Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam (Hebrew: בן ציון אריה לייבוש הלברשטאם, born 1955) is the current Rebbe of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty. Appointed in 2005, Rabbi Halberstam has a direct lineage to the founder of the Bobov dynasty.
Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam | |
|---|---|
 Halberstam at a Kolel Chibas Yerushalayim gathering | |
| Title | Grand Rabbi of Bobov |
| Personal | |
| Born | Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam 1955 (age 68–69)[1] New York |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse | Rosa Wachsman |
| Children | Chaim Shulem Chaya Fradl Dovid Chana Ruchel Rifkah Sheindel Mordechai Dov Yechezkel Shraga Avrohom Yehoshua Heshil Miriam Beila Nechumah Yisroel Elimelech Shlomo |
| Parents |
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| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Naftali Halberstam |
| Began | March 23, 2005 |
| Ended | Current |
| Dynasty | Bobov |
Early life edit
Rabbi Halberstam was born to the third Bobover rebbe, Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam and his second wife.[2] His father had lost his first wife and most of their children in the Holocaust,[3] but a son, Naftali, survived.[1] Naftali was later reunited with the family in Borough Park, Brooklyn.[1]
Appointment edit
Right after his father's passing in 2000, Naftali was appointed as fourth Bobover Rebbe at age 69,[1] while Halberstam was appointed as Rav Hatza'ir (assistant rabbi). Naftali died right before the Purim holiday in 2005,[4] which led to a succession crisis over who should be the Grand Rebbe of the many Bobov Hasidim worldwide.[1] When a vote failed to solve the matter the battle of succession was brought before a beth din (religious court) in 2007, which ultimately ruled that Halberstam would be declared the fifth Rebbe of Bobov (אדמו"ר מבאבוב) with its headquarters on 48th Street in Borough Park,[5] while Unger would be Rebbe of Bobov-45 (אדמו"ר מבאבוב-45), located on 45th Street.[5][6][7][8]
Career edit
Upon taking leadership Rabbi Halberstam has set his sights on ensuring that chasidis remains relevant in the 21st century. He has battled the influences deemed dangerous to religious life by banning smartphone use as much as possible. He is a proponent of using filtered internet when internet is needed.
In 2014, Rabbi Halberstam launched Kinyan Torah, a program to encourage laymen to learn Talmud. Those enrolled in the program were able to take the monthly test and those who scored an 80 or above earned a stipend. The program was expanded to include young children in 2023[9]. At times over a thousand test takers were recorded.
From the beginning of his career he has demonstrated that the only way forward was bigger and better, and has demanded only the best from his community. This was evident with an ever growing slew of construction whose goal was to revitalize the aging community infrastructure. This culminated with a $125 million campaign to build new schools for the elementry boys and girl school[10].
Rebbes of Bobov edit
- Shlomo Halberstam (1847–1905), grandson of the Sanzer Rebbe, Chaim Halberstam
- Ben Zion Halberstam (1874–1941)
- Shlomo Halberstam (1907–2000)
- Naftali Halberstam (1931–2005), older son of Shlomo Halberstam
- Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam (b. 1955), younger son of Shlomo Halberstam
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Heilman 2013, p. 236.
- ^ "Admor Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, 5th Bobover Rebbe ..." 25 April 1955.
Birthdate: 1955
- ^ "The Life And Legacy Of Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam". August 1, 2008.
- ^ (March 26, 2005) "A Battle for Succession Takes No Holiday", The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ a b Heilman 2013, p. 238.
- ^ (October 26, 2017) "Watch: Bobov-45 Rebbe Dances at Wedding", Arutz 7. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ Nussbaum Cohen, Debra (February 29, 2012). "Serenading the Bobov Bride". The Forward.
- ^ "Hasidic Businessman Who Flipped AIDS Home Part of Sect With Cozy Ties to Mayor Bill de Blasio". The Forward. April 1, 2016.
The Bobov rebbe, Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, ...
- ^ https://www.boropark24.com/news/inaugural-test-for-kinyan-torah-l-masmidim-held-in-bobover-beis-medrash
- ^ https://www.boropark24.com/news/historic-bobover-rebbe-shlit-a-launches-building-fund-campaign-seeking-to-complete-fundraising-goal-of-125-million
Sources edit
- Heilman, Samuel C. (December 2013). "What's in a Name? The Dilemma of Title and Geography for Contemporary Hasidism". Jewish History. 27 (2–4): 221–240. doi:10.1007/s10835-013-9187-5. S2CID 254602685. ProQuest 1460841654. Retrieved July 19, 2023.