Siget (Hasidic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Siget or Ujhel-Siget or Sighet Hasidism
or Sigter Hasidim is a movement of Hungarian
Haredi
Jews
who adhere to Hasidism
, and who are referred to as Sigeter Hasidim.
Sighet Hasidism originated in the town of Siget (now Sighetu Marmaţiei
, Romania
), at that time in the Kingdom of Hungary
. Siget is the parent dynasty of the more famous Satmar hasidic dynasty. Since 1980 the leadership of Siget and Satmar
have been united in the person of the Admor of Satmar, though the two groups continue to operate separate synagogue
s and retain differences in certain customs.
was brought to Hungary by Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhel
(known as the "Yismacj Moshe"), a disciple of the "Chozeh of Lublin" Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin
, the Sighet Hasidic dynasty began with Rabbi
Zalman Leib Teitelbaum (1808–1883) his grandson. The town of Sighet was in need of a Rav
to lead the Beis Din
and answer the Jewish townspeople's religious questions. Teitelbaum applied and was accepted. During his career he authored his famous book, Yetev Lev.
He was succeeded by his son Rabbi Chanaya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum (d.1904) Rabbi Chanaya Yom Tov Lipa's most famous contribution to Sighter Hasidus is the work Kedushas Yom Tov, a commentary on the Chumash. After him it would become customary for the Rebbe of Sighet to author a commentary on the Torah
. He was also the father of Rabbi
Joel Teitelbaum
who, at the time, was known as the illui
(child prodigee) from Sighet.
After his passing in 1904 it was not clear which of his sons would succeed him. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum
was his oldest son, and thus the apparent heir; but Joel Teitelbaum
was the most famous of his children. Rabbi Joel accepted a position as the posek
and Av Beis Din
of the town of Satmar, and Rabbi Chaim Tzvi took inherited leadership of Sighet. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi authored his own work, Atzei Chaim, a name by which he himself is commonly known. He had two sons, who he orphaned early in life: Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, who succeeded him; and Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum.
and Spain
, was thus perceived as a relative haven for Jews and many Jew who could have escaped to Romania
remained in Hungary believing it to be safe. Jews from other points in Europe, including the Admor from Belz, also sneaked into Hungary to escape the Holocaust.
In 1944, however, Germany invaded Hungary and deported its Jews to the Auschwitz concentration camp
, including the inhabitants of Sighet. Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum and his family all died in Auschwitz, with the exception of Moses Teitelbaum.
After the Holocaust
, Moses Teitelbaum assumed control of the Sighet Hasidic group and was faced with many painful and difficult questions in Jewish law. He also had to cope with the loss of his wife and children. He survived the Holocaust and moved back to Sighet for a brief time before the persecution of religious Hungarians by the Communists became too great. He then moved to America.
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...
or Sigter Hasidim is a movement of Hungarian
History of the Jews in Hungary
Hungarian Jews have existed since at least the 11th century. After struggling against discrimination throughout the Middle Ages, by the early 20th century the community grew to be 5% of Hungary's population , and were prominent in science, the arts and business...
Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
who adhere to Hasidism
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...
, and who are referred to as Sigeter Hasidim.
Sighet Hasidism originated in the town of Siget (now Sighetu Marmaţiei
Sighetu Marmatiei
Sighetu Marmației , formerly Sighet, is a city in Maramureş County near the Iza River, in north-western Romania. It administers five villages: Iapa, Lazu Baciului, Șugău, Valea Cufundoasă and Valea Hotarului.-Geography:...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
), at that time in the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. Siget is the parent dynasty of the more famous Satmar hasidic dynasty. Since 1980 the leadership of Siget and Satmar
Satmar (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...
have been united in the person of the Admor of Satmar, though the two groups continue to operate separate synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s and retain differences in certain customs.
Founding
HasidismHasidic 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...
was brought to Hungary by Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhel
Moshe Teitelbaum (Ujhel)
Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum , also known as the Yismach Moshe, was the Rebbe of Ujhely in Hungary. According to Löw, he signed his name "Tamar", this being the equivalent of Teitelbaum, which is the Yiddish for "palm-tree"...
(known as the "Yismacj Moshe"), a disciple of the "Chozeh of Lublin" Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin
Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin
Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin, also Jacob Isaac of Lublin, or Y. Y. Horowitz , known as "The Chozeh of Lublin" , or simply as the "Chozeh", was a Hasidic rebbe from Poland....
, the Sighet Hasidic dynasty began with Rabbi
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...
Zalman Leib Teitelbaum (1808–1883) his grandson. The town of Sighet was in need of a Rav
Rav
Rav is the Hebrew word for rabbi. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi....
to lead the Beis Din
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
and answer the Jewish townspeople's religious questions. Teitelbaum applied and was accepted. During his career he authored his famous book, Yetev Lev.
He was succeeded by his son Rabbi Chanaya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum (d.1904) Rabbi Chanaya Yom Tov Lipa's most famous contribution to Sighter Hasidus is the work Kedushas Yom Tov, a commentary on the Chumash. After him it would become customary for the Rebbe of Sighet to author a commentary on the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. He was also the father of Rabbi
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...
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...
who, at the time, was known as the illui
Illui
Illui is a noun derived from the Hebrew and Yiddish, meaning a young Torah and Talmudic prodigy or genius....
(child prodigee) from Sighet.
After his passing in 1904 it was not clear which of his sons would succeed him. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum
Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum
Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, , , the Sigheter Rebbe, author of Atzei Chaim, was the oldest son of Rabbi Chananyah Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum the Kedushas Yom Tov...
was his oldest son, and thus the apparent heir; but 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...
was the most famous of his children. Rabbi Joel accepted a position as the posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
and Av Beis Din
Av Beit Din
Av Beit Din, Av Beis Din, or Abh Beyth Diyn . was the second-highest ranking member of the Sanhedrin during the Second Commonwealth period. He presided over the Sanhedrin in the absence of the Nasi, and was the chief of the Sanhedrin when it sat as a criminal court...
of the town of Satmar, and Rabbi Chaim Tzvi took inherited leadership of Sighet. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi authored his own work, Atzei Chaim, a name by which he himself is commonly known. He had two sons, who he orphaned early in life: Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, who succeeded him; and Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum.
Destruction in Europe
It was during the reign of Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum that the Holocaust came to Hungary. Hungary was officially a German ally but had refused to send its Jews to Germany without knowing their exact fate. Hungary, like SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, was thus perceived as a relative haven for Jews and many Jew who could have escaped to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
remained in Hungary believing it to be safe. Jews from other points in Europe, including the Admor from Belz, also sneaked into Hungary to escape the Holocaust.
In 1944, however, Germany invaded Hungary and deported its Jews to the Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, including the inhabitants of Sighet. Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum and his family all died in Auschwitz, with the exception of Moses Teitelbaum.
After the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, Moses Teitelbaum assumed control of the Sighet Hasidic group and was faced with many painful and difficult questions in Jewish law. He also had to cope with the loss of his wife and children. He survived the Holocaust and moved back to Sighet for a brief time before the persecution of religious Hungarians by the Communists became too great. He then moved to America.