Pinkas of correspondence of the family of R. Eliezer Lipa of Tortschin, other Chassidic Rabbis and communal leaders

(CHASSIDISM). THE LIUBESHOV, BEREZNA AND HORODOK DYNASTIES.

Tortschin

1814-1815

Manuscript on paper.166 leaves. Ashkenazic cursive script in the hand of R. Eliezer Lipa Ben R. Moshe Yaakov.

An important collection of letters providing previously undocumented information upon the Chassidic dynasties stemming from the well known Volhynia Tzadik and Maggid, R. David Halevi of Stepan (see p. 103b) author of Hanhagath Adam (appended to the tzavaah of R. Aaron of Karlin) and Hanhagath Tovoth (included in Mayim Rabim by his father-in-law R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov). He was a disciple of both his father-in-law and the Maggid of Mezritch. R. David's son-in-law was R. Shemaryahu (Weingarten) who founded the Liubeshov dynasty whose sphere of influence stretched between Pinsk and Kobrin. The compilers’ father-in-law was R. Zev Wolf (Ginsburg) of Melnitza and Horodok, known as R. Volftche, the son of the Tzadik R. Shmuel Halevi of Koshivka (a small town near the more famous Chassidic town of Neskhizh). R. Shmuel was a beloved colleague of R. Mordecai of Neskhizh. (See p.139a for a letter from R. Shmuel to his son;145b for a letter to him from R. Mordecai of Kremnitz; 146a from R. Elyakim Getz ben R. Yaakov Yosef (Rav Yaivy); and151b from R. Zev Wolf in the name of his father). Although W.Z. Rabinowitz states that "we do not know exactly" the circumstances of his move to Horodok, this MS indicates that he was the son-in-law of R. Yisrael Yosef, the Rabbi of Horodok (see pp.153b and 157b), his grandson with the same name continued the dynasty. The compilers family had ties to R. Yaakov Arye of Kovla and R. Yosf of Ostila, the sons of R. Mordecai of Neskhizh(see p.130b and p. 162b). This collection also contains copies of letters of such Rabbinic luminaries as R. Mordecai Mardush of Paritzk, R. Yaakov Orenstein , R. Baruch Teomim of Leipnik (p.84b) among others. Also contains an important letter (dated 1799,Safed) written to R. Yisrael Abraham of Tcharny-Ostraha, (the son of R. Zushye of Anipoli) from his father-in-law,R. Zev Wolf, a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch (p. a43a-144b) See W.Z. Rabinowitch, Lithuanianian Hasidism (1970) pp. 202-216; Y. Raphael (ed.), Encyclopedia LeChassidut, (1986) pp.417-8, 511; E.M. Horowitz, Torat Hamagid Mizlotchov (1999) pp.186-90; idem, ed., Rishpei Esh- Zichron Tov (1997) pp.150-2