The first mention of a Rabbi in Munkács is in a book titled Keser Kehina (Crown of Priesthood) in an answer written in 5544 (1784) about a woman whose husbands whereabouts were unknown, written to the Exalted Rabbi Yehuda Leib, Chief Rabbi of Munkács. Rabbi Yehuda Leib passed away in 5549 (1789).
|
In 5550 (1790), Rabbi Avruhom GOTTESMAN was appointed Rabbi of Munkács. He passed away on 19 Tevet 5574 (11 January 1814).
|
The next Rabbi of Munkács was Rabbi Tzvi Avigdor ASHKENAZI, who was until then, the Rosh Beth-Din (Chief-Judge). He passed away in 5584 (1824).
|
After Rabbi ASHKENAZI's passing, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA, the Rabbi of Dinov, Galicia (Dynów, Poland today) was appointed Chief Rabbi of Munkács. He was the first Rabbi of the Munkács-SPIRA Hasidic dynasty in 5585 (1825). After four years, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA returned to Dinov where he passed away on 18 Tevet 5601 (11 January 1841). He considered himself a descendant of the Tribe Yisuscher and thus, authored Benei Yisuscher (Children of Yisuscher).
|
In 5590 (1830), Rabbi Ezriel GREEN was appointed Chief Rabbi of Munkács. He was one of the great disciples of the Choiza (Seer) of Lublin and authored Nachlas Ezriel (Legacy of Ezriel). He passed away in 5601 (1841).
|
Next, Rabbi Efraim Fishel HOROWITZ became the Chief Rabbi of Munkács in 5601 (1841). He was the son of Rabbi Yoikel HOROWITZ, Rabbi of Balichov, who was the brother of the famous Ropshitzer (Galicia) rabbi, Rabbi Naftuli HOROWITZ. During the reign of Rabbi Efraim Fishel HOROWITZ, the Jewish Orthodox community grew considerably and in 5605 (1845), he established the Jewish Hospital in Munkács. He insisted that only Orthodox Jews staff it and as the head of the hospital, he installed the tzadik (holy man) Dr. Avruhom FIKLER. Dr. FIKLER was the only moihel (one who performs circumcisions) in Munkács and the surrounding area. After about 20 years, Rabbi Efraim Fishel HOROWITZ passed away on 18 Kislev 5621 (2 December 1860).
|
For the next seven years, there was no appointed Chief Rabbi in Munkács, the Rosh Beth-Din, Rabbi Moshe FRIED performed the duties of the chief rabbi.
|
Then in 5627 (1867), Rabbi Chaim SOFER was appointed Chief Rabbi in Munkács. Rabbi Chaim SOFER, the son of Rabbi Mordechai Efraim SOFER, was born 5581 (1821) in Pressburg (Bratislava, Slovakia today). In his youth, he studied by the most illustrious rabbis of that era, the Chasam Sofer, Maharam Ash and the Sharei Tora. In 5611 (1851), he became Rabbi of Yemring (Gyomore, Hungary today) and in 5618 (1858) he became Rabbi of Sentfeter (Sajoszenpeter, Hungary today) and in 5627 (1867), he was accepted as the Chief Rabbi of Munkács, where he served until he became the Chief Rabbi of Budapest. After the civil war of Hungary in 1849, Kaiser Franz Josef gave religious civil rights to the Jewish people within his jurisdiction and the parliament was directed to write civil laws governing the Jewish communities. The Reform movement took over in Hungary and the Orthodox Jewish community was against it. Rabbi Chaim SOFER, one of the five rabbis that met with Kaiser Franz Josef, plead their case to sustain the Orthodox Jewish communities. Kaiser Franz Josef granted their request. Afterward, in 1869, the Orthodox Jewish community separated from the Reform movement. Rabbi Chaim SOFER passed away in Budapest on 25 Nisan 5646 (30 April 1886).
|
After Rabbi Chaim SOFER left to become Rabbi of Budapest, Rabbi Shlomo SPIRA, grandson of the previous Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA, was appointed as Chief Rabbi of Munkács in 5641 (1881). Under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo SPIRA, Munkács became one of the chief Hasidic centers of Hungary. He passed away on 21 Sivan 5653 (5 June 1893).
|
Next, Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA, son of Rabbi Shlomo SPIRA, became Chief Rabbi of Munkács. He was born in Strizov (Strzyżów, Poland today) 11 Tamuz 5610 (21 June 1850), while his father was rabbi there. He passed away 16 Tishrei 5673 (27 September 1912).
|
Next, Rabbi Lázár (Chaim Eluzer) SPIRA was appointed Chief Rabbi of Munkács and Bereg megye (county) in 1913 and remained chief rabbi until his passing in 1937. Rabbi Lázár SPIRA was born in Strzyżów, Galicia where his grandfather, Shlomo SPIRA served as Rabbi. Rabbi SPIRA assumed the position as Rosh Beth-Din (Chief Justice of the Rabbinical Court) in Munkács in the year 1903, where he served alongside his father until Rabbi Tzvi Hersch's passing in 1912, then he succeeded his father as Chief Rabbi of Munkács and the surrounding communities.
|
Rabbi Lázár SPIRA 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.
