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List of Hasidic dynasties and groups

A Hasidic dynasty or Chassidic dynasty is a dynasty led by Hasidic Jewish spiritual leaders known as rebbes, and usually has some or all of the following characteristics:

  • Each leader of the dynasty is referred to as an ADMOR (abbreviation for Adoneinu Moreinu Verabeinu – "our master, our teacher, and our rabbi"), or simply as Rebbe (or "the Rebbe"), and at times called the "Rav" ("rabbi"), and sometimes referred to in English as a "Grand Rabbi";
  • The dynasty continues beyond the initial leader's lifetime by succession (usually by a family descendant);
  • The dynasty is usually named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, and sometimes, such as in the case of the Bostoner Chassidim, where the group began to grow and flourish or where a significantly influential Jewish teacher founds a court or yeshiva where students go to learn from, or consult with, that Rebbe;
  • The dynasty has (or once had) followers who, through time, continue following successive leaders (rebbes), or may even continue as a group without a leader by following the precepts of a deceased leader.

Distinguished from a dynasty, a Hasidic group or Chassidic group has the following characteristics:

  • It was founded by a leader who did not appoint or leave a successor;
  • It may be named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, or where the group began to grow and flourish, or it may be named after the founder himself;
  • It has followers who continue as a group under the direction of rabbis who expound and interpret the precepts of the deceased founder.

Dynasties with larger following

Hasidic dynasties (arranged alphabetically) with a large following include:

Dynasties with smaller following

Hasidic dynasties (arranged alphabetically) with a small following include:

Hasidic groups (non-dynastic)

Other dynasties

Many of these dynasties have presently few or no devotees, due to most of the Hasidic groups being destroyed during the Holocaust, 1939–1945. Other communities are flourishing, and have growing Hasidic sects. There are many dynasties whose followers number around five to fifteen people, and are not listed here.

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D

E

F

G

H

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

Y

Z

References

  • Rabinowicz, Tzvi M. The Encyclopedia of Hasidism Jason Aronson, Inc., 1996.
  • Alfasi, Yitschak. החסידות מדור לדור Hachasidut miDor leDor (2 vols)