Grand Rabbi Dovid Biderman (1746-1814)[2] of Lelów was the founder of the Lelov Hassidic dynasty. He is commonly referred to as "Reb Dovid Lelover".

Rabbi Dovid Biderman
TitleLelover Rebbe
Personal
Born1745 (1745)
DiedJanuary 28, 1814 (1814-01-29) (aged 59)
Lelów, Poland
ReligionJudaism
SpouseChana
Jewish leader
SuccessorRabbi Moshe Biderman (son-in-law of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz)
Yahrtzeit7 Shevat[1] (5574)
DynastyLelov
Tombstone of Reb Dovid of Lelov

Biography edit

Rabbi Dovid of Lelov was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin, a disciple of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, who was a disciple of the Magid of Mezritsh, the successor to and leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.[2]

There is a Hasidic legend that Napoleon Bonaparte asked Rabbi Dovid of Lelov if he would be successful in his conquest of Russia. The rebbe told the Emperor that he would not. After Napoleon's defeat, he allegedly passed through Lelov and told the Rebbe that he was indeed correct. He then gave the Rebbe his velvet cloak. The Hasidim say that Rabbi Moshe of Lelov, the son of Rabbi Dovid, took the cloak to Jerusalem with him, and made the cover for the Holy Ark in his synagogue from it.[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Yahrtzeit of Harav Dovid of Lelov, Zy"a, Marked in Poland". Hamodia. January 29, 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Grand Rabbi Dovid Biderman, The Lelover Rebbe". Geni.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. ^ Parashas T'tzaveh 5755. Breslov.com
  4. ^ "Napoleon's Red Velvet Cloak". chabadaz.com. Chabad of Arizona. Retrieved 14 January 2021.

External links edit