Medzhibozh (Hasidic dynasty)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Medzhibozh (also spelled as Medzibuz, Mezbuz, Mez'buz, and in various other ways) is originally the name of a town 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.
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[edit] The town of Medzhibozh in Hasidic history
Medzhibozh is more than just a branch of Hasidic Judaism, it is perhaps a "trunk," because it was the small town from where Hasidism eventually spread throughout the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe.
Geographically, the Hasidic movement originated in Medzhibozh, where the movement's founder, the Yisroel ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov) had his home, Beis Medrash (a synagogue and place of Torah study), held court, and is buried.
[edit] The Hasidic dynasty of Medzhibozh
Notwithstanding Medzhibozh's position as a "trunk" of Hasidic Judaism, a branch of Hasidism, led by the Baal Shem Tov's descendants and heirs evolved from Medzhibozh.
The Baal Shem Tov's grandson, Reb Boruch (known in his childhood as Reb Boruch'l, a Yiddish diminutive, and subsequently as Reb Boruch'l HaKadosh) was the first "Rebbe" of the Hasidic movement and the first to hold court in Medzhibozh in his grandfather's home and Beis Medrash, which he inherited.
As recorded in the early Hasidic work Mekor Boruch (first published in 1880 from handwritten manuscripts), at the time of the Baal Shem Tov's death, Reb Pinchos of Koretz and Reb Yosef of Polonye, two of the Baal Shem Tov's closest followers, reported to the Hasidim that the Baal Shem Tov had designated Reb Boruch as his successor, and instructed Reb Pinchos to take responsibility to carry out those wishes. Reb Boruch was not yet Bar Mitzvah at the time of his grandfather's death, and he was then taken to live in Reb Pinchos' home, where the Baal Shem Tov's other close Hasidim and other leaders of the Hasidic movement visited regularly to check on his progress and assist with his preparation to assume his grandfather's mantle.
Reb Boruch remained with Reb Pinchos of Koretz until the Chevraya Kadisha, as the close inner circle of the Baal Shem Tov was known, decided that he was ready to return to Mezibuz and become "The Rebbe." When he finally returned to Mezibuz, all of the Hasidic leaders of that time regularly visited Reb Boruch, including the Magid of Chernobyl, the Magid of Mezritch, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi (founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement), and others.
From Reb Boruch the mantle of leadership was inherited by Reb Yitzchok, who was also a descendant of Reb Yosef Yampole and Reb Yichiel Michel, the Maggid of Zlotschov. Reb Yitzchok's son, Reb Yechiel Michel succeeded him, and his son, Reb Mordechai, was the last Mezibuz Rebbe to inherit and hold court in the Baal Shem Tov's home and Beis Medrash in Medzhiboz. Both Reb Yechiel Michel and his son Reb Mordechai were married to descendants of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty.
The last Rebbe of Medzhibozh to be born in Medzhibozh was Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Korff. Son of the last Mezibuz Rebbe, Reb Mordechai, he was a direct descendant of the Baal Shem Tov and his grandson, Reb Boruch of Mezibuz (the first Rebbe), and the Hasidic dynasties of the Rebbes of Mezibuz, Chernobyl, Karlin, Rhizin, and Apte. Reb Yaakov Yisroel married the daughter of the Zviller Rebbe of that time, Reb Yichiel Michel. He subsequently succeeded his father-in-law as Zviller Rebbe until his own father, Reb Mordechai of Mezbuz died, after which he then became the Zvil-Mezibuz Rebbe although he continued to be known as the Zviller Rebbe.
[edit] Mezbuz Rebbe today
[edit] Zvhill-Mezbuz of Boston
The late Rebbe's grandson, Grand Rabbi Yitzhak Aharon Korff is the present Zvhil - Mezibuz Rebbe. He is also one of three Zvhiller Rebbes who are cousins. The other two (who are not descended from Reb Mordechai or Reb Yaakov Yisroel of Mezibuz or directly related to that dynasty) are descended from Reb Yichiel Michel's younger brother, Reb Shlomke of Zvill, and are based in Jerusalem and in Union City, New Jersey.
[edit] New York
Grand Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Bick is the Mezbuzher Rov of Boro Park. He is the son of the famous late Grand Rabbi Moshe Bick, who was Rabbi in the town of Mezbuzh. Rabbi Moshe Bick was known to be one of the great poskim (decisors of halachah) of the twentieth century.
