Dushinsky (Hasidic dynasty)
The Dushinsky Hasidic dynasty is one of the few hasidic dynasties not to be named for the place where it originated; instead, it is named after the surname of the Rebbe. It is a relatively new dynasty, as are many of the dynasties originating in Hungary. However, the Dushinsky dynasty truly became a dynasty in Jerusalem, where it is centered today.
Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky (1865-1948)
The founder of the Dushinsky dynasty was Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, son of Rabbi Yisrael Dushinsky. He was a disciple of the author of Shevet Sofer, one of the grandchildren of Rabbi Moses Sofer.
After his marriage to the daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Winkler, author of Levushei Mordechai, Rabbi Dushinsky became the Chief Rabbi in Galanta, Slovakia. In an epidemic during the First World War his first wife died childless and he subsequently remarried Esther Neuhaus, daughter of Rabbi Yoel Tzvi Neuhaus. He relocated to the town of Chust, where he assumed the position of Chief Rabbi. In 1921, a son, Yisroel Moshe was born.
In 1930, the Dushinsky family moved to the British Mandate of Palestine, settling in Jerusalem. Shortly after in 1932 came the death of the Chief Rabbi and founder of the Edah HaChareidis, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, leader of the Haredi community of Jerusalem. Rabbi Dushinsky was appointed as his successor. He founded a community of Hungarian Jews in Jerusalem, affiliated with the Perushim section of the Edah HaChareidis.
Rabbi Dushinsky was known for his strong opposition to Zionism, and spoke to the newly-formed United Nations against the creation of the Zionist State. Rabbi Dushinsky died on the the eve of Sukkos, 14th of Tishrei 1948, shortly after the founding of the State of Israel. He was succeeded by Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis.
Yisrael Moshe Dushinsky (1921-2003)
Rabbi Yosef Tzvi’s son Yisrael Moshe inherited his father’s position as Grand Rabbi of the Dushinsky community, and in turn also became the Chief Rabbi of the Edah HaChareidis. Under his leadership the Dushinsky community was steered towards chasidus. Rabbi Yisroel Moshe died in 2003 and was succeeded by Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss as Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and by his son, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi, as the present Grand Rabbi of Dushinsky.
Dushinsky nowadays
A famous student of Rabbi Yisroel Moshe, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Ulman, is one of the members of the Rabbinical Court (Badatz) which leads the Edah HaChareidis. He also leads his own beis din, and is highly respected in Dushinsky, where he is regarded as the second most important person after the Rebbe.
In 2005 a new large synagogue was inaugurated. It was built behind the old building, on Shmuel HaNavi Street, and seats hundreds. The bochurim (unmarried young men) sit in a first-level balcony-like room, while only married men and their pre-bar mitzvah children sit in the main shul. Above the bochurim's balcony is another balcony for the women. The main synagogue is only used on Shabbos and holidays; on weekdays, a complex of four also brand-new smaller synagogues (shtiblach) in the basement of the building are used. The old synagogue, on the first floor of the old building, is now used for tishen.
Rebbe Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, who is the present leader of the movement, has appointed his younger brother Rabbi Mordechai Yehuda Dushinsky as rabbi of the Dushinsky community in the all-Chareidi town Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet. Aside from the Dushinsky communities in Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh, there are also smaller communities in Elad, New York's Boro Park district, and London. In early 2007, a new Dushinsky synagogue is being built in London. There are also a number of Dushinsky chassidim in Antwerp; however, there is no Dushinsky synagogue there.
Dushinsky minhagim
Dushinsky has several special minhagim (customs), in things such as the style of dress and the nusach used.
Nusach Dushinsky / Maharitz
Dushinsky chasidim use the Siddur Maharitz prayer book, a mix of nusach Ashkenaz and nusach Sefard.
Books held in high regard are the works of the Chassam Sofer, the book Shevet Sofer, and the collections of Torah commentaries by the previous rebbes: Toras Maharitz and Toras Maharim. Regarding Zionism, the book Vayoel Moshe, written by Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar, is regarded as authoritative.
Lineage of the Dushinsky dynasty
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