Pilzno Chassidut
Encyclopedia
Pilzno Chassidut is a branch of Torah
Observant Judaism
, named for the town of Pilzno
in Southern Poland
. The late Pilzno Rav, Rabbi Yoseph Singer, was a community leader, and close friend and mentor to many individuals in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Among his notable ancestors are Rabbi Gershon Kitover, the brother in law of the Baal Shem Tov, Dov Ber of Mezeritch, Rav Aaron of Karlin, the Chernobyler, Rabbi Yisrael m'Ryzin, Rabbi Yechezkel Landau
known as the Noda B'yehuda and others.
Today, Pilzno chassidim are found primarily in Israel, England, and New York. The chassidut in the United States is led by the oldest great-grandson of Harav Singer, Harav Matisyahu Yakov Braver Shlita. Rav Singer sent HaRav Yehoshua Gerzi his close chosid to Israel to build and develop the chasidut.
Rav Gerzi is a native of London, England. He has studied at Yeshivas Gateshead, Derech Etz Chayim, and Mir. Rav Yehosha comes from a long line of important Rabbis, ashkenazi and sefardi such as the Vilna Gaon
, The Shla HaKodesh Elimelech of Lizhensk
, Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev
, Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz
, the Kabbalist Rav Yom Tov AlGarzi of Yeshivat Bet El, the Sdei Chemed and others.
In addition to his vigorous learning seder
, giving shiurim, and hosting many people at their warm shabbat
table, he also works in counseling, physiotherapy, music instruction and in various other fields.
His warm personality, together with his organizational/ delegating/ networking skills, his open- mindedness and non - judgmental ability to listen, attract many people from all walks of life to seek his guidance, advice and blessing.
Rabbi Gerzi is also close to a number of the leading Rabbis of the generation, from whom he seeks advice and guidance.
The Institute's resources include personal counseling, mentoring, networking, small-business development, leadership development, a scholarship fund for advanced adult education, a life coaching course, an organized and comprehensive learning program of kol haTorah kula (all of Torah), private health and exercise consulting, a website with sefarim on audio as MP3 downloads, and an emerging publishing house.
They are currently in the early stages of construction of a Beis HaMedrash which will be housed in the Ramat Shilo section of Ramat Bet Shemesh Alef. There, they will have daily minyanim and regular separate shuirim for both men and women.
"If you want to achieve success, speak to those who have achieved successfully what you wish to accomplish - it could potentially save you a great amount of time."
"If a situation does not go as planned, it is not necessarily our doing. However, the way we choose to relate towards the situation is in our hands."
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...
Observant Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, named for the town of Pilzno
Pilzno
Pilzno is a town in Poland, in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in Dębica County. It has 4,484 inhabitants . It is located at the junction of important roads - West-East European E40 Highway, and National Road 73 Pilzno is a town in Poland, in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in Dębica County. It has...
in Southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The late Pilzno Rav, Rabbi Yoseph Singer, was a community leader, and close friend and mentor to many individuals in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Among his notable ancestors are Rabbi Gershon Kitover, the brother in law of the Baal Shem Tov, Dov Ber of Mezeritch, Rav Aaron of Karlin, the Chernobyler, Rabbi Yisrael m'Ryzin, Rabbi Yechezkel Landau
Yechezkel Landau
Yechezkel ben Yehuda Landau was an influential authority in halakha . He is best known for the work Noda Biyhudah , by which title he is also known.-Biography:...
known as the Noda B'yehuda and others.
Today, Pilzno chassidim are found primarily in Israel, England, and New York. The chassidut in the United States is led by the oldest great-grandson of Harav Singer, Harav Matisyahu Yakov Braver Shlita. Rav Singer sent HaRav Yehoshua Gerzi his close chosid to Israel to build and develop the chasidut.
Philosophy
The four main pillars of the Pilzno philosophy as developed by Rav Gerzi under the guidence of Rav Singer are:- Guidance - The importance of having one or several mentors to influence and guide our growth and development (Corresponding to the י in Hashem’s name, and our spiritual state).
- Knowledge - The importance of creatively acquiring and applying knowledge. (Corresponding to the first ה in Hashem’s name, and our mental and creative state).
- Chevra - The importance of surrounding ourselves with a supportive network of friends. (Corresponding to the ו in Hashem’s name, and our social & emotional state).
- Physical & financial health - The importance of expending the necessary effort to be physically healthy and financially responsible. (Corresponding to the final ה Hashem’s name, and our social & emotional state).
Pilzno Institute of Higher Learning
The Pilzno Institute of Higher Learning was founded in 2003 under the guidance and direction of late Pilzno Rav in order to spread the teachings of torah and chasidut. Rabbi Singer,fondly known as Zaydi, requested that his close Chasid and Talmid, Rav Yehoshua Gerzi, become Pilzno Rav in Eretz Yisrael. Although he does not go by the title, he headed the Pilzno Shul and Institute based in Ramat Bet Shemesh Aleph, Israel.Rav Gerzi is a native of London, England. He has studied at Yeshivas Gateshead, Derech Etz Chayim, and Mir. Rav Yehosha comes from a long line of important Rabbis, ashkenazi and sefardi such as the Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
, The Shla HaKodesh Elimelech of Lizhensk
Elimelech of Lizhensk
Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk , a Rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement, was known after his hometown, Leżajsk near Rzeszów in Poland...
, Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev
Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev
Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev , also known as the Berdichever, was a rabbi and Hasidic leader. He was the rabbi of Ryczywół, Żelechów, Pinsk and Berdychiv, for which he is best known...
, Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz
Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz
Rabbi Naftali Zvi Horowitz of Ropczyce was born on the day that the Baal Shem Tov died, to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Rubin of Linsk. His mother Beila was the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchak Halevi Horowitz. Naftali Tzvi adopted the surname of his maternal grandfather.He was the first Ropshitzer Rebbe...
, the Kabbalist Rav Yom Tov AlGarzi of Yeshivat Bet El, the Sdei Chemed and others.
In addition to his vigorous learning seder
Seder
Seder is a Hebrew word meaning "order" or "sequence", and can have any of the following meanings:For Jewish holidays*Passover Seder, a ritualized dinner observed during Passover...
, giving shiurim, and hosting many people at their warm shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
table, he also works in counseling, physiotherapy, music instruction and in various other fields.
His warm personality, together with his organizational/ delegating/ networking skills, his open- mindedness and non - judgmental ability to listen, attract many people from all walks of life to seek his guidance, advice and blessing.
Rabbi Gerzi is also close to a number of the leading Rabbis of the generation, from whom he seeks advice and guidance.
The Institute's resources include personal counseling, mentoring, networking, small-business development, leadership development, a scholarship fund for advanced adult education, a life coaching course, an organized and comprehensive learning program of kol haTorah kula (all of Torah), private health and exercise consulting, a website with sefarim on audio as MP3 downloads, and an emerging publishing house.
They are currently in the early stages of construction of a Beis HaMedrash which will be housed in the Ramat Shilo section of Ramat Bet Shemesh Alef. There, they will have daily minyanim and regular separate shuirim for both men and women.
Pilzno Sayings
"In life, a person experiences two feelings, good and bad. Which one do you choose?""If you want to achieve success, speak to those who have achieved successfully what you wish to accomplish - it could potentially save you a great amount of time."
"If a situation does not go as planned, it is not necessarily our doing. However, the way we choose to relate towards the situation is in our hands."
External links
- http://www.pilzneronline.com
- http://www.pilznoonline.com
- http://www.thevillager.com/villager_189/rabbijosephsinger91.html
- http://rabbijosephsinger.blogspot.com
- Story about the Pilzno Rebbe