EICHENSTEIN, TZVI HIRSCH OF ZHIDACHOV. Hakdamah Ve’derech Le’etz Ha’chaim [Kabbalah]

Founder of the Chassidic dynasty of Zhidachov, Tzvi Hirsch Eichenstein was a brilliant Torah scholar the outstanding student of R. Jacob Isaac Ha’Chozeh (the “Seer”) of Lublin. Eichenstein became intrigued by Chassidism and mysticism as a youth and devoted himself primarily to the study of Kabbalah. His unique aproach to Chassidism involved strengthening the Kabbalistic-philosophical underpinnings of the Movement. He insisted an understanding of Chassidism was not possible without a deep understanding of Kabbalah. He saw Chassidism as a channel by which the ideals of the important Later Kabbalists could be put into practice. See Z. Rabinowicz, The Encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996) pp.107-8; on his life and work in general, see M. Braver, Tzvi La’tzaddik (1931)