|
Rabbi Lázár SPIRA championed the causes of his needy brethren in Munkács and established a vast network of charitable institutions to ease their burden. He established elementary schools under the name Machzike Torah where children were taught under his constant guidance. His yeshiva (rabbinical college), Darkei Tshuva in Munkács, attracted hundreds of students from all corners of Eastern Europe who flocked to Munkács to study under his wing, many of them growing to become the next generation's rabbis, community leaders, etc. He was respected not only by the international Jewish community, but as well by the gentile world. He was visited by world leaders such as Czechoslovakian President Edvard Beneš as well as Tomáš Masaryk, Queen Wilhelmina of Holland and many others who sought his sagely advice and blessings. He was known as a "wonder rabbi" and "miracle worker". Rabbi Lázár SPIRA left an everlasting impression on Munkács and the entire world for generations to come.
|
After Rabbi Lázár SPIRA's passing in 1937, succumbing from a grave illness, he was succeeded as Chief Rabbi by his son-in-law, Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel RABINOWICZ, husband to Rabbi SPIRA's only daughter, Frima. Rabbi RABINOWICZ served as chief rabbi until the Nazi occupation of Munkács, in 1944.
|
|
~ Chief Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA ~
|
Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA was Chief Rabbi of Munkács from 1825 to 1829.
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA
Chief Rabbi of Munkács
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Benei Yisuscher (Children of Yisuscher)
by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
Agra Dekala (????)
by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Derech Pekidechu (????)
by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech SPIRA
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
~ Chief Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA ~
|
Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA was Chief Rabbi of Munkács from 1893 until 1912.
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA
Chief Rabbi of Munkács
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Darkei Tshiva (Ways of Responsa)
by Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Tiferes Bunim (Glory of Children)
Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Tzvi Tiferes (Glory of Tzvi)
Rabbi Tzvi Hersch SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
~ Chief Rabbi Lázár (Chaim Elazar) SPIRA ~
|
Rabbi Lázár SPIRA was Chief Rabbi of Munkács from 1913 until his passing in 1937. He was a prolific writer and below are only a few of his books.
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Rabbi Lázár SPIRA
Chief Rabbi and Hasidic religious leader
Photo: Courtesy USHMM Washington, D.C.
| |
Rabbi Lázár's Rabbinical Contract
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
8 Kislev 5674 (7 December 1913)
|
|
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Chaim Veshulem (Life and Peace)
by Rabbi Lázár SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Minchas Eluzer (Offerings of Eluzer)
by Rabbi Lázár SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Divre Huageres (Words of the Letters)
by Rabbi Lázár SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Chamisha Mamurois (Five Sayings)
by Rabbi Lázár SPIRA
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
~ Chief Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel RABINOWICZ ~
|
Chief Rabbi RABINOWICZ served as chief rabbi until the Nazi occupation of Munkács in 1944.
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel RABINOWICZ
Chief Rabbi in Munkács
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
Divrei Nevoinim (????)
by Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel RABINOWICZ
Photo: Courtesy Library of Congress
| |
Binas Nevoinim (????)
by Rabbi Baruch Yehoshua Yerachmiel RABINOWICZ
Photo: Courtesy Library of Congress
|
|
|
~ Chief Rabbi Ezriel GREEN ~
|
Rabbi Ezriel GREEN was Chief Rabbi of Munkács from 1830 to 1841.
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Rabbi Ezriel GREEN
Chief Rabbi of Munkács
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Nachlas Ezriel (Legacy of Ezriel)
by Rabbi Ezriel GREEN
Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
~ Chief Rabbi Chaim SOFER ~
|
Rabbi Chaim SOFER was the Chief Rabbi of Munkács from 1867 until 1880 when he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Budapest, Hungary.
|
[ Mouse over the image to magnify it or click the image to view a larger image. ]
|
Rabbi Chaim SOFER
Chief Rabbi of Munkács
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
Peles Chaim (????)
by Rabbi Chaim SOFER, while Rabbi of Yemring
Photo: Courtesy M.Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Kol Sofer (Voice of Sofer)
by Rabbi Chaim SOFER, while Rabbi of Budapest
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
Sharei Chaim (Gates of Life)
by Rabbi Chaim SOFER, while Rabbi of Munkács
Photo: Courtesy M.Y. EHRENREICH, USA
| |
Machna Chaim (Camp of Life)
by Rabbi Chaim SOFER, while Rabbi of Munkács
Photo: Courtesy M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
|
|
|
This page is hosted at no cost to the public by JewishGen, Inc., a non-profit
corporation.
If you feel there is a benefit to you in accessing this site,
your JewishGen-erosity is appreciated.
|
|
Created by:
Marshall J. KATZ, USA
Compiled by:
Louis SCHONFELD, USA
with assistance from:
M. Y. EHRENREICH, USA
Library of Congress
USHMM, Washington, D.C.
Amos Israel ZEZMER, France.
and the following:
JewishGen members/descendants and
contributors of Mukacheve Jewish families:
David FRIEDMAN, Israel
Louis SCHONFELD, USA
|
Updated: 13 December 2020
|
Copyright ©
2008 Louis SCHONFELD
All rights reserved
|
 |
Top of Page
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
