Kupishnitz Rebbe • The new 'senior' of Beit Ruzhin

The title the Rebbes of Beit Ruzhin is unofficial - but is a long-standing Ruzhin tradition.

The Ruzhin chassidus was characterized by the special connection between the Rebbes of the dynasty. They usually worked together in collaboration, and together came to action. At the head was the oldest of the crowd, and under neath him the others, regardless of the scope of the chassidim.


It started after most of the elders of the Rebbes of Ruzhin had passed away, and his son the Rebbe Rabbi David Moshe of Tshrotkov outlived his brother.


He led a huge empire. And the family Rebbes went to him and he decided on many of the issues of the chassiduses.


Later it was the second Rebbe of Tshrotkov - Rebbe Rabbi Ysrael ztvk"l who was the oldest after most Rebbes of Ruzhin moved from Galicia to Vienna.

He was a Jewish leader and member of Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Yisrael. His impact crossed the borders. His nephews the Rebbes the 'Avir Yaakov' of Sadigura and his brother in law Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Kupishnitz, who later were also leaders of Agudath Yisrael canceled themselves and said they were students of Rabbi Yisrael of Tshrotkov.


Before World War I he established the Federation of Haredim in Chernowitz with the Rebbes of the dynasty and Rebbes of Vizhnitz – who later became part of Agudath Yisrael.

The approach and attitude of Rabbi Yisrael ztvk"l of Tshrotkov to Israel, is the one that led the way for the family Rebbes years later.


Even after many entreaties from the chassidim to return to Galicia he refused and said he is heading to Israel, and led the family to immigrate to Israel. He himself did not merit it and died in Vienna, but his cousin Rabbi Yisrael of Hosiatin and other Rebbes came and settled in Tel Aviv.

A new era in Israel
After his death a new era began in Ruzhin in Israel. At the head of the family stood the old Rebbe Rabbi Yisrael of Hosiatin who was the last grandson - a son of the son of the Ruzhin Rebbe.


The relationship and effacement of the other Rebbes was incredible. On every single issue they went to ask and consult with him, and they listened to his every word. It was a moving spectacle to see the Rebbes family gathered at his house to hear him say "Kaddish" on the hillula of his father.


He was also the one who ordered his nephew Rabbi of Kupishnitz zt"l to settle in the U.S. and not immigrate to Israel, and all his life he would say "I am my uncle's ambassador to the United States."

With the death of most of the Rebbes of Beit Ruzhin who lived in Tel Aviv the Rebbe Rabbi Yitzhak of Buhush became the senior Rebbe. When he saw that the press wrote this title he would tell a joke, I was always the young Rebbe and now I am a senior Rebbe. "He was the one behind the coronation of the Boyan Rebbe Shlita, and all followers of Beit Ruzhin went to him.


With his death in תשנ"ב, the Sadigura Rebbe ztvk"l became the senior Rebbe in the family. His ties with the other Rebbes were extraordinary. He led and steered the way in terms of the leadership and Agudath Yisrael in particular.

Now, with the sudden death yesterday – The Kupishnitz Rebbe Shlita is the senior Rebbe in the family.


The Kupishnitz Rebbe was born in Tel Aviv during the time that the Rebbes came from Vienna to Israel. He grew up in the home of his uncle the 'Avir yosef' of Sadigura, and merited to sit on the lap of his uncle the senior Rebbe of Hositain. .


The Kupishnitz Rebbe had a special relationship with the Sadigura Rebbe ztvk"l. Many times he would consult with the Rebbe and there was a special and exceptional friendship between them.


In recent years at every aliyah to the Torah he would make a special mi sheberach for the recovery of the Sadigura Rebbe.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!