List of Hasidic dynasties and groups
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 AD oneinu MO reinu VeR abeinu – "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:
Name
Current (or last) Rebbe
Founder
Presently headquartered In
City / Town of origin
Belz
Yissachar Dov Rokeach
Sholom Rokeach (1781–1855)
Jerusalem , Israel
Belz , Galicia, Austria-Hungary / Poland (now in Ukraine )
Bobov
(Bobov-45 )
Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam
Mordechai Dovid Unger (b. 1954)
Shlomo Halberstam of Bobov (1847–1905)
Borough Park , Brooklyn
Bobowa and Sanz , Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now in Poland)
Chabad Lubavitch
Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994)
Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812)
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Lyubavichi , Russia
Ger
Yaakov Aryeh Alter (b. 1939)
Yitzchak Meir Alter (1799–1866)
Jerusalem, Israel
Góra Kalwaria , Russian Empire (now in Poland)
Karlin-Stolin
Baruch Meir Yaakov Shochet
Aaron ben Jacob of Karlin (1736–1772)
Givat Zeev , Jerusalem, Israel
Karlin , Belarus
Sanz-Klausenburg
Tzvi Elimelech Halberstam ; Shmuel Dovid Halberstam
Chaim Halberstam of Sanz (1796–1876)
Kiryat Sanz, Netanya , Israel; Borough Park , Brooklyn
Kolozsvár , Hungary (now Cluj Napoca , Romania ), and Sanz , Galicia (now in Poland)
Satmar
Aaron Teitelbaum (b. 1947); Zalman Leib Teitelbaum (b. 1952)
Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979)
Kiryas Joel , New York ;Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Szatmárnémeti , Hungary (now Satu Mare , Romania )
Skver
David Twersky (b. 1940)
Yitzchak Twersky
New Square, New York
Skvira , Russian Empire (now in Ukraine )
Vizhnitz
Yisroel Hager ;Menachem Mendel Hager ; Yisroel Hager; Menachem Mendel Hager; Yitzchak Yohanan Hager; Eliezer Ze'ev Hager; David Hager; Aharon Hager; Baruch Shimshon Hager
Menachem Mendel Hager
Bnei Brak , Israel;Bnei Brak , Israel;Kaser, New York ;Kiamesha Lake, New York ;Williamsburg, Brooklyn ;Jerusalem ;London ;Montreal ;Beit Shemesh
Vyzhnytsia , Bukovina, Austria-Hungary (now in Ukraine )
Dynasties with smaller following
Hasidic dynasties (arranged alphabetically) with a small following include:
Name
Current (or last) Rebbe
Founder
Presently headquartered In
Town of origin
Aleksander
Yisroel Tzvi Yair Danziger
Yosef Yitzchak Meir Singer
Yechiel Dancyger (1828–1894)
Bnei Brak , Israel
Borough Park , Brooklyn
Aleksandrów Łódzki , Poland
Amshinov
Menachem Kalish ; Osher Chaim Kalish ;Yaakov Aryeh Milikowsky
Yaakov Dovid Kalish of Amshinov (1814–1878)
Borough Park , Brooklyn ; Beit Shemesh , Israel; Jerusalem, Israel
Mszczonów , Poland
Ashlag
Simcha Avraham Ashlag
Yehuda Leib Ha-Levi Ashlag (1885–1954)
Bnei Brak , Israel
Warsaw , Poland
Biala
Avraham Yerachmiel Rabinowicz; Yaakov Menachem Rabinowicz; Aaron Rabinowicz
Yitzchok Yaakov Rabinowicz (died 1905)
Jerusalem, Israel;Bnei Brak , Israel;Borough Park , Brooklyn
Biała Podlaska , Poland
Boston
Pinchas David Horowitz;Mayer Alter Horowitz ;Naftali Yehuda Horowitz ;Chaim Avrohom Horowitz
Pinchas David Horowitz (1876–1941)
Brookline, Massachusetts ; Jerusalem, Israel
Boston
Boyan
Nachum Dov Brayer
Yitzchok Friedman (1850–1917)
Jerusalem, Israel
Boiany , Bukovina (now in Ukraine )
Chernobyl
several
Menachem Nachum Twerski of Chernobyl (1730–1797)
Bnei Brak , Israel;Ashdod , Israel;Borough Park , Brooklyn ; Lawrence, NY
Chernobyl , Ukraine
Dushinsky
Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky
Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky (1867–1948)
