Skulen (Hasidic dynasty)
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The Skulen (or rarely Skolen) Hasidic dynasty was founded by Rav Eliezer Zusia Portugal. It is now headed by his son, R' Yisroel Avrohom Portugal. Name is originated from Skulyn, east of Kovel', Volhynia.
Rabbi Eliezer Zusia succeeded his father as Rabbi of Skulen at the age of 17 upon his father's death in 1915. Thereupon he became a disciple of the Rebbe of Bahush, a scion of the Ruzhiner dynasty. Before the outbreak of World War II, the Rebbe moved to Chernowitz. He survived the war and moved to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, where he opened an orphanage for the orphans left after the Holocaust. When the Communists took over Romania it became dangerous for him to continue to educate the children in the ways of Judaism, yet the Rebbe continued unabashed. In 1959 the Communists arrested the Rebbe and his son, the present Rebbe, for teaching religion and for supporting and educating orphans. The Rebbes of Sadigura, Kopishnietz and Boyan lead an international effort to free the Skulener Rebbe and his son, and eventually, through the intervention of United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, the Rebbe and his son were freed and immediately immigrated to the United States in 1960. Upon moving to America the Rebbe continued his works helping the underprivilaged and began an international charity organization known as Chesed L'Avraham. The Rebbe authored Noam Eliezer and Kedushas Eliezer, and composed many popular Hasidic tunes. He passed away in 1982 and was buried in the Viznitzer Cemetery in Monsey, NY. He was succeeded by his son, the present Skulener Rebbe, shlit"a, who is much beloved by the Jewish world. The Skulener Rebbe continues his father's holy work by running the Chesed L'Avraham organization to help the needy in the Holy Land and around the world, and continues to write new Hasidic tunes on a regular basis. His synagogue is located on 54th street in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, NY, near 13th avenue.
Lineage of Skulener Dynasty
- Rebbe Yisrael Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) - the founder of Hasidism.
- *Rebbe Michael - the Magid (Preacher) of Zlotchov (d. 1786) - disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
- **Rebbe Mordecai of Kremnitz - son of the Magid of Zlotchov.
- ***Rebbe Yeshayah Shor of Yas - author of Kelil Tiferes - disciple of Rebbe Mordecai of Kremnitz.
- ****Rebbe Yisrael Avraham Portugal (d. 1915) of Skulen - author of Shem V'Shearis Yisrael - disciple of the Kelil Tiferes.
- *****Rebbe Eliezer Zusia of Skulen (1898-1982) - author of Noam Eliezer - son of the Shem V'Shearis Yisrael, disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Shalom Yosef Friedman (1863-1923), of Bahush and Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Yosef Friedman (1886-1979), of Sadigura.
- ******Rebbe Yisrael Avraham Portugal of Skulen - present Skulener Rebbe - son of the Noam Eliezer.
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