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Bobov (Hasidic dynasty)

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Bobov, (or Bobover Hasidism) (חסידות באבוב) is a Hasidic group within Haredi Judaism originating in Bobowa, Galicia in Southern Poland and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. It has branches in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn; Monsey, New York; Miami; Montreal; Toronto; Antwerp and London. In Israel Bobov has its headquarters in Kiryath Bobov in Bat Yam, and branches in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod and Betar Illit.

Outline of the dynasty

History

First rebbe of Bobov

Bobov originated with Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam in the Galician village of Bobowa, where the bulk of his Hasidim were originally followers of his grandfather, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz (the Divrei Chaim).

While most of the early yeshivos ("Talmudical academies") originated in Lithuania, the 19th century saw the opening of similar institutions in Poland. The first yeshiva in Poland was established by the first Bobover Rebbe in 1881, and was known as the Bobover Yeshiva.

Second rebbe of Bobov

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Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam, the second Bobover Rebbe, author of Kedushath Zion was murdered by the Nazis in 1941

His work was continued by his son, Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam, author of Kedushath Zion. The yeshiva was originally only in the town of Bobov itself but later branched out into as many as sixty satellite yeshivos. The Hasidic youth in Poland flocked to Bobov and the Chasidus grew in numbers.

In World War II the Bobov Hasidic movement was destroyed, and the Second Rebbe himself perished in the Holocaust together with thousands of his followers.

Rabbi Ben Zion's murder by the Nazis

On June 22, 1941 the Germans launched an intense attack against the Russians over the San River. In short order the Germans conquered all of Eastern Poland and large swaths of Russian territory. Thousands and thousands of Jews became subject to German authority because of this conquest. They too suffered the decrees and the liquidations; they were also part of the Nazi master plan to destroy all the Jews.

The metropolis of Lemberg (Lvov), where the Rebbe then lived, also fell under Nazi control in July, 1941. The Rebbe’s residence was in the home of Eliyahu Avigdor Brinner, who was one of his Hasidim. For about a month the Rebbe hid in a room whose door was secretly blocked by a large bookcase. But a friend convinced him to come out of hiding, on the theory that the Germans were harsher to people who were found hiding. The friend also argued that the Germans would honor the Rebbe’s official papers that declared he was a foreign resident. The Rebbe didn’t accept these arguments at first, but ultimately acquiesced. On Friday, July 25, Parshas Matos-Masei, on Rosh Chodesh Av, he left his place of hiding and established himself openly in a separate room in the apartment.

As July 25 approached, an unusual bustle was noticed among the Ukrainian police in the city. Jews tried not to step outside. Early in the morning of July 25, groups of peasants from nearby villages began to flow into Lvov. They assembled on the premises of police stations; set out from there to the streets accompanied by Ukrainian policemen, and assaulted any Jew whom they encountered with clubs, knives and axes. Groups of Jews were taken to the Jewish cemetery and murdered brutally. A roundup of Jews from their homes, coupled with looting, began in the afternoon. The proportion of Jewish intellectuals was high. Ukrainian police circulated in groups of five and consulted prepared lists. The pogrom was known as the "Petliura Days" in commemoration of Symon (Semyen) Petlura, the Ukrainian President and military leader, a notorious anti-Semite, who had organized massive pogroms (900 pogroms of which about 40% were perpetrated by the forces led by Petliura) against Jews in 1919 and was killed by a Jewish anarchist (Sholom Schwartzbard) in revenge for the murder of fifteen members of his family, on a Street in Paris in 1926, who calmly handed over his weapon to the police, saying "You can arrest me, I've killed a murderer", and was acquitted by a Paris court.

The Germans had authorized the Ukrainians to celebrate this anniversary with a murderous rampage against the Jews. For three days, Ukrainian mobs went on a rampage through the Jewish districts of Lvov. They took groups of Jews to the Jewish cemetery and to Lunecki prison and shot them. The Ukrainian mobs decided that they would concentrate on Jews who were prestigious, wealthy and distinguished. Eliyahu Avigdor’s name was on this list because of his wealth and status.