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Machnovka
Yehoshua Rokeach
Yosef Meir Twersky of Machnovka
Bnei Brak , Israel
Machnovka , Ukraine
Melitz
Naftali Asher Yeshayahu Moscowitz
Yaakov Horowitz of Melitz (son of Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz )
Ashdod , Israel
Mielec , Galicia (now in Poland)
Modzitz
Chaim Shaul Taub
Yechezkel Taub of Kuzmir (1755–1856)
Bnei Brak , Israel
Dęblin , Poland
Munkacz
Moshe Leib Rabinovich
Shlomo Spira ("Shem Shlomo") of Munkacz
Borough Park , Brooklyn
Munkács , Hungary (now in Ukraine )
Nadvorna
several
Mordechai Leifer (1835–1894)
Bnei Brak , Israel
Nadvirna , Galicia (now in Ukraine )
Nikolsburg-Monsey
Yosef Yechiel Mechel Lebovits
Shmuel Shmelke HaLevi Horowitz of Nikolsburg (1726–1778)
Monsey, New York
Nikolsburg , Moravia
Novominsk
Yoshua Perlow (Borough Park , Brooklyn ) Yisroel Perlow (Lakewood )
Yaakov Perlow I (1843–1902)
Borough Park , Brooklyn
Mińsk Mazowiecki , Poland
Pinsk-Karlin
Aryeh Rosenfeld
Aharon the Great of Karlin (1736–1772)
Jerusalem, Israel
Karlin , Belarus
Pupa
Yaakov Yechezkia Greenwald II (b. 1948)
Moshe Greenwald
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Pápa , Hungary
Rachmastrivka
Yitzchak Twerski ;David Twerski
Yochanan Twerski of Rachmastrivka
Borough Park , Brooklyn ; Jerusalem, Israel
Rachmastrivka , Ukraine
Radzin or Izhbitza – Radzin
Shlomo Yosef Englard
Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izhbitza
Bnei Brak , Israel
Izbica , Poland ; Radzyń Podlaski , Poland
Sadigura
Tzvi Yisrael Moshe Friedman Ztl August 2020
Yitzchak yehoushoua Heschel Friedman
Avrohom Yaakov Friedman of Sadigura (1820–1883)
Bnei Brak , Israel
Sadagóra , Bukovina (now in Ukraine )
Slonim
Shmuel Brozovosky ;Avrohom Weinberg
Avraham of Slonim
Jerusalem, Israel;Bnei Brak , Israel
Slonim , Belarus
Shomer Emunim Toldos Aharon Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok
Avrohom Chaim Roth ; Dovid Kohn ; Shmuel Yaakov Kohn
Aharon Roth ("Reb Ahrele") (1894–1947)
Kiryat Shomrei Emunim , JerusalemMea Shearim , Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel
Skolye
Avrohom Moshe Rabinowitz
Borough Park , Brooklyn
Skole , Galicia, Ukraine
Skulen
Yeshaya Yakov Portugal; Efraim Yehuda Portugal ; Meir Portugal; Zvi Noach Portugal; Shmiel Mordche Portugal
Eliezer Zusia Portugal (1898–1982)
Borough Park , Brooklyn ; Williamsburg ; Monsey ; Lakewood ; Jerusalem
Sculeni , Bessarabia (now in Moldova )
Spinka
Rabbi Yisrael Chaim Weiss - Rabbi Meir Eleazer Weiss Rabbi Mordecai Dovid Kahana Gedulas Mordechai (1932-2011), Rabbi Avraham Yitchak Kahana Shlit"a Rabbi Abraham Abish Horowitz Shlit"a - (A.K.A. Abish Spinka) Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Horowitz (A.K.A. Isaac Spinka) - Nuta Horowitz
Joseph Meir Weiss (1838–1909)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn ; Jerusalem, Israel;Bnei Brak , Israel
Szaplonca , Hungary (now Săpânţa , Romania)
Tosh
Elimelech Segal-Lowy
Meshulam Feish Segal-Lowy I
Kiryas Tosh Boisbriand , Quebec
Nyírtass , Hungary
Zvhil
Avraham Goldman ;Shlomo Goldman ;Yitzhak Aharon Korff (of Zvhil – Mezhbizh )
Moshe of Zvhil (died 1831)
Jerusalem, Israel;Union City, New Jersey ;Boston, Massachusetts
Zvyahel, Volhynia (now Zviahel , Ukraine)
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
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 Sulița , Romania) (there was also a branch of the Shotz dynasty in Sulitza)
T
U
V
Y
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)
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