.gif)
Rapoport-Bick (rabbinic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
The Rapoport
-Bick dynasty was the most important of all the non-chasidic rabbinic dynasties of Medzhybizh
, in Ukraine
. The Rapoport dynasty traces its roots back to Rabbi Jacob Emden
(1697–1776) who was involved in the Frankist
debates of 1757 and his father Rabbi Tsvi Hirsh Ashkenazi, known as the Chacham Tsvi (1660–1718). The Rapoports themselves are a long distinguished rabbinic family that traces its roots back to Central Europe
and Northern Italy
in the 15th century.
Here is a pedigree chart of the Rapoport lineage:
The first Rapoport rabbi to make his home in Medzhybizh was Rabbi Dov Berish Rapoport (d. 1823). He was the grandson of Rabbi Khaim haCohen Rapoport of Lvov (d. 1771), who was also involved in the Frankist debates. Rabbi Dov Berish became the head of the Jewish court (Av Beit Din) and spiritual leader of the entire Jewish community of Medzhybizh. However, in a dispute with Rabbi Moshe Khaim Ephraim, the Baal Shem Tov's grandson, around the year 1800, the non-Chasidic and the Chasidic communities separated into two groups. The Rapoport-Bick family continued to control the town's Jewish court. The Chasidic community at the time chose Rabbi Issachar Dov-Ber Landa to represent them in official matters. Interestingly, both Rabbis Rapoport and Landa are buried side-by-side in the Medzhybizh Jewish Cemetery, just a few steps away from the Baal Shem Tov's grave.
The Bick family were responsible for the official religious "business" of the community, such as relations with the Russian authorities and kashrut
rulings. They were based out of R. Joel Sirkes' synagogue in Medzhybizh - the town shul. The name, BICK, is an acronym in Hebrew for "Defender of the Faith." Other members of the family included R. Isaac Bick who was the head of the Beit Din in Medzhybizh until 1922 when he left for Rhode Island by way of Hester St. in NY City. His two Eldest sons also became rabbis, Shoyl (Shaul) in Brooklyn, and Hyam (Herman)in Massachusetts. There are still rabbis of the Bick family today who have congregations in Brooklyn
and in Israel
.
The last rabbi of any type to live in Medzhybizh was Rabbi Chaim Yechiel Mikhl Bick (1887–1964). He left in 1925 for New York. (This excludes any rabbis who may have been deported to the Medzhybizh ghetto during World War II
, of which no specific records survive.)
Rappaport
Rapaport, Rapoport or Rapa Porto is a family name from an Italian Kohenitic pedigree. It takes its origins in the Rapa family of Porto located in Province of Mantua, Italy.- Earliest history :...
-Bick dynasty was the most important of all the non-chasidic rabbinic dynasties of Medzhybizh
Medzhybizh
Medzhybizh, previously known as Mezhybozhe, population 1731, is a town in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine. It is located in the Letychivsky Raion , 25 kilometres from the Khmelnytskyi on the main highway between Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia at the confluence of the Southern Buh and...
, in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The Rapoport dynasty traces its roots back to Rabbi Jacob Emden
Jacob Emden
Jacob Emden also known as Ya'avetz, , was a leading German rabbi and talmudist who championed Orthodox Judaism in the face of the growing influence of the Sabbatean movement...
(1697–1776) who was involved in the Frankist
Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank was an 18th century Jewish religious leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of the self-proclaimed messiah Sabbatai Zevi and also of the biblical patriarch Jacob...
debates of 1757 and his father Rabbi Tsvi Hirsh Ashkenazi, known as the Chacham Tsvi (1660–1718). The Rapoports themselves are a long distinguished rabbinic family that traces its roots back to Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in the 15th century.
Here is a pedigree chart of the Rapoport lineage:
-
-
- R. Yakov Moshe Kohen Rapa (1400s)
- R. Abraham Menakhem Kohen Rapa
- R. Gershon Kohen Rapa (b. 1538), Porto, Italy
- R. Simcha Katz Rapa
- R. Moses Jeremiah Katz Rapoport, rabbi in ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
- R. Meir haKohen Rapoport (d. 1600), rabbi in BelzBelzBelz , a small city in the Lviv Oblast of Western Ukraine, near the border with Poland, is located between the Solokiya river and the Rzeczyca stream....
- R. Nakhman Rapoport (d. 1674), rabbi in Kamenets-Podolsky, PoznańPoznanPoznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, DubnoDubnoDubno is a city located on the Ikva River in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of Dubno Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast... - R. Simkha haKohen Rapoport (d. 1717)
- R. Khaim haKohen Rapoport (d. 1771), rabbi in LvivLvivLviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
- R. Arieh Leib Rapoport (d. 1759), rabbi in Prezwork
- R. Dov Berish Rapoport (d. 1823), rabbi in Medzhybizh, married into the EmdenEmdenEmden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
family - Rapoport-Bick (rabbinic dynasty)
-
The Bick family were responsible for the official religious "business" of the community, such as relations with the Russian authorities and kashrut
Kashrut
Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér , meaning "fit" Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus) is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha (Jewish law) is termed...
