Yosef Leifer
Encyclopedia
Yosef Leifer was the first Rebbe
and founder of the Pittsburg (Hasidic dynasty)
Hasidic
dynasty in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, which he led for 42 years. Known as the Tzidkas Yosef after the name of his posthumously-published sefer
, he was a scion of the Nadvorna
dynasty.
. His paternal ancestry goes back to Grand Rabbi Meir the Great of Premishlan
, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Yosef's five brothers also became leaders of Hasiduts; they were: Rabbi Meir Leifer, first Grand Rabbi of Cleveland-New York
, Rabbi Isamar Leifer, first Grand Rabbi of Bushtina, Rabbi David Leifer, Grand Rabbi of Bania, Rabbi Aharon Moshe Leifer of Grosswardein
, and Rabbi Sholom Leifer, Grand Rabbi of Brighton Beach
. He also had several sisters. His father died in 1906, when he was 15 years old.
He married in 1917 and lived in Krula, Hungary for the next 7 years. He had four sons. The eldest, Avraham Abba
, was the only one who survived him and acceded to the position of Pittsburger Rebbe after his death. His youngest son, Yitzchak Eizik, died at the age of 11; two other sons, Yissachar Ber and Mordechai, were murdered by the Nazis
in 1944.
Though the family now lived in America, Rabbi Yosef sent his three oldest sons to learn in yeshiva
s in Europe. Avraham Abba went to the Rachover Yeshiva in 1930. He excelled in his studies and received rabbinic ordination
there at the age of 17. He also learned in the yeshiva in Sekelheid — considered to be the crown of Hungarian yeshivas. In 1939 he married the daughter of Rabbi Isamar of Nadvorna. Due to the political situation in Europe, his parents were unable to attend the wedding.
While his two brothers were murdered by the Nazis, Rabbi Avraham Abba and his wife survived the war and returned to America in 1947. They settled in Newark, New Jersey
, where Rabbi Avraham Abba eventually established a Hasidic yeshiva
. Upon his father's death in 1966, he accepted the invitation of the Pittsburger Hasidim to succeed his father as Rebbe.
in Jerusalem.
In 1970, Rabbi Avraham Abba relocated the Pittsburg Hasidut to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod. Here he founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef, named in memory of his father, as well as established a Torah school for children and a kollel
for married men. After Rabbi Avraham Abba's death in 1990, his son, Rabbi Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer
, succeeded him as Rebbe and further built up the Hasidic presence in Ashdod with a cheder
, yeshivas, and kollels.
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...
and founder of the Pittsburg (Hasidic dynasty)
Pittsburg (Hasidic dynasty)
Pittsburg is a Hasidic dynasty founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1924 by Rabbi Yosef Leifer, a Hungarian rabbi and descendant of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna...
Hasidic
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...
dynasty in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, which he led for 42 years. Known as the Tzidkas Yosef after the name of his posthumously-published sefer
Sefer (Hebrew)
Sefer in simple Hebrew is a word that means any kind of "book" It is derived from the same Hebrew root-word as sofer , sifriyah and safrut ....
, he was a scion of the Nadvorna
Nadvorna (Hasidic dynasty)
Nadvorna is a Hasidic rabbinical dynasty within Orthodox Judaism. The dynasty derives its name from the town of Nadvorna, known in Ukrainian as Nadvirna...
dynasty.
Early life
Rabbi Yosef was the son of Rabbi Bertche (Yissachar Dov Ber) Leifer of Navordna-Satmar, who was the son of Rabbi Mordechai of NadvornaMordechai of Nadvorna
Rabbi Mordechai Leifer was the son of Rabbi Yesochor Bertche Leifer , author of Sisrei Torah, and a great-great-grandson of Rabbi Meir "The Great" of Premishlan....
. His paternal ancestry goes back to Grand Rabbi Meir the Great of Premishlan
Premishlan (Hasidic dynasty)
Premishlan is a Hasidic dynasty.It was founded by Grand Rabbi Meir Hagadol of Peremyshliany - Dynasty :Grand Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism*The Great Grand Rabbi Meir Hagadol of Premishlan , disciple of the Baal Shem Tov...
, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Yosef's five brothers also became leaders of Hasiduts; they were: Rabbi Meir Leifer, first Grand Rabbi of Cleveland-New York
Cleveland (Hasidic dynasty)
There are two Hasidic Jewish dynasties known as Cleveland and both are considered to be a part of the Nadvorna dynasty.- History of the Clevelander New York dynasty:...
, Rabbi Isamar Leifer, first Grand Rabbi of Bushtina, Rabbi David Leifer, Grand Rabbi of Bania, Rabbi Aharon Moshe Leifer of Grosswardein
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
, and Rabbi Sholom Leifer, Grand Rabbi of Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
. He also had several sisters. His father died in 1906, when he was 15 years old.
He married in 1917 and lived in Krula, Hungary for the next 7 years. He had four sons. The eldest, Avraham Abba
Avraham Abba Leifer
Avraham Abba Leifer was the second Rebbe of the Pittsburg Hasidic dynasty and the instigator for the relocation of the Hasidut from its original location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod...
, was the only one who survived him and acceded to the position of Pittsburger Rebbe after his death. His youngest son, Yitzchak Eizik, died at the age of 11; two other sons, Yissachar Ber and Mordechai, were murdered by the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
in 1944.
Move to America
In 1924, Rabbi Yosef left his young family in Europe and traveled to America to raise money to marry off his orphaned sisters. When he visited the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the local Hasidic community asked him to stay and serve as their leader. Rabbi Yosef agreed and brought over his entire family, naming himself the Pittsburger Rebbe. He served as Rebbe until his death in 1966. Two of his brothers, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Sholom, followed him to America and founded their Hasiduts there as well.Though the family now lived in America, Rabbi Yosef sent his three oldest sons to learn in yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s in Europe. Avraham Abba went to the Rachover Yeshiva in 1930. He excelled in his studies and received rabbinic ordination
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
there at the age of 17. He also learned in the yeshiva in Sekelheid — considered to be the crown of Hungarian yeshivas. In 1939 he married the daughter of Rabbi Isamar of Nadvorna. Due to the political situation in Europe, his parents were unable to attend the wedding.
While his two brothers were murdered by the Nazis, Rabbi Avraham Abba and his wife survived the war and returned to America in 1947. They settled in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, where Rabbi Avraham Abba eventually established a Hasidic yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
. Upon his father's death in 1966, he accepted the invitation of the Pittsburger Hasidim to succeed his father as Rebbe.
Death and legacy
Rabbi Yosef died on 7 March 1966 (Shushan Purim 5726) and was buried on Har HazeisimMount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
in Jerusalem.
In 1970, Rabbi Avraham Abba relocated the Pittsburg Hasidut to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod. Here he founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef, named in memory of his father, as well as established a Torah school for children and a kollel
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
for married men. After Rabbi Avraham Abba's death in 1990, his son, Rabbi Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer
Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer
Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer is the third and current Rebbe of the Pittsburg Hasidic dynasty. Since succeeding his father, Grand Rabbi Avraham Abba Leifer, as Rebbe in 1990, he has expanded the Hasidic presence in Ashdod, Israel with new schools and institutions, and increased the number of...
, succeeded him as Rebbe and further built up the Hasidic presence in Ashdod with a cheder
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
, yeshivas, and kollels.
Rebbes of Pittsburg
- Yosef Leifer, the Tzidkas Yosef (1891–1961)
- Avraham Abba LeiferAvraham Abba LeiferAvraham Abba Leifer was the second Rebbe of the Pittsburg Hasidic dynasty and the instigator for the relocation of the Hasidut from its original location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod...
(1918–1990) - Mordechai Yissachar Ber LeiferMordechai Yissachar Ber LeiferMordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer is the third and current Rebbe of the Pittsburg Hasidic dynasty. Since succeeding his father, Grand Rabbi Avraham Abba Leifer, as Rebbe in 1990, he has expanded the Hasidic presence in Ashdod, Israel with new schools and institutions, and increased the number of...
(b. )