Aleksander (Hasidic dynasty)
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Now nearly extinct, the Aleksander chassidim (also written as Alexander) were originally one of the larger sects in pre-holocaust Poland. Chassidic Jews from all over flocked to the small village of Aleksandrów Łódzki near Łódź, to spend the holiest days of the year under the presence of their spiritual leader, their Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchak Menachem Danziger (1879-1943). Their Rebbe attempted to remain neutral in political issues while emphasizing communal prayer and the study of Torah. His life ended in the concentration camp of Treblinka.
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[edit] History
The founder of what could actually be called the Aleksandrow dynasty was the son of a Tzaddik from Grojec, Yechiel Danziger (?-1894), the pupil of Israel Yitzchok Kalish of Warka.
His son, Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchok Danziger (1853-1910), however, was even more famous, and had a large group of followers. He was the author of Yismach Israel (Hebrew: "Be Joyful, Israel" 1911), which he wrote together with his brother, Shmuel Tsvi (d. 1923), who later succeeded him and authored the Tifers Shmuel. The teachings of the Tzaddikim who followed stressed ethics, mysticism and ecstatic religious forms, putting less emphasis on studying the Talmud. The followers of the tzaddikim from Aleksandrow were primarily merchants and artisans, especially from Łódź, where there were approximately 35 houses of prayer. After Shmuel Tsvi's death, the dynasty was continued by his brother, Betsalel Yair (1856-1934) and Shmuel Tsvi's son - Yitzchok Menachem Mendel Danziger (1880-1943), whose accomplishments included the expansion of religious schools in Łódź and in Aleksandrow. Unlike many Chasidic leaders of that period, he was not interested in politics. During the Second World War, he was in the Warsaw Ghetto. Refusing to leave for the Land of Israel, he died along with his family in Treblinka. The Chasidic community from Aleksandrow exists mainly in Israel to this day, but there are several small synagogues ["Shtible"] in Boro Park NY, Monsey NY, Antwerp (Belgium), England, and Australia.
- Grand Rabbi Shraga Feivel of Gritza
- Grand Rabbi Yechiel Danziger (d. 1894), disciple of Grand Rabbi Yisrael Yitzchak Kalish of Vorka
- Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchok Danziger (1853-1910), author of Yismach Yisroel, son of Rabbi Yechiel
- Grand Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi (d. 1923), author of Tiferes Shmuel, son of Rabbi Yechiel
- Grand Rabbi Yitzchok Menachem Mendel Danziger (1880-1943), author of Akeidas Yitzchok, son of the Tiferes Shmuel
- Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Singer, Rabbi of Aleksander, son in law of Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi
- Rabbi Yaakov Shraga Singer, Rabbi of Ostrov Maez, son of Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Singer
- Rabbi Yechial Menacham Singer of Aleksander of America, son of Rabbi Yaakov Shraga Singer
- Rabbi Yoseph Singer of Aleksander, son of Rabbi Yechial Menacham Singer
- Rabbi Yechial Menacham Singer of Aleksander of America, son of Rabbi Yaakov Shraga Singer
- Rabbi Yaakov Shraga Singer, Rabbi of Ostrov Maez, son of Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Singer
- Grand Rabbi Betzalel Yair Danziger (1856-1934), son of Rabbi Yechiel
- Grand Rabbi Yehudah Moshe Danziger (d. 1973), author of Emunas Moshe, son of Rabbi Betzalel Yair
- Grand Rabbi Avrohom Menachem Danziger (1921-2005), son of the Emunas Moshe
- Grand Rabbi Yisroel Danziger, present Aleksander Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of Rabbi Avrohom Menachem
- Rabbi Yerachmiel Yisroel Sekula of Sadovna a descendant of Rabbi Shraga Fevel of Gritza, after the Shoah a large number of Aleksander Chasidim prayed in his shul.
- Grand Rabbi Avrohom Menachem Danziger (1921-2005), son of the Emunas Moshe
- Grand Rabbi Yehudah Moshe Danziger (d. 1973), author of Emunas Moshe, son of Rabbi Betzalel Yair
- Grand Rabbi Yechiel Danziger (d. 1894), disciple of Grand Rabbi Yisrael Yitzchak Kalish of Vorka
[edit] Alexander Hasidism Today
Today there are two Grand Rebbes of Alexander, one in Bnei Brak, E. Israel, and one in America in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, New York.
[edit] Important Alexander Literature
In addition to those books revered by all Hassidim, the most important book to the Alexander dynasty is Yismach Yisrael, by the second Aleksander Rebbe, and also the Tiferes Shmiel by the third Aleksander Rebbe, and the Sefer Akeidas Yitzchock by the fourth Rebbe Rabbi Yitzchak Menachem Mendel Danziger. The sefer `Emunas Moshe` by the fifth Alexander Rebbe Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Danziger. and now the new sefer of the late Alexander Rebbe `Imrei Menachem` by Grand Rabbi Avrohom Menachem Danziger of blessed memory.
