Ger is a Polish Hasidic dynasty originating from the town of Góra Kalwaria, Poland, where it was founded by Yitzchak Meir Alter (1798–1866), known as the "Chiddushei HaRim". Ger is a branch of Peshischa Hasidism, as Yitzchak Meir Alter was a leading disciple of Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1765–1827). Before the Holocaust, followers of Ger were estimated to number in excess of 100,000, making it the largest and most influential Hasidic group in Poland. Today, the movement is based in Jerusalem, and its membership is estimated at 11,859 families, as of 2016, most of whom live in Israel, making Ger the largest Hasidic dynasty in Israel. However, there are also well-established Ger communities in the United States and in Europe. In 2019, some 300 families of followers led by Shaul Alter, split off from the dynasty led by his cousin Yaakov Aryeh Alter.
Vizhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager. Vizhnitz is the Yiddish name of Vyzhnytsia, a town in present-day Ukraine.
Nadvorna is a Hasidic rabbinical dynasty deriving its name from the town of Nadvorna, (Nadvirna), today in Ukraine.
Yaakov Aryeh Alter is the eighth, and current, Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he has held since 1996. He lives in Israel, and has followers there and in the United States, Europe, and Canada. He is a member of the Presidium of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel.
Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty which was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by his work as the Meor Einayim. The dynasty is named after the northern Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, where Rabbi Nachum was the maggid. The lineage continues to exist, although not always with the name Chernobyl. Several rebbes are named Chernobyl. The central court is in Bnei Brak, headed by Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky.
Ziditshov is a Hasidic dynasty originating in town Ziditshov, in Galicia. It was founded by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Ziditshov. Today, the few who remain of the Ziditshov dynasty live in Brooklyn, Monticello, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, London, and Israel.
Simcha Bunim Bonhardt of Peshischa also known as the Rebbe Reb Bunim was the second Grand Rabbi of Peshischa as well as one of the key leaders of Hasidic Judaism in Poland. The main disciple of Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz, from 1813 to 1827, he led the Peshischa movement of Hasidic thought, in which he revolutionized 19th-century Hasidic philosophy by juxtaposing the rationalistic pietism of German-Jewry with the spiritual nature of God defined by the Hasidic movement.
Biala is a Hasidic dynasty originating from the city of Biała Rawska, where it was founded by R. Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz (II). Biala is a branch of Peshischa Hasidism, as R. Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz (II) was the great-grandson of R. Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz, the first Peshischa Rebbe. The dynasty was originally spread throughout many towns in Poland, often taking the names of said towns. However, after the Holocaust, the name "Biala" become synonymous with the entire dynasty. Today the dynasty is mostly concentrated in Israel, America and Switzerland.
Dombrov is a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Mordechai Dovid Unger. Dombrov is the Yiddish name of Dąbrowa Tarnowska, a town in present-day Poland.
Izhbitza-Radzin is the name of a dynasty of Hasidic rebbes. The first rebbe of this dynasty was Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner, author of Mei Hashiloach, in the city of Izhbitza. Mordechai Yosef founded his own Hasidic movement in the year 5600 (1839), leaving the court of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk.
Israel Yitzhak Kalish of Warka (Yitzchok of Vurka) (1779–1848) was the first hasidic rebbe of Warka.
Joseph Meir Weiss, was a Hungarian rabbi and founder of the Spinka Hasidic dynasty. He is often known as the "Imrei Yosef" after his major work. The family name is sometimes spelled Weisz.
Sochatchov is a Hasidic dynasty originating from the town of Sochaczew, Poland, where it was founded by Avrohom Bornsztain (1838–1910). Sochatchov is a branch of Kotzk Hasidism, which in part is a branch of Peshischa Hasidism. After World War I the dynasty was moved to Łódź and, subsequently, to other nearby towns. After World War II the dynasty was transplanted to Israel, where it thrives to this day.
Linsk is the name of a Hasidic dynasty—a family of Hasidic leaders or rebbes and the group of their associated followers or chassidim—founded by Rabbi Avraham Chaim Horowitz of Linsk. Linsk is the Yiddish name of the town of Lesko in southern Poland.
Rabbi Shimon Maryles (1758–1849) from Jarosław, also known as Rabbi Shimon Yerslover, was the founder of Yeruslav Hasidism.
Avraham Moshe Bonhardt of Peshischa also known as the Illui Hakudosh was the contested third Grand Rabbi of Peshischa, succeeding his father R. Simcha Bunim Bonhardt of Peshischa, after his father's death in 1827. He led the less radical sect of Peshischa for two years, until his death in 1829, after which his followers adopted R. Israel Yitzhak Kalish of Vurka as his successor.
Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt of Peshischa-Vurka was a 19th-century Polish Hasidic Rebbe and scholar who headed a Hasidic court in Przysucha.
Vurke is a Hasidic dynasty originating from the city of Warka, Poland, where it was founded by Israel Yitzhak Kalish (1779–1848). Vurka is a branch of Peshischa Hasidism, as Israel Yitzhak Kalish was a leading disciple of Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1765–1827). Following Simcha Bunim's death, he led a part of the divided Peschischa community, in Przysucha, later incorporating the community into his own Hasidic dynasty based in Warka.
Hasidic Judaism in Poland is the history of Hasidic Judaism and Hasidic philosophy in Poland. Hasidic Judaism in Poland began with Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk (Leżajsk) (1717-1787) and to a lesser extent Shmelke Horowitz of Nikolsburg (Mikulov) (1726-1778). Both men were leading disciples of Dov Ber of Mezeritch (Medzhybizh), who in part was the successor to the Baal Shem Tov who founded Hasidic Judaism in Western Ukraine. Today, a sizable portion of contemporary Hasidic Judaism and Hasidic dynasties trace their genealogical and ideological origin to Polish Hasidism.
Hasidic Judaism in Lithuania is the history of Hasidic Judaism and Hasidic philosophy in Lithuania and parts of modern-day Belarus. Hasidic Judaism in Lithuania began with R. Aaron Perlow of Karlin (Karalin) (1736–1772), R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (1730?–1788) R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Lyady) (1745–1812) and to a lesser extent R. Hayim Haykl of Amdur (Indura), all of whom were disciples of R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch (Mezhirichi), who in part was the successor to the R. Israel Baal Shem Tov who founded Hasidic Judaism in Western Ukraine. In its earliest years, Lithuanian Hasidism suffered immense persecution by the Lithuanian Misnagdic rabbinate, who attempted to ban and excommunicate Hasidism on several occasions in Lithuania beginning with R. Elijah b. Solomon Zalman of Vilna (1720–1797), who was the earliest disseminator of anti-Hasidic thought which flourished in Lithuania.
