Sighet (Hasidic dynasty)

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Sighet (or Sighet Hasidism or Sighter Hasidim) is a movement of Hungarian Haredi Jews who adhere to Hasidism, and who are referred to as Sighter Hasidim. Sighet Hasidism originated in the town of Sighet (now Sighetu Marmaţiei, Romania), at that time in the Kingdom of Hungary. Sighet is the parent dynasty of the more famous Satmar hasidic dynasty. Since 1980 the leadership of Sighet and Satmar have been united in the person of the Admor of Satmar, though the two groups continue to operate separate synagogues and retain differences in certain customs.

[edit] Founding

Hasidism was brought to Hungary by the Yismach Moshe, a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin. The Sighet hasidic dynasty began with Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Teitelbaum (1808-1883) his grandson. The town of Sighet was in need of a Rav to lead the Beis Din and answer the Jewish townspeople's religious questions. Teitelbaum applied and was accepted. During his career he authored his famous book, Yated Lev.

He was succeeded by his son Rabbi Chanayah Yom Tov Lipa (d.1904) Rabbi Chanayah Yom Tov Lipa's most famous contribution to Sighter Hasidus is Kedushas Yom Tov, a commentary on the Chumash. After him it would become customary for the Rebbe of Sighet to author a commentary on the Torah. He was also the father of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum who at the time was known as the illui (child prodigee) from Sighet.

After his passing in 1904 it was not clear which of his sons would succeed him. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum was his oldest son, and thus the apparent heir; but Joel Teitelbaum was the most famous of his children. R' Joel accepted a position as the posek and Av Beis Din of the town of Satmar, and Rabbi Chaim Tzvi took inherited leadership of Sighet. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi authored his own work, Atzei Chaim, a name by which he himself is commonly known. He had two sons, who he orphaned early in life: Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, who succeeded him; and Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum.

[edit] Destruction in Europe

It was during the reign of Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum that the Holocaust came to Hungary. Hungary was officially a German ally but had refused to send its Jews to Germany without knowing their exact fate. Hungary, like Switzerland and Spain, was thus perceived as a relative haven for Jews and many Jew who could have escaped to Romania remained in Hungary believing it to be safe. Jews from other points in Europe, including the Admor from Belz, also sneaked into Hungary to escape the Holocaust. In 1944, however, Germany invaded Hungary and deported its Jews to Auschwitz, including the inhabitants of Sighet. Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum and his family all died in Auschwitz, with the exception of Moses Teitelbaum.

After the Holocaust, Moses Teitelbaum assumed control of the Sighet Hasidic group and was faced with many painful and difficult questions in Jewish law. He also had to cope with the loss of his wife and children. He survived the Holocaust and moved back to Sighet for a brief time before the persecution of religious Hungarians by the Communists became too great. He then moved to America.

[edit] Rebuilding in America

In America Moshe Teitelbaum began rebuilding the Sighet Hasidic group within his uncle Yoel Teitelbaum's stronghold of Williamsburg.