The Husiatyn Chassidic Dynasty

Compiled by Susana Leistner Bloch

The first Rebbe of Husiatyn

Rabbi Mordechai Shraga Feivish Friedman. The Husiatyn Chassidic Dynasty started with the Rabbi Mordechai Shraga Feivish Friedman. He was youngest son of Yisroel Friedman, the Ruzhiner Rebbe's six sons.  Reb Mordechai Shraga was born in Rhuzin on the twentieth of Iyar 5595 (1835). All Reb Mordechai Shraga’s brothers established Chasidic dynasties:

• Reb Shalom Joseph

• Reb Avraham Yaacov - The Sadigerer Rebbe

• Reb Dov Ber of Lieov

• Reb Menachem Nuchem of Sthefanesht

• Reb Dovid Moshe - The Chortkover Rebbe (Czortków)

His grandson was Reb Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel - The Kapischnitzer Rebbe (Kopyczyńce)

When Reb Mordechai Shraga’s was 30 years old, in 1865, Reb Mordechai Shraga moved to Husiatyn where he established a large Chassidic court. His chassidim numbered in the thousands.

Reb Mordechai Shraga died on the thirty seventh day of the Omer 5654 (1894) and was succeeded by his son Reb Yisroel who took over the position of rebbe in Husiatyn until 1912.

The second Rebbe of Husiatyn

Reb Yisroel Friedman was born on the sixteenth of Kislev 5618 (1858), and was named Yisroel after his father's father, Reb Yisroel, the Rebbe of Ruzhin.

When Reb Yisroel turned fourteen he married his second cousin Nechama Gitel, a granddaughter of his uncle Reb Avrohom Yaakov, the Rebbe of Sadiger . After his wedding he returned to Husiatyn to learn under his father's guidance.

With the outbreak of the First World War the town of Husyatin was badly damaged, and the Rebbe was forced to flee to Vienna where he settled together with the other Rebbes of the Ruzhiner dynasty. In Vienna Rabbi Yaakov became active in Zionist causes

Reb Yisroel had a deep love for Eretz Israel. When one of the rebbes of Ruzhin died, plans were made to establish a Ruzhin section in the Jewish cemetery in Vienna. The rebbe of Husiatyn stated that there would be no need to take him into account as he proposed to emigrate to Eretz Israel. And so it was, during the 1930s, Reb Yisroel made plans to make aliyah. He traveled around Europe to bid farewell to his followers and warn them of the impeding danger. He urged them to make aliya and leave Europe.

Just before he emigrated, the Rebbe travelled around Europe to bid farewell to his chassidim. He exhorted them to follow him saying, "Anyone who has common sense will flee from here as fast as he can."

A big house was bought for the Rebbe on Rechov Bialik in Tel Aviv and in Shvat 5697 (1937) the Rebbe and his son-in-law, Reb Yaakov, docked at Haifa.

Reb Yisroel led his chassidim for over fifty years until his death on the twenty ninth of Kislev 5709 (1949).

Rabbi Yaakov is remembered best for the final twenty years of his life, when he lived in Tel-Aviv.  That period – 1937-1956 – was a critical era in Jewish history; a period of tragic destruction followed by miraculous rebirth. 

 He was succeeded by his son in law Reb Yaakov.

The third Rebbe of Husiatyn

Reb Yaakov Friedman was the youngest son Reb Yitzchok, the Bohusher Rebbe.  He was born in was born in 1878.  He succeeded his father in law Reb Yisroel Friedman, the 2nd Rebbe of Husiatyn. He continued the dynasty until his death in Ellul 5728 (1957) when his son Reb Yitzchok took over.

The fourth Rebbe of Husiatyn

Reb Yitzchok born in 1900 – died 1968. Reb Yitzchok only had one son, Mordechai Shraga, who died at a young age. When Reb Yitzchok died in 1968, the Husiatyn dynasty ended.

Today, what remains of this branch of the noble Ruzhin Chassidic court is the Beit Midrash on Bialik Street in Tel-Aviv that continues to be used for prayer and study and the writings of Rabbi Yaakov and to a lesser extent those of his son Rabbi Yitzḥak.

Sources:  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Judaica, The Golden Dynasty, The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education

Reb Yisroel Friedman 

  Reb Yitzchok Friedman

  Home of the Husiatyner Rebbe in Husiatyn

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Last updated 12/26/08 by ELR
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