Yisroel Friedman

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The Tiferes Yisrael Synagogue in Jerusalem was named after Rabbi Yisrael Friedman who instigated its construction

Rabbi Yisroel Friedman of Ruzhyn (1797-1850) (Hebrew: ישראל פרידמאן מרוז'ין‎) was a Hasidic rebbe. Known as der heyliger rizhiner (Yiddish: דער הייליגער רוזשינער), "the holy one from Ruzhin", he was the progenitor of several Hasidic dynasties known collectively by the name Ruzhin.

As the son of Rebbe Sholom Shachne of Prhobisht, Rabbi Yisroel Friedman was a direct descendant of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritsh who was the main disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.

Only 6 years old when his father died, he was brought up by his older brother Rebbe Avrhom of Prhobisht. He showed outstanding qualities from childhood and at the age of 7 was engaged to Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Moshe of Berdychiv. At 13 Yisroel married and settled in Botoşani, Moldavia. Three years later his brother Rebbe Avrohom died and young Yisroel succeeded him as leader of the chasidim. After first moving back to Prhobisht and then Skvyra, he finally settled in Ruzhyn, where he achieved the reputation of a great holy man and attracted thousands of followers.

Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin conducted his court regally, claiming descent from the Royal line of King David. He lived a life of apparent great luxury and surrounded himself with splendor, such as his carriage with silver handles drawn by four horses.

In 1838 he was accused of complicity in the death of two Jews accused of being informers and was imprisoned for two years by the Russian authorities.

On his release he moved to Kishinev, then to Iaşi and other places before finally settling in Sadigora, Bukovina (Carpathian Mountains) in 1842. There he re-established his court in all its glory. In 1847 his wife Sarah passed away and he remarried Malka, the widow of Rabbi Hersh of Rimanov. On the 3rd of Cheshvan 1851 the Rebbe of Rizhin departed this world and was buried in Sadigora.

His six sons all established Hasidic dynasties, which include Sadigura, Boyan, Chortkov, Husyatin and Bohush.