A Hasidic dynasty or Chassidic dynasty is a dynasty led by Hasidic Jewish spiritual leaders known as rebbes,[1] and usually has some or all of the following characteristics:
- Each leader of the dynasty is referred to as an ADMOR[2] (abbreviation for ADoneinu MOreinu VeRabeinu – "our master, our teacher, and our rabbi"), or simply as Rebbe (or "the Rebbe"), and at times called the "Rav" ("rabbi"), and sometimes referred to in English as a "Grand Rabbi";
- The dynasty continues beyond the initial leader's lifetime by succession (usually by a family descendant);
- The dynasty is usually named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, and sometimes, such as in the case of the Bostoner Chassidim, where the group began to grow and flourish or where a significantly influential Jewish teacher founds a court or yeshiva where students go to learn from, or consult with, that Rebbe;
- The dynasty has (or once had) followers who, through time, continue following successive leaders (rebbes), or may even continue as a group without a leader by following the precepts of a deceased leader.
Distinguished from a dynasty, a Hasidic group or Chassidic group has the following characteristics:
- It was founded by a leader who did not appoint or leave a successor;
- It may be named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, or where the group began to grow and flourish, or it may be named after the founder himself;
- It has followers who continue as a group under the direction of rabbis who expound and interpret the precepts of the deceased founder.
Dynasties with larger following
Hasidic dynasties (arranged alphabetically) with a large following include:
Dynasties with smaller following
Hasidic dynasties (arranged alphabetically) with a small following include:
Hasidic groups (non-dynastic)
Other dynasties
Many of these dynasties have presently few or no devotees, due to most of the Hasidic groups being destroyed during the Holocaust, 1939–1945. Other communities are flourishing, and have growing Hasidic sects. There are many dynasties whose followers number around five to fifteen people, and are not listed here.
A
B
- Beitsh (from Biecz, Poland)
- Bender (from Bender, Moldova)
- Berditchev (Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (1740–1810) from Berdychiv, Ukraine)
- Bergsass Current Rebbe: Aaron Pollak, Founder: Abraham Alter Pollak (died 2007), Headquartered in: El'ad, Israel (from Beregszász, Hungary (now Ukraine))
- Bertch (from Bircza, Poland)
- Białystok (from Białystok)
- Bialobrzeg (from Białobrzegi, Poland)
- Bluzhev (from Błażowa, Poland)
- Bikovsk (from Bikofsk)
- Bohush (from Buhuși, Romania)
- Bonia
- Botoshan (from Botoşani, Romania)
- Brod (from Brody, Ukraine) (several)
- Brezahn (from Berezhany, Ukraine)
- Brizdovitz (from Berezdivtsi, Ukraine)
- Bucharest (from București, Romania) (several)
- Burshtin (from Burshtyn, Ukraine)
C
D
E
F
G
H
K
- Kaliv (from Nagykálló, Hungary)
- Kaminke (the unrelated Ukrainian Kaminke dynasty from Kamianka, Ukraine and Galician Kaminke dynasty from Kamianka-Buzka, Ukraine)
- Kaminetz
- Kunskvola (from Końskowola, Poland)
- Karlin-Stolin (Hasidic dynasty)
- Kashau (from Kassa, Hungary)
- Kerestir (from Bodrogkeresztúr, Hungary)
- Khentshin (from Chęciny, Poland)
- Kielce (from Kielce, Poland)
- Koidanov (from Koidanava, Belarus)
