Chortkov

The Hasidic Synagogue in Chortkov

The palatial home of the Rebbe of Chortkov

Chortkov (also written as Tshortkov) is a Hasidic dynasty that had a large following before the Second World War, but lost most of its adherents in the Holocaust and has no Rebbe (spiritual leader) today.

The first Rebbe of Chortkov was Rabbi Dovid Moshe Friedman, a son of Rabbi Yisroel Friedman (the Rizhiner Rebbe). Rabbi Dovid Moshe's son was Rabbi Yisroel Friedman. Rabbi Yisroel ran his Chassidic court with the concept of Hod ShebaTiferes (Majesty in Glory; in Kabalistic terms). He died in 1934. After Rabbi Yisroel; his sons, Rabbi Nochum Dov Friedman and Rabbi Dov Ber Friedman, served as Rebbes. Rabbi Dov Ber died in 1936. Rabbi Nochum fled to Israel in 1939, and died in Jerusalem in 1946. His son Rabbi Shlomo Friedman led the Chortkover Hasidim until his death in Tel Aviv in 1959.

Among the current leaders of the Chortkover Chassidim are Rabbi Yisroel Friedman of Manchester, England and Rabbi Dov Ber Friedman of Antwerp, Belgium. Both are grandsons of the Chortkover Rebbe Dov Ber, but have refused the title of Chorkover Rebbe. In addition to the Chortkover communities in Manchester and Antwerp, there is also one in Jerusalem. [1]

Lineage of the Chortkov dynasty

Yisroel ben Eliezer (1698-1760) The Baal Shem Tov                                                                                                                       Dov Ber of Mezeritch (1710-1772) The Maggid of Mezritsh (disciple of the Baal Shem Tov)                                                                                                                       Avrohom the Angel Reb Avrohom HaMalach                                                                                                                       Sholom Shachne of Prhobisht Reb Sholom of Prhobisht                                                                                                                       Yisroel Friedman (1797-1851) Rebbe of Ruzhin                                           Father → Son                                                                                                                                 Dovid Moshe Friedman (1827-1904) 1st Rebbe of Chortkov                                         Son-in-law                                                                                                                               Yisroel Friedman (1854-1934) 2nd Rebbe of Chortkov                                                                                                                                                                                       Nachum Mordechai Friedman (1874-1946) 3rd Rebbe of Chortkov         Dov Ber Friedman (1882-1936) Rebbe of Chortkov         Zvi Aryeh Twersky (1890-1968) Rebbe of Zlatipol-Chortkov                                                       Shlomo Friedman (1894-1959) 4th Rebbe of Chortkov         Dovid Moshe Friedman (1914-1988) (did not become Rebbe)         Pinchos Biberfeld of Tel Aviv/Munich (d.1999) Rosh Kollel of Zlatipol-Chortkov and Chief Rabbi of Munich                                                                                                                                           Dov Ber Friedman of Antwerp Yisroel Friedman of Manchester Yitzcok Halpern of Bnei Brak son of Vasloier Rebbe Chaim Michoel Biberfeld of London Rebbe of Zlatipol-Chortkov

Image gallery

A portion of the ornately carved ceiling of the Hassidic Synagogue

The Holy Ark of the Hassidic Synagogue

See also

• Chortkiv

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