Yisroel Hopstein (1737–1814),
also known as the Maggid of
Kozhnitz
Kozienice (; yi, קאזשניץ ''Kozhnits''; german: Koschnitz) is a town in eastern Poland with 21,500 inhabitants (1995). Located four miles from the Vistula, it is the capital of Kozienice County.
Even though Kozienice is part of Lesser Pol ...
,
was the founder of
Kozhnitz Hasidism, and a noted ''
hasidic
Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...
'' leader in Poland during the late 18th and early 19th century.
[ He was a student of both the Magid/]Dov Ber of Mezeritch
Dov Ber ben Avraham of Mezeritch ( yi, דֹּב בֶּער מִמֶּזְרִיטְשְׁ; died December 1772 OS), also known as the ''Maggid of Mezeritch'', was a disciple of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (the Baal Shem Tov), the founder of Hasidic ...
and Elimelech of Lizhensk
Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk (1717–March 11, 1787) was a rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. He was known after his hometown, Leżajsk ( yi, ליזשענסק, translit=Lizhensk) near Rzeszów in Poland. He was ...
, and wrote many books on Chassidus and Kabbalah
Kabbalah ( he, קַבָּלָה ''Qabbālā'', literally "reception, tradition") is an esoteric method, discipline and Jewish theology, school of thought in Jewish mysticism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ( ''Məqūbbāl'' "rece ...
.
He is sometimes referred to as "the Avodat Yisrael" for his works.
Biography
Hopstein was born in Opatów
Opatów (; yi, אַפּטאַ, אַפּט) is a town in southeastern Poland, within Opatów County in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy Cross Province). Historically, it was part of a greater region called Lesser Poland. In 2012 the populatio ...
, to his father, Shabbetai, who was at an advanced age, after having received a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov
Israel ben Eliezer (1698 – 22 May 1760), known as the Baal Shem Tov ( he, בעל שם טוב, ) or as the Besht, was a Jewish mystic and healer who is regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism. "Besht" is the acronym for Baal Shem Tov, which ...
. The father was a bookbinder; his mother's name was Perl.
As a young child he was recognized as an ''illui
''Illui'' ( he, עילוי or עלוי also ilui; pronounced plural: ''illuim'') is a young Torah and Talmudic prodigy or genius. The Hebrew term and title is applied to exceptional Talmudic scholars among Orthodox Jews. It is used among Engli ...
'' (prodigy). He studied under the tutelage of Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg
Shmuel Shmelke HaLevi Horowitz of Nikolsburg (Yiddish: שמואל שמעלקי הלוי הורוויץ פון ניקאלשפורג, ; 1726 – April 28, 1778) also known as the Rebbe Reb Shmelke was an early Hasidic master and kabbalist, who is am ...
, who eventually convinced Hopstein to learn with Dov Ber, the ''Maggid of Mezritch''. After the passing of Dov Ber, he went to learn with Elimelech of Lizhensk
Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk (1717–March 11, 1787) was a rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. He was known after his hometown, Leżajsk ( yi, ליזשענסק, translit=Lizhensk) near Rzeszów in Poland. He was ...
.
Hopstein lived for years in Kozhnitz (Kozienice), was founder of the Kozhnitz Hasidic dynasty, and died the 14th of Tishrei (September 28, 1814).
Family
Hopstein was married to Royze. They had 3 children, (two sons and one daughter):
* Rabbi Moshe Elyakim who eventually replaced his father as Rebbe after Hopstein's death,
* Leah Perl (who married Avi Ezra Zelig Shapira, Rabbi of Grenitz), and,
* Mottel, who died in his youth.
* His great-grandson was Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira of Piaseczna.
Works
Hopstein authored many works, including:
Avodat Yisrael
a commentary on the Torah and Pirkei Avot
Pirkei Avot ( he, פִּרְקֵי אָבוֹת; also transliterated as ''Pirqei Avoth'' or ''Pirkei Avos'' or ''Pirke Aboth''), which translates to English as Chapters of the Fathers, is a compilation of the ethics, ethical teachings and Maxim ...
* Beit Yisrael on Talmud
* Chidushei Maggid Mishna on Mishnayot
* Geulat Yisrael on Maharal's works
Gevurat Yisrael
a commentary on the Haggadah of Pesach
The Haggadah ( he, הַגָּדָה, "telling"; plural: Haggadot) is a Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. According to Jewish practice, reading the Haggadah at the Seder table is a fulfillment of the mitzvah to each Jew ...
Nezer Yisrael
a commentary on the Zohar
The ''Zohar'' ( he, , ''Zōhar'', lit. "Splendor" or "Radiance") is a foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah (the five ...
* She'erit Yisrael on Midrash,
Ta'amei Mitzvot
a commentary on the 613 Mitzvot
The Jewish tradition that there are 613 commandments ( he, תרי״ג מצוות, taryag mitzvot) or mitzvot in the Torah (also known as the Law of Moses) is first recorded in the 3rd century AD, when Rabbi Simlai mentioned it in a sermon that is ...
* Yakar MiPaz on Torah
Or Yisrael
a commentary on the Tikunei HaZohar
Tikunei haZohar (תקוני הזהר, lit. "Repairs of the ''Zohar''"), also known as the ''Tikunim'' (תקונים), is a main text of the Kabbalah which was composed in the 14th century.
It is a separate appendix to the ''Zohar'' consisting ...
References
*
1737 births
1814 deaths
People from Opatów
Hasidic rebbes
Polish Hasidic rabbis
Hasidic rabbis in Europe
Maggidim
Kozhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Students of Dov Ber of Mezeritch
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