Gedaliah Aharon Koenig
Encyclopedia
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
.
hasid during his teens. He was drawn to Breslov by Rabbi Abraham Sternhartz
, a key figure in the chain of transmission of Breslover teachings from the early generations of the movement to the later ones. Sternhartz was the great-grandson of Reb Noson Sternhartz
, who was the leading disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
. He immigrated from Uman, Ukraine to Jerusalem in 1936 and taught many students, producing Breslover leaders for coming generations. Rabbi Koenig became one of Sternhartz's leading disciples.
At age 18, Rabbi Koenig married Esther Yehudit, the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Moshe Ehrentrau of Jerusalem. His mentor, Rabbi Sternhartz, performed the wedding ceremony.
When the Jews of the Old City were expelled by Jordanian
forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
, Koenig followed Sternhartz to the neighborhood of Katamon. He eventually made his home in Meah Shearim.
It was Sternhartz who entrusted Koenig with the mission of establishing a Breslover community in Safed. Koenig gave his life for this cause, raising funds and working to establish this Torah center, beginning in 1967.
.
Koenig's one-room home in Meah Shearim was always open. He was known for his ability to connect with any Jew
, no matter his age or background, and gave practical advice to all who sought it.
Koenig died in Manchester, England on 23 Tammuz 1980, while working on behalf of the Breslover community in Safed. (This also is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Jacob Cordovero
of Safed, with whom he felt a life-long affinity.) His widow
, Esther Yehudit, died on Shavuot
day, 9 June 2008.
(in response to Nefesh HaChaim by Rabbi Chaim Volozhin
), and left many unpublished manuscripts filled with his chiddushim (new Torah
thoughts) on Likutey Moharan, Rebbe Nachman's major work.
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...
Hasid
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...
in Jerusalem, Israel, was the driving force behind the establishment of the Breslover 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...
, which is now led by his son, Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Koenig
Elazar Mordechai Koenig
Elazar Mordechai Koenig is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and the spiritual leader of the Breslov Hasidic community in Safed, Israel.-Biography:Rabbi Elazar Mordechai was born in Jerusalem to Rabbi Gedaliah Aharon and Esther Yehudit Koenig...
.
Biography
Born in the Old City of Jerusalem, Rabbi Koenig became a ChabadChabad
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...
hasid during his teens. He was drawn to Breslov by 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....
, a key figure in the chain of transmission of Breslover teachings from the early generations of the movement to the later ones. Sternhartz was the great-grandson of Reb Noson Sternhartz
Nathan of Breslov
Nathan of Breslov , also known as Reb Noson, born Nathan Sternhartz, was the chief disciple and scribe of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, founder of the Breslov Hasidic dynasty. Reb Noson is credited with preserving, promoting and expanding the Breslov movement after the Rebbe's death...
, who was the leading disciple 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....
. He immigrated from Uman, Ukraine to Jerusalem in 1936 and taught many students, producing Breslover leaders for coming generations. Rabbi Koenig became one of Sternhartz's leading disciples.
At age 18, Rabbi Koenig married Esther Yehudit, the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Moshe Ehrentrau of Jerusalem. His mentor, Rabbi Sternhartz, performed the wedding ceremony.
When the Jews of the Old City were expelled by Jordanian
Arab Legion
The Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, Koenig followed Sternhartz to the neighborhood of Katamon. He eventually made his home in Meah Shearim.
It was Sternhartz who entrusted Koenig with the mission of establishing a Breslover community in Safed. Koenig gave his life for this cause, raising funds and working to establish this Torah center, beginning in 1967.
Scholarship
In addition to his work on behalf of the Breslover community in Safed, Koenig was renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of Breslover Hasidut and KabbalahKabbalah
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...
.
Koenig's one-room home in Meah Shearim was always open. He was known for his ability to connect with any Jew
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, no matter his age or background, and gave practical advice to all who sought it.
Koenig died in Manchester, England on 23 Tammuz 1980, while working on behalf of the Breslover community in Safed. (This also is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Jacob Cordovero
Moses ben Jacob Cordovero
Moses ben Jacob Cordovero, , was a central figure in the historical development of Kabbalah, leader of a mystical school in 16th-century Safed, Israel. He is known by the acronym the Ramak....
of Safed, with whom he felt a life-long affinity.) His widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Esther Yehudit, died on Shavuot
Shavuot
The festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
day, 9 June 2008.
Publications
He wrote Chayei Nefesh, a book explaining the meaning of binding oneself to the tzaddikTzadik
Tzadik/Zadik/Sadiq is a title given to personalities in Jewish tradition considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q , which means "justice" or "righteousness", also the root of Tzedakah...
(in response to Nefesh HaChaim by Rabbi Chaim Volozhin
Chaim Volozhin
Chaim Volozhin was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist, and ethicist. Popularly known as "Reb Chaim Volozhiner" or simply as "Reb Chaim", he was born in Volozhin when it was a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
), and left many unpublished manuscripts filled with his chiddushim (new 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...
thoughts) on Likutey Moharan, Rebbe Nachman's major work.