Munkacs (Hasidic dynasty)

For the Jerusalem neighborhood, see Batei Munkacs.
Grand Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira, Munkacser Rebbe, author of Minchas Elozor
Grand Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich, current Munkacser Rebbe

Munkatch (or Munkacs) Hasidism (חסידות מונקאטש) is a Hasidic sect within Haredi Judaism of mostly Hungarian Hasidic Jews. It was founded and led by the late Polish-born Grand Rebbe Shlomo Spira, who was the rabbi of the town of Munkacs. Members of the congregation are mainly referred to as Munkacs Hasidim or Munkatcher Hasidim. It is named after the Hungarian town in which it was established, Munkatsh (in Yiddish; or in Hungarian: Munkács; today: Mukachevo in Ukraine).

The largest Munkacs community is in Boro Park, Brooklyn; There are also significant Munkacs communities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Monsey, New York; and communities can be found in North America, Europe, Israel, and Australia.

Lineage of the Munkacs Chasidic Dynasty

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zvi Elimelech Spira of Dynów
Bnei Yisoschor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eluzar Spira of Lanczut
Yodai Binah
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shlomo Spira of Munkatch
Shem Shlomo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zvi Hirsh Spira of Munkatch
Darchei Tshuva
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chaim Elazar Spira of Munkatch
Minchas Elazar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinowicz of Munkatch
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Moshe Leib Rabinovich of Munkatch
Current Rebbe
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Roots

The dynasty traces its roots to Grand Rebbe Zvi Elimelech Spira (1783–1841), rabbi of Munkacs, and later of Dynów in Galicia. Himself an adherent of the Polish Hasidic leader Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin (the Chozeh of Lublin) and of his uncle, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, author of Noam Elimelech, Rabbi Spira was instrumental in bringing Hasidic Judaism to Hungary. He authored works such as Agra D'kala and Chidushei Mahartza, and is commonly called by the title of his most famous work B'nei Yissaschar ("Children of [the tribe] Issachar", named for the biblical Issachar, son of Jacob, because he was told by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin that he a direct descendant of the tribe of Issachar). His descendants became leaders of the communities of Dynów, Poland (called Dinov in Yiddish), Munkacs, Hungary (now Mukachevo, Ukraine) (called Munkatch in Yiddish) and Błażowa, Poland (called Bluzhev in Yiddish). He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Eluzer Spira of Lanczut, Poland, who was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Shlomo Spira of Munkacs, author of Shem Sh'lomo. He in turn was succeeded by his son Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Spira of Munkacs, author of Darkei T'shuvah.

Pre-World War II Munkacs

The Rebbe of Munkatch, Grand Rebbe Chaim Elazar Spira, 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, Grand Rebbe Zvi Hirsh Spira, who had earlier inherited the mantle of leadership from his father Grand Rebbe Shlomo Spira. Rabbi Chaim Elazar led his community with unsurpassed dignity and drew worldwide respect and honor for Munkács. His keen understanding and vast knowledge in Jewish as well as worldly matters drew thousands of people to his home where they sought his advice and blessings. Under his leadership, the Munkács Jewish community grew by leaps and bounds and at the time of his death in 1937 over half of the town's inhabitants were Jewish. After his death in May 1937, leaving an only daughter Frima, he was succeeded as rebbe by his son-in-law Grand Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel Rabinovich, who led the Munkacs dynasty with much success, until the outbreak of World War II. After World War II Rabbi Baruch was forced to resign as Rebbe.

Munkacs Today

Munkacs World Headquarters in Boro Park

After the Holocaust, the Munkatch dynasty and community was re-established in the United States in Brooklyn, New York and developed a close affinity with the Satmar hasidim, who also originated from North-Eastern Hungary (namely Szatmár county, hence the name of the dynasty). Currently, the Munkacs dynasty is led by the son of Rabbi Baruch, Grand Rebbe Moshe Leib Rabinovich.

The sect's main Brooklyn synagogue, which also serves as world headquarters for Munkacs hasidim, is located in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. The hasidic group also boasts a plethorum of educational and charitable institutions across the United States, Canada, England, Israel, and Australia.

Charitable institutions

The Munkacs Hasidic movement is famous for its many charitable organizations, which were founded by the current Grand Rebbe Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich and his wife, Rebbetzin Perl Rabinovich. The Munkacs Bikur Cholim ("visiting the sick"), Mazkereth Frima, founded by the Munkacser Rebbetzin in memory of the current Rebbe's mother Rebbetzin Frima Rabinovich, is highly respected for helping Jewish people, regardless of affiliation, when they are ill in a hospital, taking care of their needs, such as financial aid for doctors' bills and other accommodations, both religious and general, as well as the needs of their families who visit them. Munkacs is also very active in the Ukrainian town of Mukachevo, birthplace of the hasidic sect where it helps run and fund Synagogues, free kosher soup kitchens, educational and religious programs.

Educational institutions

Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich founded a network of large educational institutions, both yeshivas, girls' schools running from pre school thru high school, as well as post graduate advanced learning kollels for married men. The girl's schools are called Bnos Frima and the yeshivas Tiferes Bunim. Munkacs also operates youth summer camps Chaim V'Shalom in the Catskill Mountains during the summer months.

Publishing

Hotzoas EMES (Hebrew acronyim for O'hr T'orah M'unkacs) publishes the works of the Rebbes of Munkacs, as well as periodicals on news and subjects of interest to the Munkacs Hasidic community. To date, they have published hundreds of works which are used by Talmudic scholars around the world.

Spiritual lineage from Baal Shem Tov

Dynasty

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.