Kapust (Hasidic dynasty)
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The Chabad-Kapust Hasidic dynasty was based on the Chabad school of thought. The first three Rebbes of Chabad were Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Dovber Schneuri and Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, also known as the "Tzemach Tzedek".
When the Tzemach Tzedek passed away, he did not leave a clear successor. His son, Shmuel Schneersohn became the Rebbe in the city of Lyubavichi. Another son, Rabbi Yehuda Leib (the MaHarI"L, acronym for "Moreinu HaRav Yehuda Leib") became the Rebbe in Kapust (a Jewish tradition of the name for Kopys, Belarus, possibly a corruption under the influence of the Russian word kapusta, "cabbage"). However, he died soon after becoming Rebbe; his son Rabbi Shlomo Zalman took over the Kapust dynasty thereafter. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman authored Magen Avos, a sefer on Chassidism.
The Tzemach Tzedek also left a number of other sons who became Rebbes respectively in the cities of Liadi, Bobruisk, and Nezhin.
There is reason to believe that during his short-lived reign, the MaHarIL actually had more followers than the then Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel. However, after his passing, many Chassidim of Kapust returned to Lubavitch. Even so, evidence suggests that Kapust remained as large or larger than Lubavitch even into the leadership of the Rebbe RaSHaB, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Today however, only the Lubavitch line remains of the Chabad school of thought.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe referred to the Rebbes of Kapust as "Admorim", (the acronym for Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabeinu, a term for a Chassidic Rebbe or Grand Rabbi), indicating his respect for the Kapust dynasty.
[edit] References
- The introduction to HaYom Yom, a book written by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
