View source for Social:Baal Shem Tov family tree

{{Short description|Rabbinical lineage}}

The following charts illustrate the family of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidic Judaism.

The first chart shows the Baal Shem Tov's close family: his closest relatives, by blood and by marriage. This is meant to clarify the various family relations mentioned in the Baal Shem Tov's biography.

The second chart shows his descendants to the fourth generation.

The Baal Shem Tov did not found a Hasidic dynasty proper, as his immediate successor was his student, Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch, and not any of his descendants. Even so, the descendants of the Baal Shem Tov were revered.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', p.111, note 4.</ref>

Eventually, some of them founded their own courts and dynasties. Notably, his grandson R. Baruch of Mezhbuzh established his Hasidic court stressing that he was the sole heir of the Baal Shem Tov, a controversial issue in his time, which eventually distanced him from many of his colleagues, including R. [[Biography:Shneur Zalman of Liadi|Shneur Zalman of Liadi]] and R. Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin.<ref>Alfasi, Yitschak, ''Ha-Ḥozeh mi-Lublin'', pp. 14–15, 73–75.</ref>

Other descendants became allied by marriage to other powerful Hasidic dynasties (e.g. Chernobyl, Karlin-Stolin), producing many dynasties, including some of the dynasties still active today (e.g. Skver, Vizhnitz). Thus the family of the Baal Shem Tov can be considered a sort of Hasidic dynasty in its own right, and is often treated as such in reference works on Hasidic dynasties<ref>See ''Shem u-sheʼerit'', ''ha-Ḥasidut'' and ''Even Yisraʼel'', which treat it as such.</ref> where it is sometimes referred to as the Mezhbuzh dynasty. (This term is sometimes used specifically for the dynasty of R. Baruch of Mezhbuzh, see Mezhbizh (Hasidic dynasty), or for an unrelated dynasty from Mezhbuzh: see Apta (Hasidic dynasty).)

:R. is an abbreviation for the [[Social:Honorific|honorific]] "Rabbi". It does not necessarily indicate that the subject was a Rabbi. A ''rebbe'' is the spiritual leader of a Hasidic group or community.

