Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam (Hebrew: בן ציון אריה לייבוש הלברשטאם; born 1955) is a Polish-born American rabbi. He is the current Rebbe of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty. Appointed in 2005, Halberstam has a direct lineage to the founder of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty.
Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam | |
|---|---|
 Halberstam at a Kolel Chibas Yerushalayim gathering | |
| 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 |
|
| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Naftali Halberstam |
| Began | March 23, 2005 |
| Ended | Current |
| Dynasty | Bobov |
Early life
editBen Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam was born to the third Bobover rebbe 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
editRight 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 can choose the title Rebbe of Bobov-45 (אדמו"ר מבאבוב-45), located on 45th Street.[5][6][7][8]
Career
editIn 2014, 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.
In 2021, he launched a $125 million campaign to build new schools for the elementary boys and girl school.[10]
As of 2024, Bobov has satellite communities in Monsey; Toronto;[11] Lakewood NJ;[12] Linden NJ;[13] London;[14] Montreal;[15] Antwerp;[16] and Williamsburg NY;[17] in addition to over half a dozen locations in Israel.
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
editReferences
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, ...
- ^ "Inaugural Test for 'Kinyan Torah-L'Masmidim' Held in Bobover Beis Medrash | Boro Park 24".
- ^ "Historic: Bobover Rebbe Shlit"a Launches 'Building Fund Campaign' Seeking to Complete Fundraising Goal of $125 Million | Boro Park 24".
- ^ "Bobov Torah Institutions of Toronto".
- ^ "Hanochas Even Hapinah of New Bobov Shul". 22 June 2009.
- ^ "Photo Gallery: Fundraiser Event for the New Bobov Shul in Linden NJ | Boro Park 24".
- ^ "BOBOV". The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Oxford University Press. January 2011. ISBN 978-0-19-973004-9.
- ^ "BOBOV". The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Oxford University Press. January 2011. ISBN 978-0-19-973004-9.
- ^ "BOBOV". The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Oxford University Press. January 2011. ISBN 978-0-19-973004-9.
- ^ "Congregation Bobov Williamsburg Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". 9 May 2013.
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.