Kapust
Encyclopedia
The Kopuster Hasidic dynasty was based on the Chabad
school of thought.
The first three Rebbe
s of Chabad were Shneur Zalman of Liadi
, Dovber Schneuri
, and Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
, also known as the "Tzemach Tzedek". When the Tzemach Tzedek died, he did not leave a clear successor. His son, Shmuel Schneersohn
became the Rebbe in the city of Lyubavichi
, known commonly as Lubavitch. Another son, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn
(the MaHarI"L, acronym for "Moreinu HaRav Yehuda Leib") became the Kopuster Rebbe (i.e., the Rebbe of Kopust or Kopes - accent on first syllable - known as Kopys
in Belarus
). However, he died soon after becoming Rebbe; his son Rabbi Shlomo Zalman took over the Kopuster dynasty thereafter. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman authored Magen Avos, a sefer on Hasidism.
The Tzemach Tzedek also left a number of other sons who became Rebbes respectively in the cities of Lyady
, Babruysk
, and Nizhyn
.
There is reason to believe that during his short-lived reign, the MaHarIL actually had more followers than the then Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel. However, after his passing, many Kopuster Chassidim returned to Lubavitch. Even so, evidence suggests that Kopust remained as large or larger than Lubavitch even into the leadership of the Rebbe RaSHaB
, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe.
There was very little antagonism between the branches of the Chabad hasidic movement - indeed the second and third rebbes of Kopes were sent to study in Lubavitch with the grandfathers and uncles. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe referred to the Rebbes of Kopes as "Admorim", (the acronym for Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabeinu, a term for a Chassidic Rebbe or Grand Rabbi), indicating his respect for the Kopes dynasty.
Yehuda Leib's oldest son Shlomo Zalman became the second Kopuster Rebbe on his death in 1866, on the latter's death in 1900 the Hasidim became followers of his brother, Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn of Kopys, who was then the Rebbe of Babruysk
. When the third Rebbe died in 1926 the Kopys Hasidim rejoined the then mainstream branch of Chabad hasidism, that of Lubavitch.
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
school of thought.
The first three 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...
s of Chabad were Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi , also known as the Baal HaTanya, , was an Orthodox Rabbi, and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism, then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia...
, Dovber Schneuri
Dovber Schneuri
Dovber Schneuri was the second Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic movement. Rabbi Dovber was the first Chabad rebbe to live in the town of Lyubavichi , the town for which this Hasidic dynasty is named...
, and Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
Menachem Mendel Schneersohn also known as the Tzemach Tzedek was an Orthodox rabbi and the third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement.-Biography:...
, also known as the "Tzemach Tzedek". When the Tzemach Tzedek died, he did not leave a clear successor. His son, Shmuel Schneersohn
Shmuel Schneersohn
Shmuel Schneersohn was an Orthodox rabbi and the fourth Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement.-Biography:...
became the Rebbe in the city of Lyubavichi
Lyubavichi
Lyubavichi is a rural locality in Rudnyansky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia.-History:The village is known to have existed in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth since at least 1654 . In 1784 mentioned as a small town , then a possession of the magnate Lubomirski family...
, known commonly as Lubavitch. Another son, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn
Yehuda Leib Schneersohn
Rabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn of Kopys was a Ukrainian Habad Hasidic rabbi, the second son of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, and founder and first leader of the Kapust Hasidim.-Life and career:...
(the MaHarI"L, acronym for "Moreinu HaRav Yehuda Leib") became the Kopuster Rebbe (i.e., the Rebbe of Kopust or Kopes - accent on first syllable - known as Kopys
Kopys
Kopys is an urban-type settlement in Vitsebsk Voblast, Belarus. First references are dated by 1059It is the birthplace of the current leader of the country, Alexander Lukashenko....
in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
). However, he died soon after becoming Rebbe; his son Rabbi Shlomo Zalman took over the Kopuster dynasty thereafter. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman authored Magen Avos, a sefer on Hasidism.
The Tzemach Tzedek also left a number of other sons who became Rebbes respectively in the cities of Lyady
Lyady
Lyady, Liady, or Liadi may refer to one of the following settlements:* Lyady, Smolevichi District, Smolevichi District, Minsk Voblast, Belarus* Lyady, Zhlobin District, Zhlobin District, Homiel Voblast, Belarus...
, Babruysk
Babruysk
Babruysk or Bobruysk is a city in the Mahilyow Voblast of Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus with a population of approximately 227,000 people . The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor , many of which used to inhabit the Berezina...
, and Nizhyn
Nizhyn
Nizhyn is a city located in the Chernihiv Oblast of northern Ukraine, along the Oster River, north-east of the nation's capital, Kiev. It is the administrative center of the Nizhynsky Raion, though the city itself is also designated as a district in the oblast...
.
There is reason to believe that during his short-lived reign, the MaHarIL actually had more followers than the then Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel. However, after his passing, many Kopuster Chassidim returned to Lubavitch. Even so, evidence suggests that Kopust remained as large or larger than Lubavitch even into the leadership of the Rebbe RaSHaB
Sholom Dovber Schneersohn
Sholom Dovber Schneersohn was an Orthodox rabbi and the fifth Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement. He is also known as "the Rebbe nishmosei eiden" and as "the Rebbe Rashab" .His teachings represent the emergence of an emphasis on outreach that later Chabad Rebbes would develop...
, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe.
There was very little antagonism between the branches of the Chabad hasidic movement - indeed the second and third rebbes of Kopes were sent to study in Lubavitch with the grandfathers and uncles. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe referred to the Rebbes of Kopes as "Admorim", (the acronym for Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabeinu, a term for a Chassidic Rebbe or Grand Rabbi), indicating his respect for the Kopes dynasty.
Yehuda Leib's oldest son Shlomo Zalman became the second Kopuster Rebbe on his death in 1866, on the latter's death in 1900 the Hasidim became followers of his brother, Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn of Kopys, who was then the Rebbe of Babruysk
Babruysk
Babruysk or Bobruysk is a city in the Mahilyow Voblast of Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus with a population of approximately 227,000 people . The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor , many of which used to inhabit the Berezina...
. When the third Rebbe died in 1926 the Kopys Hasidim rejoined the then mainstream branch of Chabad hasidism, that of Lubavitch.
Rebbes of Chabad-Kopes
- Rabbi Yehuda Leib SchneersohnYehuda Leib SchneersohnRabbi Yehuda Leib Schneersohn of Kopys was a Ukrainian Habad Hasidic rabbi, the second son of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, and founder and first leader of the Kapust Hasidim.-Life and career:...
of Kopys (1811–1866) - Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn of Kopys (1830–1900)
- Rabbi Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn of Kopys and Bobruisk (1846–1926)