Malachim (Hasidic group)
Encyclopedia
The Malochim or Malukhim ("Malachim" in modern Hebrew pronunciation) is a small Hasidic
group with strong Monsey
and Williamsburg
connections. It adheres to the Chabad
school of Hasidic thought
which emphasizes in-depth Torah study, uses the Chabad nusach
of prayer, and focuses on the study of of Hasidic mysticism.
, also known as "The Malach" (lit. "the angel"), who arrived in New York in 1923. Levine had been one of the closest followers of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
and the tutor of his grandson, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn.
Once in New York, Levine became the rabbi of Congregation Nusach Ari in the Bronx. Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
, head of Mesivta
Torah Vodaas
, studied the Tanya
with Levine and encouraged his mesivta students to visit him so they could see this luminary. Many of them were inspired and decided to become followers of the Malach, starting a Hasidic quasi-dynasty known as "The Malachim." They began to adopt a more Hasidic style of dress, including "long black jackets and a very long tallis katan over their shirts, with the tzitzit
showing below their jacket hems". When The Malachim openly challenged Rabbi Mendlowitz's authority, they were barred from entering the mesivta by older students and in 1936, left Torah Vodaas to establish their own yeshiva called Nesivos Olam. (According to Quinn, they left on their own. However, according to Rabbi Meir Weberman, one of the Malach's followers, Quinn expelled them but later apologized.) After The Malach's death in 1938, the Malachim did not choose a successor.
Nesivos Olam, located at 204 Hewes St. in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, is led by Rabbi Meyer Weberman, although due to the rabbi's poor health, his son Rabbi Mordechai Wolf (William) Weberman, a prominent member of Neturei Karta
, serves as a semi-official leader.
movement, due to their shared anti-Zionist views.
Once a woman is said to have approached a former Satmar Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum
, complaining that her son had become a Malach [Hebrew for "angel"]. Rabbi Teitelbaum is said to have replied, "Don't worry. He won't fly away".
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...
group with strong Monsey
Monsey, New York
Monsey is a hamlet , in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the state of New Jersey; east of Suffern; south of Airmont and west of Nanuet...
and Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
connections. It adheres to the Chabad
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 Hasidic thought
Hasidic philosophy
Hasidic philosophy or Hasidus , alternatively transliterated as Hassidism, Chassidism, Chassidut etc. is the teachings, interpretations of Judaism, and mysticism articulated by the modern Hasidic movement...
which emphasizes in-depth Torah study, uses the Chabad nusach
Nusach
Nusach is a concept in Judaism that has two distinct meanings. One is the style of a prayer service ; another is the melody of the service depending on when the service is being conducted.-Meaning of term:Nusach primarily means "text" or "version", in...
of prayer, and focuses on the study of of Hasidic mysticism.
History
The Malochim were founded by Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine haCohenChaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine haCohen
Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine haCohen , known as "the Malach" came to New York in 1923. He was founder of the Malachim ....
, also known as "The Malach" (lit. "the angel"), who arrived in New York in 1923. Levine had been one of the closest followers of Rabbi 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:...
and the tutor of his grandson, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn.
Once in New York, Levine became the rabbi of Congregation Nusach Ari in the Bronx. Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz was an early leader of American Orthodoxy and founder of key institutions such as Torah Vodaath, a Yeshiva in Brooklyn, and Torah U'Mesorah, an outreach and educational organization. He is credited by many to have pioneered authentic Jewish education in the United...
, head of Mesivta
Mesivta
Mesivta is an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva high school for boys. The term is commonly used in the United States to describe a yeshiva that emphasizes Talmudic studies for boys in grades 9 through 11 or 12; alternately, it refers to the religious studies track in a yeshiva high school that offers both...
Torah Vodaas
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas is a yeshiva located in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.- History :...
, studied the Tanya
Tanya
The Tanya is an early work of Hasidic philosophy, by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1797. Its formal title is Likkutei Amarim , but is more commonly known by its opening word, Tanya, which means "it was taught in a beraita"...
with Levine and encouraged his mesivta students to visit him so they could see this luminary. Many of them were inspired and decided to become followers of the Malach, starting a Hasidic quasi-dynasty known as "The Malachim." They began to adopt a more Hasidic style of dress, including "long black jackets and a very long tallis katan over their shirts, with the tzitzit
Tzitzit
The Hebrew noun tzitzit is the name for specially knotted ritual fringes worn by observant Jews. Tzitzit are attached to the four corners of the tallit and tallit katan.-Etymology:The word may derive from the semitic root N-TZ-H...
showing below their jacket hems". When The Malachim openly challenged Rabbi Mendlowitz's authority, they were barred from entering the mesivta by older students and in 1936, left Torah Vodaas to establish their own yeshiva called Nesivos Olam. (According to Quinn, they left on their own. However, according to Rabbi Meir Weberman, one of the Malach's followers, Quinn expelled them but later apologized.) After The Malach's death in 1938, the Malachim did not choose a successor.
Nesivos Olam, located at 204 Hewes St. in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, is led by Rabbi Meyer Weberman, although due to the rabbi's poor health, his son Rabbi Mordechai Wolf (William) Weberman, a prominent member of Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta is a Haredi Jewish group formally created in Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine, in 1938, splitting off from Agudas Yisroel...
, serves as a semi-official leader.
Chabad
According to one leader of the Malachim, one significant difference is that Chabad involves itself with the affairs of the Israeli government, while the Malachim are staunchly anti-Zionist. Also, the Malachim acknowledge only the first four Chabad-Lubavitch rebbes as the legitimate rebbes of Chabad.Satmar
Many descendants of former Malachim have joined the SatmarSatmar (Hasidic dynasty)
Satmar is a Hasidic movement comprising mostly Hungarian and Romanian Hasidic Jewish Holocaust survivors and their descendants. It was founded and led by the late Hungarian-born Grand Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum , who was the rabbi of Szatmárnémeti, Hungary...
movement, due to their shared anti-Zionist views.
Once a woman is said to have approached a former Satmar Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum
Joel Teitelbaum
Joel Teitelbaum, known as Reb Yoelish or the Satmar Rav , was a prominent Hungarian Hasidic rebbe and Talmudic scholar. He was probably the best known Haredi opponent of all forms of modern political Zionism...
, complaining that her son had become a Malach [Hebrew for "angel"]. Rabbi Teitelbaum is said to have replied, "Don't worry. He won't fly away".