Pshevorsk (Hasidic dynasty)
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Pshevorsk is a small Hasidic movement based in Antwerp, Belgium. It also has organized groups of followers in London and Manchester, but has no organized presence in the United States or Israel. The Pshevorsker Rebbe lives in Antwerp.
The main base is the beth midrash ("study hall") known as Beth Yitzchok is at Mercatorstraat 56 in Antwerp, Belgium.
Ideologically, Pshevorsk is a combination of four different offshoots of Tzanz and it is currently closely affiliated with Satmar. It began with Rabbi Moshe of Pshevorsk, the author of Ohr Pnei Moshe (d. 1805), a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch.
The movement is close to Satmar chassidism, and shares its strict anti-Zionist policy.
On Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah ("new year"), hundreds of Pshevorsker Hasidim and also other Hasidim such as Satmar come to Antwerp to pray at the Pshevorsker prayer gatherings, which are usually held in a large wedding hall on such occasions.
Reb Yankele and Reb Itzele are buried in Holland, because laws in Belgium prevent making Orthodox Jewish cemeteries in Belgium.
[edit] Outline of History in Antwerp
- Rebbe Moshe Yitzchak (Reb Itzele) Gvirzman of Pshevorsk (1881-1976)
- Rebbe Yaakov (Reb Yankele) Leiser of Pshevorsk (1907-1998), son-in-law of Reb Itzele
- Rebbe Leibish Leiser of Pshevorsk, present Pshevorsker Rebbe, son of Reb Yankele
- Rebbe Yaakov (Reb Yankele) Leiser of Pshevorsk (1907-1998), son-in-law of Reb Itzele