At about 6 pm that very day, while the Rebbe was removing his Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin, the door opened suddenly and a Ukrainian youth entered together with the building’s gentile superintendent. The youth carried a red whip with the insignia of the Symon Petliura bands. The two were conducting a search of Mr. Brinner’s house.

The youth took one look at the Rebbe and immediately realized that this was a distinguished personage. He ordered the Rebbe to accompany him. The Rebbe's youngest son, Moshe Aaron, saw his father being led away, and pleaded to come along to help his father. At first the Ukrainian youth objected, but then he acceded and took along Moshe Aaron.

They were joined on the street corner by other distinguished prisoners from other areas in the city. Soldiers stood guard to prevent escape. When the number of captives reached a hundred, the guards arranged them in a row, three abreast, and ordered them to march. The Rebbe was too weak to keep up with the rapid pace and moved to the back. The guards beat him with their batons and demanded that he hurry up. Eliyahu Avigdor held one of his hands and his son Moshe Aaron held the other until they reached Gestapo headquarters at Polczinski 4. An eye-witness writes that "he saw from his window how the Rebbe, dressed in his Sabbath clothing was attacked by the soldiers. The cruel Ukrainians beat him on his head with their rifle-butts and his yarmulke fell to the ground. From time to time the Rebbe bent over and stooped to pick it up, and they beat him even more." (Eilah Azkerah by Naftoli Eherenberg, V. 1, ed., page 141)

On Shabbos there was another action. The captives this time included Mr. Itche Leser, who was a Bobover Hasid, and three sons-in-law of the Rebbe who had been hiding in Mr. Leser’s house; they were, Rabbi Yecheskel Halberstam (son of Rabbi Yeshayale Tchechoiver), Rabbi Moshe Stempel and Rabbi Shlome Rubin. All four were brought to the Gestapo building.

The entire household, led by the Rebbe's son Rabbi Shlome, moved heaven and earth to secure the release of the prisoners, and offered huge bribes. But the gezeira (Heavenly decree) had been issued, and all efforts were to no avail.

After three days, on Monday Parshas Devarim, Dalet Av (July 28); four weeks after the Germans entered Lemberg; the Jewish captives were shot in the Yanover forest behind the city. 20,000 Jews were shot that day, the Rebbe, his son and his three sons-in-law included.

Third rebbe of Bobov

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Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam, the third Bobover Rebbe in his later years

Barely 300 remained worldwide, and the Rebbe's son Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam took it upon himself to rebuild Bobov. He first settled in the West Side of Manhattan; later moving to Crown Heights in Brooklyn, and finally settling in Borough Park. Rabbi Solomon was known as a very wise man and a Gaon in Midos (Giant in good manors/attributes) and a true gentleman. He was noted for his steadfastness in not taking sides in disputes among Hasidic groups. This brought him great popularity and respect.

At the time of his death in August 2000, he was mourned by more followers than his father had in pre-War Poland. His Hebrew date of death was the first of Av the same as that of Aaron the Biblical High Priest (Num 33:38), which was noted by many (and mentioned at the funeral by the Skulener Rebbe) for their similar characteristics of "loving peace" (Oheiv Sholom Veroidef Sholom - Loved peace and pursued peace) (Pirkei Avoth 1:12).

Fourth rebbe of Bobov

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Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam, the fourth Bobover Rebbe

With Rabbi Solomon Halberstam's passing, his son Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam became the new Rebbe of Bobov. Rabbi Naftali Zvi was plagued with poor health throughout his leadership. He died on March 23, 2005 (12 days in Adar, 5765) in Maimonides Hospital in Borough Park aged seventy-four. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons in-law; Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin, (son of Grand Rabbi Mordechai Rubin, the Sasregener Rebbe of Midwood), and Grand Rabbi Mordecai David Unger, (son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Unger, the previous Dombrover Rebbe of Boro Park), as well as a half-brother Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam and sisters.

