Part of a series on the |
History of Jews and Judaism in Lithuania |
---|
Historical Timeline • List of Jews |
Lithuania portal Judaism portal |
According to Hasidic lore, R. Aaron Perlow had once found himself in the town of Amdur, where R. Hayim Haykl was a local cantor. R. Aaron noticed the young R. Hayim Haykl sitting and engaging in Torah study. R. Aaron asked R. Hayim Haykl why he didn't learn Torah using the teachings of Rabbi Meir to which R. Hayim Haykl responded stating that to his understanding he was in fact learning in such a fashion. R. Aaron answered him stating that “If so, you are making Rabbi Meir a liar!” R. Aaron walked away, but R. Hayim Haykl soon ran after him and asked him how one reaches such a level of learning. R. Aaron answered that he himself didn't know the answer, but that if R. Hayim Haykl would like to find out, he should travel to Mezhirichi with R. Aaron to learn by R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch. The two both soon became close disciples of R. Dov Ber, and in 1765, R. Aaron was delegated by R. Dov Ber to bring Hasidism to Lithuania. That year, R. Aaron established a Hasidic court in Karlin, which soon became a great centre of Hasidism in Europe. R. Aaron had many students from Misnagdic families, and he was thus viewed by the mainstream rabbinate as a polluter of the youth. Many leading local rabbis went as far as to impose a herem on Hasidim and on R. Aaron. Yet throughout all of this, R. Aaron still received thousands of followers yearly. R. Aaron is best known for his personal asceticism and for the mystical nature of his prayers. Lithuanian Hasidism placed a specific emphasis on prayer, which was often immensely enthusiastic with an emphasis on closeness to God (Devekus). This style of prayer, was one of the main points used by Misnagdim against Hasidism in Lithuania. Although he published no works, R. Aaron left a highly influential ethical will, along with azharot (warnings) concerning the proper worship of God, which was reprinted in later Karliner publications.
After R. Aaron's death in 1772, he was succeeded by his closest disciple, R. Solomon ha-Levi of Karlin (1738–1792), who soon became the leader of Lithuanian and Belarusian Karlin Hasidism for the ensuing 20 years. [1]
It was also in 1772, after R. Aaron's death, that R. Hayim Haykl established a Hasidic court in Indura (Amdur) which soon also became a centre of Hasidism in Europe. R. Hayim Haykl was perhaps the most fiery and intense of the Lithuanian tzaddikim, who faced the most opposition from Misnagdic rabbis. R. Hayim Haykl would send out emissaries to spread the world of Hasidism, which led to thousands of young Lithuanian Hasidim flocking to his court, leaving their Misnagdic backgrounds. R. Hayim Haykl ultimately believed that the role of the tzadik (i.e. rebbe) was that of a miracle worker and as a metaphysical figure mediating between heaven and earth, stating that his Hasidim could only communicate with God through him. After R. Hayim Haykl's death, the majority of his Hasidim went to Karlin, however some remained loyal to his son, R. Samuel of Amdur (d. 1799), who is the progenitor of the Amdur Hasidic dynasty, which only lasted a few generations. R. Hayim Haykl's son-in-law, R. Nathan of Makow (d. 1825) established a Hasidic court in Makow, Poland. His descendants married into the Peshischa Hasidic dynasty, which was the main school of thought in Polish Hasidism.
R. Solomon of Karlin was known for his intense worship of God, which often occupied him for much of the day. In fact, he was in the middle of prayer when he was fatally shot by a Russian commander. [2] After his death, R. Solomon was succeeded by R. Asher Perlow (1760–1826), the son of R. Aaron, who became the progenitor of the Karlin-Stolin Hasidic dynasty. The Karlin-Stolin dynasty remained unbroken for the next three generations, until the death of R. Israel Perlow [HE] (1869–1921), who was succeeded by four of his sons. While two were killed in the Holocaust, his sons R. Jacob Hayim Perlow (d. 1946) and R. Yochanan Perlow [HE] (1900–1956). After R. Yochahan's death, [3] most of the hasidim went on to follow his son-in-law, R. Barukh Meir Jacob Shochet (b. 1955), who is the current Karliner Rebbe. Additionally, many Karliner Hasidim accepted, the Lelover Rebbe, R. Moses Mordecai Biderman (1903–1987), as R. Yochanan's successor, and from him derives the Pinsk-Karlin Hasidic group. [4] [5] Additionally, after R. Solomon's death, many of his disciples established their own Hasidic courts.
