Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes
Encyclopedia
Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes וואלף קיצעס ' onMouseout='HidePop("17699")' href="/topics/Poland">Poland
) was a noted Hassidic rabbi.
He was the rabbi
of the Tulchin (Тульчин) community. Later he moved to Medzhibozh where he, together with Rabbi David Purkes, stood at the head of the group of Chassidim
that preceded the Baal Shem Tov. When the Baal Shem Tov arrived in Mezhibuzh, Kitzes and Purkes opposed him, however they later accepted and supported his leadership.
Kitzes was a student of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the Baal Tokeah (the one who blows the Shofar
) at the beit midrash of the Baal Shem Tov.
Rabbi Yitzchak Michelowitz of Radvil writes that Kitzes was famous for his piety and meticulous observance of Mizvot
, to the extent that "he would even [ritually] immerse a needle". In a book called Me'ah Shearim, it is mentioned that Kitzes was very strict about not eating meat that was made kosher with him not being present, even if his rabbi, the Baal Shem Tov was present.
Kitzes is buried in Medzhibozh next to the Ba'al Shem Tov.
There are many stories about him in the biography of Baal Shem Tov called Shivhei ha-Besht (In Praise of the Ba'al Shem Tov). Translation of some of these stories are available.
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...
) was a noted Hassidic rabbi.
He was the 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...
of the Tulchin (Тульчин) community. Later he moved to Medzhibozh where he, together with Rabbi David Purkes, stood at the head of the group of Chassidim
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...
that preceded the Baal Shem Tov. When the Baal Shem Tov arrived in Mezhibuzh, Kitzes and Purkes opposed him, however they later accepted and supported his leadership.
Kitzes was a student of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the Baal Tokeah (the one who blows the Shofar
Shofar
A shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
) at the beit midrash of the Baal Shem Tov.
Rabbi Yitzchak Michelowitz of Radvil writes that Kitzes was famous for his piety and meticulous observance of Mizvot
613 mitzvot
The 613 commandments is a numbering of the statements and principles of law, ethics, and spiritual practice contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses...
, to the extent that "he would even [ritually] immerse a needle". In a book called Me'ah Shearim, it is mentioned that Kitzes was very strict about not eating meat that was made kosher with him not being present, even if his rabbi, the Baal Shem Tov was present.
Kitzes is buried in Medzhibozh next to the Ba'al Shem Tov.
There are many stories about him in the biography of Baal Shem Tov called Shivhei ha-Besht (In Praise of the Ba'al Shem Tov). Translation of some of these stories are available.
Children
- Nachman Kitzes
- Ozer Kitzes
- Fyvush Kitzes
- Chaim Israel Kitzes
- A daughter married Rabbi Yosef the son of Rabbi David of MykolaivMykolaiv, Lviv OblastMykolaiv is a city located in the Lviv Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Mykolaiv Raion .The current estimated population is 14,800 ....
, a student of the Besht - Yehudis married the son of Rabbi David Purkes, a student of the Besht, and Chief Judge in the Medzhibozh Beth DinBeth dinA beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
- A daughter married into a prominent, wealthy family in the city of IaşiIasiIași 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...