Yitzhak Aharon Korff
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Grand Rabbi Yitzhak Aharon Korff is the Rebbe of Zvhil–Mezbuz (a conjoined, or dual dynasty). He serves as chaplain of the City of Boston and spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Jacob, Zvhil–Mezbuz Beis Medrash of Boston and Newton, Massachusetts. He is referred to as "The Rebbe" by his followers. He is a Dayan "judge [of Jewish law]") of Boston’s Beth din ("rabbinical court") and Vaad HaRabbonim ("council of rabbis").
Rabbi Korff is a direct descendant of the Baal Shem Tov, the 18th century founder of the Hasidic movement, through the Baal Shem Tov’s grandson Rabbi Boruch of Mezbuz, known at the time as "The Rebbe" (Grand Rabbi), and founder of the Mezbuz Chassidic dynasty. Rabbi Korff is also descended from numerous other Hasidic dynasties, including Zlotschov, Chernobyl, Apta, Yampol and Karlin, as well as Zvhill.
He is also a descendant of the Chabad Lubavitch Chassidic dynasty through the Lubavitcher Mittler Rebbe's daughter and son-in-law Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass, son of R' Mordechai (Magid of Chernobyl).
He was educated at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, Yeshivas Eretz Yisroel, and Yeshivas Beis Mordechai (Zvhil) of Jerusalem, and tutored privately by masters of Hasidism and Kabbalah.
In addition, the Rebbe has a Ph.D., two law degrees, and several Masters degrees, from Columbia University, Harvard University, Boston University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and other institutions.
Rabbi Korff simultaneously combined careers as a rabbi, chaplain, lawyer, diplomat, businessman and entrepreneur, and subsequently also inherited his grandfather's position as a Hasidic Rebbe.
His first wife, Shari Redstone whom he divorced, was the daughter of Sumner Redstone Chairman of the Board and controlling shareholder of the Viacom and CBS Corporation media conglomerates, and is also the majority owner of Midway Games and is the owner of the National Amusements theater chain.
The Rebbe's second wife, the Rebbetzin, is a native of Jerusalem and a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov and the Hasidic dynasties of Zvhil, Zlotschov, and Tschernobl. She is the daughter of the Shomer Emunim Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Avrohom Chayim Roth of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, who is the son of Reb Areleh. Her mother, the Shomrei Emunim Rebbetzin, Rabbi Korff's third cousin, is the daughter of the previous Zvhiller Rebbe of Jerusalem, Rabbi Mordechai.
Rabbi Korff is also the author of Meshivas Nefesh Yitzchok: Insights of a Contemporary Chassidic Master, published (2001) in the original Hebrew/Yiddish/Aramaic and in English translation.