R. Solomon of Karlin's disciple, R. Mordechai Jaffe (d. 1810) established the Lechovitch Hasidic dynasty, which was continued by his son, R. Noach Jaffe (d. 1832), who in part was succeeded by his son-in-law R. Mordechai Malovitzky (maternal grandson of R. Solomon of Karlin). R. Mordechai's son-in-law was R. Moses Aaron of Vileika (d. 1846), the son of R. Samuel of Amdur. Lastly R. Mordecai's grandson (the son of his youngest son, R. Aaron Jaffe (d. 1807), who was the son-in-law of R. Asher Perlow of Karlin) was R. Solomon Haim Perlow (1797–1862), who adopted his mother's maiden name and established the Koidanov Hasidic dynasty. [6] R. Solomon Haim's son-in-law was R. Simon Katzenellenbogen, whose son, R. Jacob Perlow (1843–1902) adopted his mother's maiden name and established the Novominsk Hasidic dynasty in Poland. After the death of R. Noach Jaffe, his disciple, R. Moses Polier (1784–1858), established the Kobrin Hasidic dynasty. R. Moses Polier's disciple, R. Abraham Weinberg (1804–1883), established the Slonim Hasidic dynasty.
The Strelisk Hasidic dynasty was largely influenced by Karlin, despite being a Ukrainian group. The founder of the Strelisk dynasty, R. Uri of Strelisk (1757–1826) was known for praying with an exceptional fervor and excitement, and it is said that thousands of Jews would come to pray with him. R. Uri's disciple, R. Judah Tzvi Brandwein (1780–1884), founded the Stratin Hasidic dynasty.
While Karlin played a central role in influencing Hasidism in western Belarus, the Hasidic group of Chabad-Lubavitch dominated Hasidic society in eastern Belarus, with their strongholds in Lyubavichi, Lyady, and Liozna. Originally, the Hasidim of Belarus were led by R. Menahem Mendel of Vitebsk. However, after R. Menahem Mendel's emigration to the Israel, R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first rebbe of Chabad and author of the Tanya , took his place; however, the Karliner communities remained independent of Chabad. [4] Later Chabad rebbes in Europe were the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz. [7]
One of the basic values of Chabad are three processes of a person's intellect: Chochmah, Binah, and Daat. So central is this approach in the group's philosophy that their name, CHaBaD, is an acronym of these three things. Chabad differs from other Hasidic groups in that they focus primarily on using one's mind for to serve God, while the Rebbes of other groups stress channeling one's heart in service.
In 1797, the leading Rebbe of Belarus R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who had helped in supporting needy Jews in the Ottoman Empire, was accused by Vilnius' Misnagdim of aiding Russia's enemy, the Ottomans. The following year, he as was imprisoned on account of treason together with twenty-two Karliners. At this time, he was known as a "Zalman Borukhovich" while the Karliners were called "the tzaddikim of the Karliner sect." [8]
There were several individual rebbes who served in Lithuania besides for those dynasties detailed above. For example, before Rabbi Aaron of Karlin founded his court in Karlin, the Maggid of Mezeritch had sent a different student of his, Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz (the Hafla'ah) to Lyakhavichy in 1765, in addition to preachers who traveled throughout the region spreading Hasidism; among these preachers was Rabbi Zev Wolf of Grodno. [4] Similarly, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk served as rebbe of Minsk and after the passing of the Maggid in 1772, he became the leader of all Lithuanian Hasidism. However, in 1777, he emigrated to the land of Israel. [9] Additionally, members of the Nikolsburg Hasidic dynasty such as R. Elijah Solomon ha-Levi Horowitz-Winograd (1842–1878), held a rabbinic post in Lida.
Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch, is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups as well as one of the largest Jewish religious organizations in the world. Unlike most Haredi groups, which are self-segregating, Chabad mainly operates in the wider world and it caters to secularized Jews.
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn also known as the Tzemach Tzedek was an Orthodox rabbi, leading 19th-century posek, and the third rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement.
Shneur Zalman of Liadi was a rabbi and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism. He wrote many works, and is best known for Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Tanya, and his Siddur Torah Or compiled according to the Nusach Ari.
Schneersohn is a Jewish surname used by many of the descendants of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement.
Dov Ber ben Avraham of Mezeritch, also known as the Maggid of Mezeritch or Mezeritcher Maggid, was a disciple of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the founder of Hasidic Judaism, and was chosen as his successor to lead the early movement. Dov Ber is regarded as the first systematic exponent of the mystical philosophy underlying the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, and through his teaching and leadership, the main architect of the movement. He established his base in Mezhirichi, which moved the centre of Hasidism from Medzhybizh, where he focused his attention on raising a close circle of disciples to spread the movement. After his death the third generation of leadership took their different interpretations and disseminated across appointed regions of Eastern Europe, rapidly spreading Hasidism beyond Ukraine, to Poland, Galicia and Russia.