- Kolbasov (Végaszó, Hungary)
- Komarno (from Komarno, Ukraine)
- Kopyczynitz (from Kopychyntsi, Ukraine)
- Korets (from Korets, Ukraine)
- Koson (from Mezőkaszony, Hungary)
- Kosov (from Kosiv, Ukraine)
- Kotsk (from Kock, Poland)
- Kozlov
- Kozhnitz (from Kozienice, Poland)
- Krasna
- Krula (from Nagykároly, Hungary)
- Kshanov (from Chrzanów, Poland)
- Kuzmir (from Kazimierz Dolny, near Warsaw) (several)
L
- Łańcut (from Łańcut, Poland)
- Lashkovitz (from Ulashkivtsi, Ukraine)
- Lelov (from Lelów, Poland)
- Lechovitch (from Lyakhavichy, Belarus)
- Linitz (from Linitz)
- Liske (from Olaszliszka, Hungary)
- Lizhensk (from Leżajsk, Poland)
- Leva (from Leova, Moldova)
- Liozna (from Liozna, Belarus)
- Lublin (from Lublin, Poland) (several)
- Lutsk (from Lutsk, Ukraine) (several)
M
N
- Narol (from Narol, Galicia/Austria-Hungary, now in Poland)
- Neshchiz (from Nesukhoyezhe, Ukraine)
O
P
- Pabianice (from Pabianice, Poland)
- Pashkan (from Paşcani, Romania)
- Piasetzne (from Piaseczno, Poland)
- Pietrokov (from Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland)
- Pilts (from Pilica, Poland)
- Pilzno (named for Pilzno, Poland)
- Pintchiv (from Pińczów, Poland)
- Pittsburgh (from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Porisov (from Parysów, Poland)
- Premishlan (from Peremyshliany, Ukraine)
- Pshemishl (from Przemyśl, Poland)
- Pshevorsk (from Przeworsk, Poland)
R
- Radomsk (from Radomsko, Poland)
- Radoshitz (from Radoszyce, Poland)
- Radowitz (from Rădăuţi, Romania)
- Radvil (from Radyvyliv, Ukraine)
- Radzymin (from Radzymin, Poland)
- Ratzfert (from Újfehértó, Hungary)
- Ribatitch (from Rybotycze, Poland)
- Rimenov (from Rymanów, Poland)
- Roman (from Roman, Romania)
- Ropshitz (from Ropczyce, Poland)
- Ruzhin (from Ruzhyn, Ukraine)
- Rzeszów (Rzeszów, Galicia, Poland)
S
- Sambur (from Sambir, Ukraine) (several)
- Sasregen (from Szászrégen, Hungary) (today Reghin, Romania)
- Sassov (from Sasiv, Ukraine)
- Savran (from Savran, Ukraine)
- Seret (from Siret, Romania)
- Shedlitz (from Siedlce, Poland)
- Shotz (from Suceava, Romania)
- Shidlovtza (from Szydłowiec, Poland)
- Shineva (from Sieniawa, Poland)
- Shpikov (from Shpykiv, Ukraine)
- Shtefanesht (from Ştefăneşti, Romania)
- Siget (from Máramarossziget, Hungary) (today Sighetu-Marmaţiei, Romania) (parent of, now sharing leadership with, the Satmar dynasty above)
- Sochatchov (from Sochaczew, Poland)
- Sokolov (from Sokołów Podlaski, Poland – there was a branch of the Ropshitz dynasty in Sokołów Małopolski, Poland, as well)
- Stanislov (from Stanyslaviv, Ukraine) (several)
- Stepan (from Stepan, Ukraine)
- Stitshin (from Szczucin, Poland)
- Stretin (from Stratin, Ukraine)
- Strikov (from Stryków, Poland)
- Strizhov (from Strzyżów, Poland)
- Stropkov (from Sztropkó, Hungary (now in Stropkov, Slovakia))
- Sudilkov (from Sudylkiv, Ukraine)
- Sulitza (from Suliţa, Romania) (there was also a branch of the Shotz dynasty in Sulitza)
T
U
V
Y
- Yeruslav (from Jarosław, Poland) (several)
Z
References
- Rabinowicz, Tzvi M. The Encyclopedia of Hasidism ISBN 1-56821-123-6 Jason Aronson, Inc., 1996.
- Alfasi, Yitschak. החסידות מדור לדור Hachasidut miDor leDor (2 vols)
- ^ "Hasidism". World Book. Vol. 9. 2012. p. 82.
- ^ Ettinger, Yair (Jan 1, 2013). "Hasidic leader Yaakov Friedman, the Admor of Sadigura, dies at 84". Haaretz. Retrieved Oct 14, 2013.
