Abraham Kalisker
Encyclopedia
Rabbi
Abraham Ben Alexander Ha-Kohen of Kalisk (1741–1810) was a prominent Chassidic
Rebbe
of the 3rd generation of Chassidic leaders. He was a disciple of Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch who was the successor of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov.
partner of Rabbi Elijah, the Vilna Gaon
, who became the leader of the opposition against Chassidic Judaism- the Misnagdim
.
Rabbi Abraham and his Chassidim were prominent among the Chassidic movement with their emotional approach towards the service of G-d and their opposition against the intellectual elitism of the establishment's scholars (Misnagdim
). After the death of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch, most of the opposition against the Chassidism was directed against Rabbi Abraham and his disciples.
In 1777, Rabbi Abraham joined the first Chassidic aliyah
under the leadership of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk
and emigrated to the Holy Land
. He died in Tiberias on the 4th of Shevat
of the year 5570 from creation (1810 CE).
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Abraham Ben Alexander Ha-Kohen of Kalisk (1741–1810) was a prominent Chassidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
of the 3rd generation of Chassidic leaders. He was a disciple of Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch who was the successor of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov.
Biography
In his youth, Rabbi Abraham was a studyTorah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
partner of Rabbi Elijah, the Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
, who became the leader of the opposition against Chassidic Judaism- the Misnagdim
Misnagdim
Misnagdim or Mitnagdim is a Hebrew word meaning "opponents". It is the plural of misnaged or mitnaged. Most prominent among the Misnagdim was Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman , commonly known as the Vilna Gaon or the Gra...
.
Rabbi Abraham and his Chassidim were prominent among the Chassidic movement with their emotional approach towards the service of G-d and their opposition against the intellectual elitism of the establishment's scholars (Misnagdim
Misnagdim
Misnagdim or Mitnagdim is a Hebrew word meaning "opponents". It is the plural of misnaged or mitnaged. Most prominent among the Misnagdim was Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman , commonly known as the Vilna Gaon or the Gra...
). After the death of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch, most of the opposition against the Chassidism was directed against Rabbi Abraham and his disciples.
In 1777, Rabbi Abraham joined the first Chassidic aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
under the leadership of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk
Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk
Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk , also known as Menachem Mendel of Horodok, was an early leader of Hasidic Judaism. Part of the third generation of Hasidic leaders, he was the primary disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch...
and emigrated to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
. He died in Tiberias on the 4th of Shevat
Shevat
Shevat is the fifth month of the civil year and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 30 days...
of the year 5570 from creation (1810 CE).