Mordechai Yosef Leiner

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Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica (usually pronounced and spelled in Yiddish as Ishbitza , Ishbitz, Izbitz or Izbitza) (1804-1854) was a student of the Rebbe Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (Przysucha, in Polish) and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (Kock, in Polish). He originally settled in Tomoshov (Tomaszów, in Polish), then moved with his teacher to Kock and then in 1839 moved to Izbica. His successor was Rabbi Yehuda Leib Eiger (1816-1888), grandson of Rabbi Akiva Eiger. His students included Rabbi Zadok HaKohen of Lublin (1823-1900) his son, Rabbi Yaacov Leiner (Radzyn) (1828-1878) and Rabbi Gershon Henoch, his grandson.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is credited with the recent popularization of the Rabbi Leiner's teachings. He apparently came across the Rabbi Leiner's work in an old Jewish book store. He is quoted as saying that after initially being perplexed as to the peculiar nature of the teachings he quickly realized that in it lay the "secret for turning Jews onto the deeper meanings of Judaism".

1 Hasidut
2 Relationship with Kotzk
3 Influence
4 Works
5 Bibliography
6 External Links
7 Timeline

[edit] Hasidut

Rabbi Leiner is best know for a doctrine of radical determinism, in which everything that all human activity is in the hands of heaven. His second most famous idea is that if everything is determined by God, then therefore, even sin is done because God determines it. He presents defenses of various Biblical sinnners, such as Korach, Pinhas, and Judah (in the incident with Tamar).

One of his most cited comments is on Leviticus 21:1 None shall defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin. Rabbi Leiner read the verse as a warning against the defilement of the soul. The soul is defiled when it is infected with the bitterness and rage that comes with senseless suffering and tragedy. Those who — like the Kohanim— would serve God, are commanded to find the resources to resist the defilements of despair and darkness. Despair is the ultimate denial of God; surrender to darkness, the ultimate blasphemy.

Alan Brill of Yeshiva University has suggested that the teachings of Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschutz may have influenced Rabbi Leiner's thinking.

[edit] Relationship with Kotzk

In 1839 Leiner had a public and dramatic falling out with the Kotzker Rebbe. On the day after Simchat Torah of that year, Leiner left Kotzk to form his own hasidic circle in Izbica.

The reasons given for the break are varied.

[edit] Influence

His thought influenced the mussar of Rabbi Isaac Hutner and Rabbi Moshe Wolfson.

Leiner's thought continues to have influence in the twentieth century, especially on Neo-Hasidism, and the teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.

[edit] Works

Mei Hashiloach 2 volumes

Living Waters : The Mei HaShiloach translated by Betsalel Philip Edwards

[edit] Bibliography

Alan Brill, Thinking God: The Mysticism of Rabbi Zadok HaKohen Of Lublin (Yeshiva University Press, Ktav 2002)

Morris M. Faierstein, All is in the Hands of Heaven: The Teachings of Rabbi Mordecai Joseph Leiner of Izbica (New York: Ktav, 1989) (2nd revised edition, Gorgias Press, 2005)

Shaul Maggid, Hasidism on the Margin (University of Wisc. 2003)

Allan Nadler, "Hasidism on the Margin: Reconciliation, Antinomianism, and Messianism in Izbica/Radzin Hasidism (review)" Jewish Quarterly Review - Volume 96, Number 2, Spring 2006, pp. 276-282

Rivka Schatz, “Autonomy of the Spirit and the Law of Moses” (Hebrew), Molad 21 (1973–1974), pp. 554–561

Joseph Weiss, “A Late Jewish Utopia of Religious Freedom,” in David Goldstein, ed., Studies in Eastern European Jewish Mysticism (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985)