Descendants of the Bobov Dynasty

Other Descendants of the Bobov Dynasty include Rebbe Chaim Yehoshua Halberstam, and the late Rebbe of Pokshivnitz, Descendants to Rebbe Ben Zion of Bobov, the Third Rebbe.

Bobov Today

Fifth rebbe(s) of Bobov

There has been a succession dispute following the death of Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam, with many Bobover Hasidim supporting his son-in-law Rabbi Mordecai David Unger; and many supporting his half-brother, Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, son of the third rebbe of Bobov Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam. The matter is presently before a Beth Din (Jewish court), which will at some point deliver a ruling as to which Grand Rabbi is the official Bobover Rebbe. However, there has been suggestions that many in the Jewish world, both inside and outside Bobov, have already accepted the split as a reality, and it seems likely that the present situation of Bobov having two rebbes will continue regardless of which party the Beth Din winds up ruling for. At present both groups of Hasidim claim their Rebbe as the sole legitimate successor of Bobov.

Bobov Congregation of 48th Street

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Grand Rebbe Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam

Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam (b. 1955) was declared Grand Rabbi (אדמו"ר) by many Bobover Hasidim. His followers are presently in charge of the main Bobover Synagogue on 48th street in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. He is the son of Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam, of Bobov.

Upon the death of his half-brother, Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam, before the funeral; his followers crowned him Bobover Rebbe in the house of his brother-in-law, the Dayan Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Tauber.

Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam's followers consider him the reigning Bobover Rebbe because at the funeral of his father, the late Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam; after his brother Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam was crowned Rebbe; he was announced as the Rav Hatzair (Junior Rabbi), which many assumed meant that he would be the successor. The meaning of this title is currently before a Bais Din (Jewish court), to decipher what its intent was, to Bobover Hasidim and to the people involved.

Bobov Congregation of 45th Street

File:Rabbi UngerAndRabbiRubin.jpg
Grand Rebbe Mordche Duvid Unger (right) and the Ruv; Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin

Grand Rabbi Mordecai David Unger, (b. 1954), son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam the previous Bobover Grand Rebbe, was declared Grand Rabbi (אדמו"ר) by many Bobover Hasidim. They also declared Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin, son of Grand Rabbi Mordechai Rubin of Sasregen, also a son-in-law of the previous Bobover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam to be their Ruv or Chief Rabbi (אבד"ק).

Upon the death of their father-in-law, Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam; before the funeral, in his house; his sons-in-law; Rabbi Mordecai David Unger and Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin were both announced as the successors of their father-in-law in the presence of the Gabbai of Bobov Rabbi Moshe Meir Einhorn, and other important Bobover Hasidim; with how to divide the leadership, to be decided among them. On the next day; in the presence of a few hundred Bobover Hasidim; Rabbi Mordecai David Unger's followers crowned him Bobover Rebbe (אדמו"ר) (Grand Rabbi) and Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin as Ruv (אבד"ק) (Chief Rabbi) in the Bais Yakov building on 45th Street in Boro Park, as the main Synagogue was in control of Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam's followers.

Rabbi Mordecai David Unger's followers consider him the reigning Bobover Rebbe because according to Halakha ("Jewish law"); leadership is inherited, and a son-in-law inherits before a brother. Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam's claim of Rav Hatzair is currently before a Bais Din ("Jewish court"), who will decide if it has any merit.

Important Bobover literature

In addition to those books revered by all Hasidim, the Bobover Hasidim particularly treasure Kedushas Tzion of the second Bobover Rebbe (published by the third Bobover Rebbe) and Kerem Shlomo of the third Bobover Rebbe. The versions of the Siddur ("prayer book") used by Bobover Hasidim are called Tzelosa DeShlomo and Tefilas Rav.

General

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