Munkacz (Hasidic dynasty)
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Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro (middle), the previous Munkacher Rebbe |
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Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York meeting with Grand Rabbi Moses Rabinowitz, the Munkatcher Rebbe |
The
rebbe of
Munkacz (or
Munkatch),
Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro (who led the community from
1913 until his death in
1937) was the most outspoken voice of religious
anti-Zionism. He had succeeded his father, Rabbi
Zvi Hirsh Shapiro, who had earlier inherited the mantle of leadership from his father Rabbi
Shlomo Shapiro. This
Hasidic dynasty was based in the town of
Mukacheve, known as "Munkatch", "Minkitch" or "Minkatch" in common
Jewish usage.
There was friction and acrimony between the Munkatcher and
Belzer hasidim. However, along with the dominant Munkatcher hasidic community there co-existed smaller yet vibrant hasidic groups who were followers of the Rebbes of
Spinka,
Zidichov, and
Vizhnitz. By the time of
the Holocaust there were nearly 30
synagogues in town, many of which were
shtiblech ("[small] house" - small [Hasidic] synagogues). By
1851 Munkacz supported a large
yeshiva, thereby demonstrating the community's commitment to
Talmudic learning and piety.
In the spring of
1944 there were nearly 15,000 Jewish residents of the town. This ended on
May 30, 1944 when the city was pronounced
Judenrein (free of Jews after ghettoization and a series of deportations to
Auschwitz).
After the Holocaust, the Munkacz dynasty and community was re-established in
Brooklyn, New York, in the
United States and developed a close affinity with the
Satmar hasidim. The present Rebbe of Munkatch is Grand Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinowitz, a grandson of the author of
Minchas Eleazar. His synagogue is located in the
Boro Park section of Brooklyn. His brother is known as the Dinover Rebbe.
*Rebbe Yisrael, the
Baal Shem Tov - founder of Hasidism.
**Rebbe
Dovber, the
Maggid (Preacher) of Mezeritch - primary disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
***Rebbe
Elimelech Lipman of Lizhensk, author of
Noam Elimelech - disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch.
****Rebbe
Yaakov Yitzchak, the
Seer of Lublin, author of
Zichron Zos - disciple of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk.
*****
Grand Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro of Dinov, author of
Bnei Yissaschar, a disciple of the
Seer of Lublin******
Grand Rabbi Eleazar Shapiro of Lantzut, author of
Yodei Binah, son of the
Bnei Yissaschar*******
Grand Rabbi Shlomo Shapiro of Munkatch, author of
Shem Shlomo, son of the
Yodei Binah********
Grand Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Shapiro of Munkatch, author of
Darkei Teshuvah, son of the
Shem Shlomo*********
Grand Rabbi Chaim Eleazar Shapiro of Munkatch, author of
Minchas Eleazar, son of the
Darkei Teshuvah**********
Grand Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowitz, son-in-law of the
Minchas Eleazar (later Chief Rabbi of
Holon)
***********Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowitz, z"l, grandson of the
Minchas Eleazar***********Grand Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Rabinowitz, grandson of the
Minchas Eleazar, present Dinover Rebbe of Flatbush, Brooklyn
***********
Grand Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinowitz, grandson of the
Minchas Eleazar, present Munkatcher Rebbe of Boro Park, Brooklyn
*
Haredi Judaism*
Hassidic books of the Munkatcher dynasty*
A Film of Jewish Life in Munkatch - inludes footage of the Munkatcher Rebbe, zt"l, author of Minchas Eleazer*
A Video Clip of the Present Rebbe of Munkatch celebrating Purim
