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, where their Rebbe lives, and Jerusalem in Israel. 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 dynasty started 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. In 1891 he 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.
Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Elazar Taub was born on 20 October 1886. He guided his Hasidim in Poland until 1938 when he fled Poland due to Nazi persecution. He made by way of Vilnius, Lithuania and Russia to Japan, and from there to Shanghai. 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 the last person to buried on the Mount of Olives until it was liberated in 1967. His teachings ahve been collected in the volumes of "Yiso Brokho" and "Imrei Shoul". He was succeeded by his son Rabbi Szmuel Eliyahu Taub.
Rabbi Szmuel Eliyahu was born in Lublin, Poland on 9 February 1905. In 1935 Rabbi Shaul and his son Rabbi Szmuel went on a pilgrimage to the then British Mandate of Palestine. While they were there Szmuel fell in love with the Land of Israel and asked his father if he could stay there. His father agreed and within a year Rabbi Szmuel's wife and their child came over to Israel. After his father's death in 1947 he succeeded his father as the Modzitzer Rebbe, to be known later as the Imrei Eish ("Words of Fire"). He continued the traditions of Modzitz both as a composer and Torah scholar. He died on 6 May 1984 (4 Iyor 5784), 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 Szmuel. 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 the headqaurters of Modzitz to a new building in Bnei Brak, Israel. Like his predecessors he composed numerous hasidic melodies and many of them are sung regularly in Hasidic synagogues. His opinion was highly regarded. Rabbi Israel Dan was 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 Grand Rabbi of Kuzmir.
The Modzitz Hasidim are well-known for their uniquely inspiring melodies and their devotion to serious learning of Torah and Talmud.
[edit] Lineage
- Grand Rabbi Yechezkel Taub of Kuzmir (d. 1856)
- Grand Rabbi Shmuel Eliyohu Taub of Zvolin (d. 1888), son of the Kuzmirer
- Grand Rabbi Yisroel of Modzitz, (1849-1920), author of Divrei Yisroel, son of the Zvoliner,
- Grand Rabbi Shaul Yedidyoh Eliezer Taub (1886-1947), author of Imrei Shaul' and "Yiso Brokho"', son of the Divrei Yisroel
- Grand Rabbi Shmuel Eliyohu Taub of Modzitz, (1905-1984), author of Imrei Aish, son of the Imrei Shaul
- Grand Rabbi Yisroel Don Taub of Modzitz (1928-2006), previous Modzitzer Rebbe, son of the Imrei Eish.
- Grand Rabbi Chaim Shaul Taub of Modzitz, present Modzitzer Rebbe, son of Rabbi Israel Dan.
