Modzitz (Hasidic dynasty)
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Modzitz or Modzhitz within Orthodox Judaism is the name of a Hasidic Judaism group that derives its name from Modzice, one of the boroughs of the town of Dęblin, Poland, located on the Vistula River. Followers of this group are known as Modzitzer Chasidim and they are now based mainly in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem in Israel where their Rebbe lives. They also have a smaller following in Brooklyn, New York. The rabbis who lead them have come from a family by the name of "Taub".
The origins of this dynasty starts with Rabbi Yechezkel Taub of Kuzmir (1755 - 1856) who established yeshivas and a type of Hasidic teaching that was similar to that of the Seer of Lublin, and distinct from the Hasidism of Ger and Kotzk. Upon his death, his son, Rabbi Eliyahu Taub of Zvolin, Poland succeeded him. He excelled in Torah scholarship and creating Hasidic songs. He was called Menagen mafli pla'os Hebrew for "a wondrous musical talent". His first son Rabbi Moshe Aaron succeeded him as Rabbi of Zvolin. His second son Yisrael went on to found the actual Modzitz Hasidic dynasty.
Rabbi Yisrael Taub was born in 1849 and in 1891 founded the Modzitzer Hasidic movement in Modzitz, Poland. He created many melodies that are still sung by Hasidim today. When he died on 24 November 1920, he was succeeded by his son Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Elazar Taub.
Shaul Yedidya Elazar Taub was born on 20 October 1886. He guided his Hasidim until 1938 when he fled Poland due to Nazi persecution. He made his way to Lithuania, then to Russia, then to China, and then to Japan. Eventually, with the help of some Modzitzer Chassidim, he and some family members reached the shores of San Francisco and then moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1940. It was during his stay in Brooklyn that Rabbi Shaul became popular and helped rebuild Modzitz. He was a gifted songwriter and wrote over 1000 Hasidic melodies. He constantly talked about the coming of the State of Israel. He was unable to see his prediction come true and he died on November 29, 1947, the day the UN voted to create the state of Israel. He was succeeded by his son Rabbi Samuel Eliyahu Taub.
Rabbi Samuel Eliyahu was born in Lublin, Poland on 9 February 9 1905. Rabbi Shaul and his son Rabbi Samuel were on a trip to the then British Mandate of Palestine in 1935. While they were there Samuel fell in love with Palestine and asked his father if he could stay there. His father agreed and within a year Rabbi Samuel's wife and their child came over to Israel. In 1947 he succeeded his father and became the Modzitzer Rebbe to be known as the Imre Aish ("Words of Fire") as Samuel Eliyahu is called, and continued the traditions of Modzitz both as a composer and Torah scholar. He died on 6 May 6 1984, when he was succeeded by his son Rabbi Israel Dan Taub.
Rabbi Israel Dan was born in 1928 in Warsaw, Poland, and passed away on 16 June 2006. He came with his mother to Palestine in 1936 to meet up with his father Rabbi Samuel. For a number of years he headed the Modzitz Chasidim in the city of Tel-Aviv where his father had lived. On Lag Ba'omer 5755 (18 May 1995) he moved to a new building in Bnei Brak, Israel. Like his predecessors he also composed Hasidic melodies and many of them are sung regularly in Hasidic synagogues. His opinion was highly regarded. Rabbi Israel Dan survived by two sons. His son, Grand Rabbi Chaim Shaul, was crowned as the new Modzitzer Rebbe, and his other son Rabbi Pinchas Moshe was named Chief Rabbi of the Modzitzer congregation.
The Modzitz Hasidim are well-known for their uniquely inspiring melodies and their devotion to serious learning of Torah and Talmud.
Lineage
- Grand Rabbi Ezekiel Taub of Kuzmir (d. 1856)
- Grand Rabbi Samuel Elijah Taub of Zlovin (d. 1888), son of the Kuzmirer
- Grand Rabbi Israel of Modzitz, (1849-1920), author of Divrei Yisrael, son of the Zloviner,
- Grand Rabbi Saul Jedidiah Eleazer Taub (1886-1947), author of Imrei Shaul, son of the Divrei Yisrael
- Grand Rabbi Samuel Elijah Taub of Modzitz, (1905-1984), author of Imrei Aish, son of the Imrei Shaul
- Grand Rabbi Israel Dan Taub of Modzitz (1928-2006), previous Modzitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of the Imrei Aish.
- Grand Rabbi Chaim Shaul Taub of Modzitz, present Modzizer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of Rabbi Israel Dan.
External links
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