Bobov (Hasidic dynasty)

Bobov, (or Bobover Hasidism) (חסידות באבוב) is a Hasidic community within Haredi Judaism originating in Bobowa, Galicia in Southern Poland and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. Bobov has branches in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn; Monsey, New York; Montreal; Toronto; Antwerp and London. In Israel, Bobov has large branches in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod, the settlement of Betar Illit and an enclave Kiryath Bobov in Bat Yam.

Outline of Bobov's Hasidic rabbinical lineage

History

First Rebbe of Bobov

Bobov originated with Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam who was the grand son of Grand Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, in the Galician village of Bobowa.

While most of the early yeshivos ("Talmudical academies") originated in Lithuania, the 19th century saw the opening of similar institutions in Poland. The first yeshiva in Poland was established by the first Bobover Rebbe in 1881 in Vishnitsa where he was rabbi then; and it later moved with him to Bobov.

Bobov-45

Bobov-45, (45-חסידות באבוב) is a Hasidic group within Haredi Judaism originating in Bobowa, Galicia in Southern Poland ? and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. Bobov-45 has branches in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, Monsey, New York, and Manchester and London, England. In Israel, Bobov-45 has branches in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Elad, and Betar Illit.

Grand Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger is the current Rebbe of Bobov-45. He is the son-in-law of the Fourth Bobover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam.

History

In 2005, after the death of the Fourth Bobover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Naftali Halberstam, Bobover Hasidim started a center in Brooklyn on 45th Street under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger, Grand Rabbi Naftali Halberstam's heir. A leadership dispute arose between Unger and Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, brother of the previous Rebbe and son of the Third Bobover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam, who both claimed the title of Bobover Rebbe. The dispute was taken to an arbitration panel known as a Beth Din, which ruled that the faction following Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam had the right to the name "Bobov". Grand Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger, leader of the new faction, was allowed to use the name Bobov with use of an added distinguishing identifier, the term "45" was added as an indication of street name where grand hall where the services took place at that time. Based on the volume of masses in the communities, and to satisfy the inheritance claims, Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam was ordered by the Beth Din to pay $6.2 million to Bobov-45 in 25 quarterly installments to Bobov-45 Rebbe and Bobov-45 Rav, to compensate their share of the assets.