rulings. They were based out of R. Joel Sirkes' synagogue in Medzhybizh - the town shul. The name, BICK, is an acronym in Hebrew for "Defender of the Faith." Other members of the family included R. Isaac Bick who was the head of the Beit Din in Medzhybizh until 1922 when he left for Rhode Island by way of Hester St. in NY City. His two Eldest sons also became rabbis, Shoyl (Shaul) in Brooklyn, and Hyam (Herman)in Massachusetts. There are still rabbis of the Bick family today who have congregations in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
The last rabbi of any type to live in Medzhybizh was Rabbi Chaim Yechiel Mikhl Bick (1887–1964). He left in 1925 for New York. (This excludes any rabbis who may have been deported to the Medzhybizh ghetto during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, of which no specific records survive.)
Lineage of dynasty
- R. Dov Berish Rapoport (?-1823) - Married to Miriam Emden of the Emden rabbinic family. Grandson of R. Khaim haCohen Rapoport of Lvov. Leader of the Medzhybizh community until about 1800 when the official leadership split between Chasidic and non-Chasidic groups. Was Leader of the Court until 1803. Buried in the Medzhibozh Jewish Cemetery.
- R. Tsvi Arieh Rapoport (?-1840) - Married to Faige (Hinde). Head of the Jewish Court in Medzhybizh from 1803 until his death in 1840. Buried in Medzhybizh.
- Pesia Rapoport = R. Saul Issachar Berish Bick (1786–1854) - Head of the Jewish Court from 1840 until his death in 1854. Buried in Medzhibozh.
- R. Simkha Bick (1828–1896) - Head of the Jewish Court 1863-1868.
- R. Isaac Bick (1864–1932) - Head of the Jewish Court ending in 1902. Perhaps one of the most renown and beloved of all the Bicks. Born in Medzhybizh, in 1905 he was elected a member of the Russian DumaDumaA Duma is any of various representative assemblies in modern Russia and Russian history. The State Duma in the Russian Empire and Russian Federation corresponds to the lower house of the parliament. Simply it is a form of Russian governmental institution, that was formed during the reign of the...
representing the entire district. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1922 just ahead of his cousin (R. Khaim Yekhiel Mikhl Bick) and was one of the last rabbis of any type to live in Medzhibozh. Beis Yakov congregation in Providence, RI, brought him over from Holland with some of his family by way of New York City.
- R. Isaac Bick (1864–1932) - Head of the Jewish Court ending in 1902. Perhaps one of the most renown and beloved of all the Bicks. Born in Medzhybizh, in 1905 he was elected a member of the Russian Duma
- R. Tsvi Arieh Bick (?-1878) - Married to Fumet Margolioth. Head of the Medzhybizh Jewish Court 1868-1878. Buried in Medzhybizh.
- R. Khaim Yekhiel Mikhel Bick (1863–1887) - Married to Henya Yuta (Anita) Pregerson. Head of the Jewish Court at the time of his death. Wife was pregnant at his untimely death.
- R. Khaim Yekhiel Mikhel Bick (1887–1964) - Married to Miriam Gurvits. Was the last Av Beit Din of Medzhybizh, serving from 1911-1925. Was the last rabbi of any type to serve in an official capacity living in Medzhybizh (not counting any rabbis deported into the Medzhybizh ghetto during World War II). Immigrated to New York in 1925.
- R. Moshe Tsvi Bick (1911–1990) - carried on the dynasty in New York. Was known to be one of the great poskim (decisors of halacha) of the 20th century.
- R. Shaul Bick (1933-)
- R. Avraham Yehoshua Bick (1937-) - current Medzhibozher Rov, Bnei Moshe Medzhibozh Congregation, Brooklyn, New York.
- Rebbetzin Friedman - Wife of Rabbi Chaim Elozor Friedman, Tenke Rov of Boro Park, Cong. B'nei Usher, Brooklyn New York.
- R. Dovid Bick (1972-)
- R. Moshe Tsvi Bick (1911–1990) - carried on the dynasty in New York. Was known to be one of the great poskim (decisors of halacha) of the 20th century.
- R. Khaim Yekhiel Mikhel Bick (1887–1964) - Married to Miriam Gurvits. Was the last Av Beit Din of Medzhybizh, serving from 1911-1925. Was the last rabbi of any type to serve in an official capacity living in Medzhybizh (not counting any rabbis deported into the Medzhybizh ghetto during World War II). Immigrated to New York in 1925.
- R. Khaim Yekhiel Mikhel Bick (1863–1887) - Married to Henya Yuta (Anita) Pregerson. Head of the Jewish Court at the time of his death. Wife was pregnant at his untimely death.
- R. Simkha Bick (1828–1896) - Head of the Jewish Court 1863-1868.
- Pesia Rapoport = R. Saul Issachar Berish Bick (1786–1854) - Head of the Jewish Court from 1840 until his death in 1854. Buried in Medzhibozh.
- R. Tsvi Arieh Rapoport (?-1840) - Married to Faige (Hinde). Head of the Jewish Court in Medzhybizh from 1803 until his death in 1840. Buried in Medzhybizh.