Karlin-Stolin is a Hasidic dynasty, originating with Rebbe Aaron ben Jacob of Karlin in present-day Belarus. One of the first centres of Hasidim to be set up in Lithuania, many Lithuanian Hasidic groups are its offshoots. After the murder of many of its followers by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust, the dynasty continued to exist with followers in Israel, the United States, Russia, England, Mexico, and Ukraine.
The 19 Kislev refers to the 19th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.
Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (1730?–1788), also known as Menachem Mendel of Horodok, was an early leader of Hasidic Judaism. Part of the third generation of Hassidic leaders, he was the primary disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch. From his base in Minsk Menachem Mendel was instrumental in spreading Hasidism throughout Belarus.
Mezhbizh is the name of the town of Medzhybizh in the present Ukraine which is significant as both the source of a Hasidic dynasty that bears its name and as a symbolic name for the roots of Hasidism.
Koidanov is a Hasidic dynasty originating from the city of Dzyarzhynsk (Koidanov), Belarus, where it was founded by Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Perlow (1797–1862) in 1833. Koidanov is a branch of both Lechovitch Hasidism and Karlin-Stolin Hasidism as Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Perlow was the paternal grandson of Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitch and the maternal grandson of Rabbi Asher of Stolin. Koidanov was the smallest of the three Lithuanian Hasidic dynasties, with most of its Hasidim being murdered in the Holocaust. The dynasty was re-established after the war in Tel Aviv, then moved to Bnei Brak, where the majority of the dynasty is located, but there are Chassidim located around the world.
The Liadi branch of the Chabad Hasidic movement was founded after the death of the third rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. The group was one of several that sought to succeed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, whose death created a dispute over his succession. The group was led by its founder, Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman, a son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel.
Chabad offshoot groups are those spawned from the Chabad Hasidic Jewish movement. Many of these groups were founded to succeed previous Chabad leaders, acting as rivals to some of the dynastic rebbes of Chabad. Others were founded by former students of the movement, who, in forming their own groups, drew upon their experiences at Chabad.
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber Schneersohn of Liadi (1833-1910), was a Hasidic rebbe in the town of Liadi. Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber was the son of Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman of Liadi. Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber succeeded his father as rebbe for a number of Chabad Chasidim in Lyady. His brother-in-law, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak became a rebbe in the town of Sirotin (Siratshin). He and his brother-in-law were the last rebbes of the Liadi branch of Chabad.
Chabad philosophy comprises the teachings of the leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch, a Hasidic movement. Chabad Hasidic philosophy focuses on religious concepts such as God, the soul, and the meaning of the Jewish commandments.
Chabad customs and holidays are the practices, rituals and holidays performed and celebrated by adherents of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. The customs, or minhagim and prayer services are based on Lurianic kabbalah. The holidays are celebrations of events in Chabad history. General Chabad customs, called minhagim, distinguish the movement from other Hasidic groups.
Chaim Chaykl (Chaika) Levin of Amdur, also known as the Amdurer Rebbe, was an 18th-century Hasidic rebbe and author who is amongst the earliest founders of Lithuanian Hasidism. A leading disciple of Dov Ber of Mezeritch, in 1773 he founded the Amdur Hasidic dynasty in Indura, Belarus where he faced fierce opposition from local Misnagdim. Despite this, Chaim Chaykl would go on to lay the foundation for several important Hasidic principles. His Divrei Torah was posthumously published in 1891 in Warsaw under the title "Chaim V'Chesed", which is now an important Hasidic work.
Lechovitch is a Lithuanian Hasidic dynasty, originating from the city of Lyakhavichy, Belarus, where it was founded by Rabbi Mordechai Jaffe. Lechovitch is a branch of Karlin Hasidism as Jaffe was a leading disciple of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin. The Slonim, Koidanov, and Kobrin dynasties derive from Lechovitch Hasidism.
Rabbi Shmuel ben Chaim Chaykl of Amdur was the second Rebbe of Amdur after succeeding his father Rabbi Chaim Chaykl of Amdur.
Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin. After the death of Aharon, Solomon became the leader of the Hasidic dynasty in Karlin. His descendants served as rabbis of Volhynian Hasidism.
Rabbi Asher Perlow of Stolin was the son of Rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin and the third Admor of the Karlin dynasty, and the founder of its Stolin subdynasty.