100th Yahrtzeit Of The Alexander Rebbe, Today, Being Marked In Poland

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alexander-rebbeToday, Erev Shabbos Parshas Va’eira, 29 Teves, 5770, is the 100th yahrzeit of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchok Danziger, zt”l (1853-1910), second Alexander Rebbe and author of Yismach Yisroel. Exceedingly humble, he drew tens of thousands of Chassidim. He was the son of Rabbi Yechiel Danziger, zt”l (1828-1894), founding Alexander Rebbe; son of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Danziger, zt”l, Gritsa Rebbe.

Alexander Chassidim represented the second largest Chassidishe group in pre-WWII Poland; exceeded in number only by Gerer Chassidim. As his following grew, Rabbi Yechiel Danziger, in 1878, established his Chassidishe court in Aleksandrow/Lodzki, called Alexander by the Chassidim. It is a township near Lodz in Poland. It was established on March 22, 1822 and named in honor of the Tsar of Russia, Alexander I (1777-1825) of the Romanov Dynasty. Thus, the Alexander Chassidishe dynasty carries the name of a Russian tsar.

In 1866, after Rabbi Yitzchok Mayer Alter, zt”l (1789-1866), founding Gerer Rebbe and author of Chiddushei HaRim, passed away, his grandson, Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter, zt”l (1847-1905), later Gerer Rebbe and author of Sfas Emes, only 18-years-old, declined the mandate to become Gerer Rebbe. Without a leader, Chassidim turned to the sage Rabbi Chanoch Henach Shatin, zt”l (1798-1870), Alexander-Gerer Rebbe and author of Chashavah LeTovah, who was interim Gerer Rebbe. Upon his passing, Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib became Gerer Rebbe. During the reign of Rabbi Chanoch Henach, the multitude of Gerer Chassidim converged on the township of Alexander, making it the most important Chassidishe nucleus at that time.

Alexander Chassidim have invested tremendous efforts preparing for the commemoration of the 100th yahrzeit of the Yismach Yisroel. Alexander Chassidim from all over the world will convene in the city of Aleksandrow/Lodzki. Rabbi Yisroel Yair Danziger, current Alexander Rebbe of Bnei Brak, will travel to Aleksandrow/Lodzki for the yahrzeit. He will remain for Shabbos and lead the event.

Amongst the arrangements is the scheduling of several charter flights on which Alexander Chassidim will begin their trip in camaraderie and in a heightened atmosphere of spirituality. On the preceding Thursday evening, the onset of the yahrzeit, the Alexander Rebbe will conducttisch in the Alexander Beis Medrash in Aleksandrow/Lodzki wherein today’s Rebbe’s great-grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchok Menachem Mendel Danziger, (1880-1942) Hy”d, Alexander Rebbe, author of Akeidas Yitzchok, and son of the Tiferes Shmuel, had led tefillos and tisch. On Friday morning, the Rebbe, joined by Chassidim, will proceed to the cemetery and pray alongside the burial places of his grandfathers, concentrating at the tombstone of the Yismach Yisroel.

The occasion, on Shabbos, will be held in the center of Lodz; Chassidim have reserved several hotels. In addition to the hachnassas orchim facility established and currently maintained by Alexander Chassidim in Lodz, the many Chassidim will use a large public school for Shabbos meals. For the first time since before the Holocaust, the facility, which had been the largest Alexander Beis Medrash in Lodz, has been rented, for a large sum of money, for the Shabbos tefillos.

The facility has been used for mundane purposes since World War II and had to be prepared, at great effort and expense, for this special Shabbos. Before the Holocaust, Lodz had 35 Alexander shtiblach. Reentering the former largest Alexander shtiebel in Lodz, reigniting and reliving its glory, will be an exceptionally exhilarating experience for the many Chassidim who will long remember the experience.

Shabbos will close with a melaveh malkah, reliving the glorious past of the Alexander Chassidishe dynasty. The Chassidim will surely be aware that their grandparents and great-grandparents had prayed there with intensity and rejoiced at the tisch of the Alexander Rebbes of years past.

Today’s Alexander Rebbe is the son of Rabbi Avrohom Menachem Danziger, zt”l (1921-2005), Danziger Rebbe and member of Israel’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah; son of Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Tyberg-Danziger, zt”l (1892-1973), Alexander Rebbe and author of Emunas Moshe who settled in then-Palestine in 1934 and accepted the mantle of Alexander leadership in 1947; son-in-law of Rabbi Betzalel Yair Danziger, zt”l (1861-1934), Alexander Rebbe; younger brother of Rabbi Shmuel Zvi Danziger, zt”l (1860-1923), Alexander Rebbe and author of Tiferes Shmuel; younger brother of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchok Danziger, zt”l (1853-1910), second Alexander Rebbe and author of Yismach Yisroel; son of Rabbi Yechiel Danziger, zt”l (1828-1894), founding Alexander Rebbe; son of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Danziger, zt”l (d. 1848), Gritza-Makuba Rebbe.

{Rabbi G. Tannenbaun-Machberes/Matzav.com Newscenter}


4 COMMENTS

  1. The Aleksandere Rebbes Yismach Yisroel, Tiferes Shmuel and the “letzter Rebbe” are NOT the grandfathers of the Rebbe from Bnei Brak as stated,rather he is a descendant of the third son of the alter Rebbe Betzalel Yair as correctly ppointed out, however he was NOT Aleksanderer Rebbe, since the Tiferes Shmuel was followed by his SON who was the “letzter Rebbe”,who was murdered by the nazis y”sh.
    The Aleksandere Rebbe from Boro Park however, Reb Yossel Singer is in fact a great grandson of the Tiferes Shmuel.

  2. I am looking for information about my Grandfather Efraim (Ephraim) London. (Married to Dvora Zand London.) Lived in Warsaw. Was an Alexander Hasid.
    He owned a bakery, and every Shabbat after the prayers, most of the men ended up at my grandparent home for the Shabbat Seuda. I recall my fater telling me about the dancing around the table after they had a few drinks. (Snaps)

    Thank you in advance for your effort.
    Dvora, Nili London

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