Israel Friedmann
Encyclopedia
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...
(rabbi). Known as der heyliker rizhiner , "the holy one from Ruzhin", he was the progenitor of several Hasidic dynasties known collectively by the name Ruzhin
Ruzhin (Hasidic dynasty)
The Ruzhin Hasidic dynasty was founded by Rabbi Yisroel Friedman of Ruzhyn, . Today, Ruzhyn is an urban-type settlement in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. Rav Yisroel's father was the Rebbe Sholom Shachne of Prhobisht, who was a son of Rabbi Avrohom "HaMalach"...
.
As the son of Rebbe Sholom Shachne of Prhobisht
Pohrebysche
Pohrebysche is a town in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Pohrebyschensky Raion in western Ukraine. Pohrebysche is situated near the sources of the Ros River.-Names:Pohrebysche is also known as , , -History:...
, who was the son of Rabbi Avraham HaMalach, Rabbi Yisroel Friedman was a direct descendant of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritsh
Mezhirichi
Mezhirichi is a village in the Korets Raion of the Rivne Oblast, Ukraine. It is located in western Ukraine, 13 miles W of Korets, 27 miles E of Rivne.- Names :Mezhirichi is also known as , , .- Jewish life in Mezhirichi :...
who was the main disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
Only 6 years old when his father died, he was brought up by his older brother Rebbe Avrohom of Prhobisht
Pohrebysche
Pohrebysche is a town in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Pohrebyschensky Raion in western Ukraine. Pohrebysche is situated near the sources of the Ros River.-Names:Pohrebysche is also known as , , -History:...
. He showed outstanding qualities from childhood and at the age of 7 was engaged to Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Moshe of Berdychiv
Berdychiv
Berdychiv is a historic city in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Berdychiv Raion , the city itself is of direct oblast subordinance, and is located south of the oblast capital, Zhytomyr, at around .The current estimated population is around...
. At 13 Yisroel married and settled in Botoşani
Botosani
Botoșani is the capital city of Botoșani County, in northern Moldavia, Romania. Today, it is best known as the birthplace of many celebrated Romanians, including Mihai Eminescu and Nicolae Iorga.- Origin of the name :...
, Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
. Three years later his brother Rebbe Avrohom died and young Yisroel succeeded him as leader of the chasidim
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...
. After first moving back to Prhobisht
Pohrebysche
Pohrebysche is a town in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Pohrebyschensky Raion in western Ukraine. Pohrebysche is situated near the sources of the Ros River.-Names:Pohrebysche is also known as , , -History:...
and then Skvyra
Skvyra
Skvyra is a town in the Kiev Oblast of central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Skvyra Raion , and is currently a municipality of raion subordinance. Skvyra currently has a population of about 18,009 and an area of ....
, he finally settled in Ruzhyn, where he achieved the reputation of a great holy man and attracted thousands of followers.
Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin conducted his court regally, claiming descent from the Royal line of King David. He lived a life of apparent great luxury and surrounded himself with splendor, such as his carriage with silver handles drawn by four horses.
In 1838 he was accused of complicity in the death of two Jews suspected of being informers and was imprisoned for two years by the Russian authorities.
After his release he moved to Kishinev
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, then to Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
and other places before finally settling in Sadigora
Sadhora
Sadhora is now a microraion of Chernivtsi city, which is located 6km from the city center. Previously, it was an independent town.-History:During the Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Moldavia and Wallachia took measures to enhance the economic and...
, Bukovina
Bukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
(Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
) in 1842. There he re-established his court in all its glory. In 1847, his wife Sarah died, and he remarried to Malka, the widow of Rabbi Hersh of Rimanov. On the 3rd of Cheshvan
Cheshvan
Marcheshvan , sometimes shortened to Cheshvan , is the second month of the civil year and the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew...
1850 the Rebbe of Ruzhin departed this world and was buried in Sadigora
Sadhora
Sadhora is now a microraion of Chernivtsi city, which is located 6km from the city center. Previously, it was an independent town.-History:During the Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Moldavia and Wallachia took measures to enhance the economic and...
.
His six sons all established Hasidic dynasties, which include Sadigura
Sadigura (Hasidic dynasty)
Sadigura is a Hasidic dynasty, one of the branches of the Ruzhiner dynasty.The dynasty began with Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Friedman of Sadigura now located in Ukraine, who was a son of Rabbi Israel Friedman of Ruzhin, the founder of the Ruzhiner dynasty....
, Boyan
Boyan (Hasidic dynasty)
Boyan is a Hasidic dynasty named after the town of Boiany in the Ukraine. The Hasidut is presently headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, with communities in Beitar Ilit, Bnei Brak, London, Antwerp, Brooklyn, and Monsey, New York.-First Boyaner Rebbe:...
, Chortkov
Chortkov (Hasidic dynasty)
Chortkov is a Hasidic dynasty that originated in Chortkov, present-day Ukraine. It had a large following before the Second World War, but most of its adherents perished in the Holocaust....
, Husyatin
Husiatyn (Hasidic dynasty)
Husiatyn is the name of a Hasidic dynasty, whose founder was a scion of the Ruzhiner dynasty. Husiatyn is located in present-day Ukraine.It started with the Rebbe Rabbi Mordechai Shraga Feivish Friedman, the youngest son of Rabbi Israel Friedmann of Rizhin...
and Bohush.