one rebbe each, Liadi had three rebbes, and Kapust had four. Following the deaths of their last rebbes, these groups eventually disbanded.[160][161][162][163][164]

Two other minor offshoot groups were formed by Chabad Hasidim. The Malachim were formed as a quasi-Hasidic group. The group claims to recognize the teachings of the first four rebbes of Chabad, thus rivaling the later Chabad rebbes. The Malachim’s first and only rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine haCohen(1859/1860–1938), also known as “The Malach” (lit. “the angel”), was a follower of the fourth and fifth rebbes of Chabad.[165][166][167] While Levine’s son chose not to succeed him, the Malachim group continues to maintain a yeshiva and minyan in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Following the death of the seventh Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, an attempt by Shaul Shimon Deutsch to form a breakaway Chabad movement, with Deutsch as “Liozna Rebbe”, failed to gain popular support.[168][169][170][171]

Chabad messianism

Main article: Chabad messianism

A few years prior to Schneerson’s death, some members of the Chabad movement expressed their belief that Menachem Mendel Schneerson is the Jewish messiah. Those subscribing to the beliefs have been termed meshichists(messianists). A typical statement of belief for Chabad messianists is the song and chant known as yechi adoneinu (“long live our master”, Hebrew: יחי אדונינו).[172]Customs vary among messianists as to when the phrase is recited.

Since 1994, most of[173][failed verification] Chabad persists in the belief in Schneerson as the Jewish messiah. Chabad messianists either believe Schneerson will be resurrectedfrom the dead to be revealed as the messiah, or go further and profess the belief that Schneerson never died in 1994 and is waiting to be revealed as messiah. The Chabad messianic phenomenon has been met mostly with public concerns or opposition from non-Chabad Jewish leaders.[174]