Elazar Mordechai Koenig (b. 1945) is an Orthodox

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 Jewish 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...

 and the spiritual leader of the Breslov

Breslov (Hasidic dynasty)

Breslov is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism...

 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...

 community in Safed

Safed

Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...

, Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

.

Biography

Rabbi Elazar Mordechai was born in Jerusalem to Rabbi Gedaliah Aharon

Gedaliah Aharon Koenig

Gedaliah Aharon Koenig , a respected Breslover Hasid in Jerusalem, Israel, was the driving force behind the establishment of the Breslover community in Safed, which is now led by his son, Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Koenig.-Biography:...

 and Esther Yehudit Koenig. His father was a leading disciple of Breslov elder Rabbi Abraham Sternhartz

Abraham Sternhartz

Abraham Sternhartz , also known as Avraham Shternhartz, was an Orthodox rabbi in Ukraine and a unique and unsurpassed figure in the chain of transmission of Breslover teachings from the early generations of the movement to the latter ones....

, who immigrated to Jerusalem from Uman, Ukraine in 1936.

Rabbi Elazar Mordechai is an alumnus of the Mir Yeshiva

Mir yeshiva (Jerusalem)

The Mir yeshiva , known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, is an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. With 6,000 students, it is the largest yeshiva in Israel. Many of the students are from the United States and Canada. It is also believed to be the largest yeshiva in the world...

 in Jerusalem. He studied kabbalah

Kabbalah

Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...

 with his father as well as with several leading Sephardic

Sephardi Jews

Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...

 masters, including Rabbi Mordechai Sharabi

Mordechai Sharabi

Rabbi Mordechai Sharabi was the founder and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Nahar Shalom, a yeshiva for the study of the Kabbalah of the Rashash, in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Mahane Yehuda....

.

In 1967, Rabbi Gedaliah Aharon founded the Breslov community in Safed and charged his son with completing the task of building this 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...

 center.

Today, Rabbi Elazar Mordechai heads the Safed Breslov community and its umbrella organization, Nachal Novea Mekor Chokhma Institutions. These include: Kiryat Breslov (a religious housing complex), 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...

, Yeshivas Magen Avos, the historic Trisk Synagogue in Safed's Old City, and a five-story Torah Center.

Influence beyond Safed

In 1997, Rabbi Elazar Mordechai founded the Breslov Center for Spirituality and Inner Growth, which organizes classes on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Nachman of Breslov

Nachman of Breslov , also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover , Nachman from Uman , was the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement....

, lectures, musical events and retreats in the Greater New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 area.

He also sponsors the annual Breslov Rosh Hashana gathering

Rosh Hashana kibbutz (Breslov)

The Rosh Hashana kibbutz is a large prayer assemblage of Breslover Hasidim held on the Jewish New Year. It specifically refers to the pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Hasidim to the city of Uman, Ukraine, but also refers to sizable Rosh Hashana gatherings of Breslover Hasidim in other locales...

 in Meron for Hasidim who are unable to travel to Uman.

His advice and blessings are sought by people around the world.

External links

• The Breslov Center for Spirituality and Inner Growth website