==Close family of the Baal Shem Tov==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | | | ELZ |y| SAR | |EFR|ELZ=Eliezer|SAR=Sara|EFR=R. Efrayim<br><small>(Brody)</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| | | UNK |~|BST  |y| CHA | |GER  |UNK=<small>(i)</small><br>?|BST='''R. Yisrael<br><small>Baal Shem Tov</small>'''|CHA=<small>(ii)</small><br>Chana|GER=R. Gershon<br><small>''of Kitov''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree| YEC |~| ODL | | UNK |~| TSV |~| BEI | | |ODL=Odl|YEC=R. Yechiel|BEI=<small>(ii)</small><br>Beila|TSV=R. Tsvi|UNK=<small>(i)</small><br>?}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Descendants of the Baal Shem Tov==
{{tree list}}
*'''R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov''' (18 Elul 5458 [25 August 1698] or {{circa|1690/1695}}&nbsp;–&nbsp;6 Sivan 5520 [21 May 1760])<ref>Date of birth: The first date has become accepted by the ''[[Organization:Chabad|Chabad]]'' movement, but it is based on a document from the dubious {{Interlanguage link|Kherson Genizah|he|3=הגניזה החרסונית|lt=Kherson ''Genizah''}}. The latter dates are based on other traditions. ''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 62. Date of death: Most traditions. Some have 7 Sivan, or both (with some claiming uncertainty from the onset), but a contemporary source—recently published from manuscript—also has 6 Sivan. ibid., p. 70, "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)".</ref><br>''For more biographical details, see Baal Shem Tov'' <br>Married (i) ? (died without issue), (ii) Chana<ref>Per ''Shivhe ha-Baʻal Shem Tov''. Sources that rely on the Kherson ''Genizah'' name her Rachel Lea. ''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 60.</ref>
**R. Tsvi Hirsh of Pinsk (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;7 Tevet 5540 [16 December 1779])<br>Married (i) ? (mother of R. Aharon, R. Dov Ber and Sheina Rachel), (ii) Beila (mother of R. Yisrael and Sara Reizel), daughter of R. Shmuel ''Chosid'' (i.e. the Pious) of Pinsk. <br> Tsvi Hirsh lived in Mezhibuzh during his father's lifetime, and some time after, until his first wife's death. According to some traditions, he succeeded his father as the leader of united Hasidic Judaism before stepping down in favor of R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch. Upon marrying Beila, he moved to Pinsk, where he was a ''rebbe'' to a small following.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 45–46, 48, 58–59, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)". Note that while the assignment Tsvi Hirsh's daughters to their respective mothers is sourced, the assignment of his sons is an educated guess by ''Even Yisraʼel''.</ref>
***R. Aharon of Titiov (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;15 Tevet c.1808/1818), called ''Reb Orale''. ''Rebbe'' in Kostantin, Titiov and Pavilitsh. Oldest grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 89, 101–102, 104, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)". The date of death is per family tradition, cited by ''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 108. Other versions have 5 Tevet (ibid.), the year is given as c. 1808/1818, since the last living mention of R. Aharon is in 5568 [1808] and the first dead mention in 5578 [1818]. In any case, the commonly cited 5589 [1829] is erroneous (ibid.).</ref>
****Sima Chusha<br>Married (i) R. Tsvi of Korstshov (grandson of R. Nochum of Tshernobl), (ii) her cousin, R. Boruch of Mezhibuzh ''(see below)''<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 110, 116, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)".</ref> <br>''Descendants: the Chernobyl branch of the Chernobyl dynasty, including the Belz (specifically R. Aharon of Belz), Chortkov, Machnovka, Skver, Faltichan, and Vizhnitz dynasties.''
****R. Tsvi Hirsh (Hershel) of Skver. ''Rebbe'' in Skver.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 110, 113–114, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)". His name was not Naftali Tsvi, as written in some sources, but Tsvi (Hirsh) alone, "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (9)".</ref> <br>''Descendants: the Skver and Chernobyl dynasties''
****R. Avraham of Skver <br> His father died when he was a child, and he was raised by his sister Sima Chusha. <br> ''Descendants: the Savran dynasty''<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 114, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)". Note that there is some confusion whether he was R. Aharon's son or grandson. "Keter Shem Tov (1)".</ref>
****[R. Naftali]<ref>"Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (9)".</ref>
****[? <br> married R. Yaakov]<ref>"Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)". There is only a single original mention of him. Possibly an error, cf. ''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 85.</ref>
***R. Dov Ber of Ulanov. ''Rebbe'' in Ulanov.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 58, 80–82, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)".</ref>
****R. Tsvi Hirsh of Tshudnov (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;c.1848). ''Rebbe'' in Tshudnov.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 81, has him as a grandson of R. Dov Ber of Ulanov, but ''Shem u-sheʼerit'', "Keter Shem Tov (1)", and "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)", all have him as son of R. Dov Ber. See "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (7)" for a clarification of the issue.</ref>
****Sima<br>Married (i) ?, (ii) R. Tsvi Menachem Mendel Auerbach, ''rebbe'' of Dinovits, son of the ''rebbe'' R. Zusha of Anipoli<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 80–82, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)".</ref><br>''Descendants:<ref>"Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Keter Shem Tov (3)"; some differ, see note in "Keter Shem Tov (1)"<!--expand--></ref> the Hornsteipl, Satmar and Bobov dynasties.''
***Sheina Rachel<br>Married R. Yaakov of Karlin and Tiberias (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;21 Kislev 5594 [3 December 1833]), called ''Reb Yankele Moneles''. Son of R. Menachem Mon (''Monele'') of Karlin, a disciple of R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch and uncle (and foster-father) of R. Aharon "the Great" of Karlin<br>She took kvitelech in the manner of a ''rebbe''.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 49, 58, 83, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)".</ref>
****R. Naftali Tsvi Hirsh of Karlin and Tiberias. Called ''Reb Hershel dem Baal Shems'' (R. Hershel, the Baal Shem [Tov]'s [descendant]). Spiritual and secular leader of the Hasidic community (in particular, the Karlin community) of Tiberias (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;27 Elul 5624 [28 September 1864])<br>Married Sara Sosha, daughter of R. Yisrael, the rabbi and ''rebbe'' of Pikov, son of R. Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. <br>''Descendants: the Boston dynasty''<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 84–85, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)", ''The Bostoner Rebbetzin Remembers'', Appendix.</ref>
***R. Yisroel שותק ''Shotek'' i.e. "the Silent" of Chernobyl, a close associate of R. Mordechai of Chernobyl.<br>Died in Yarovitsh near Homel and was buried there.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 58, 83, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)", and "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)". In other versions (cited in ''Shem u-sheʼerit''), the epithet "the Silent" is given to a different R. Yisrael: a son of Sima, daughter of R. Dov Ber of Ulanov ''(see above)''.</ref>
***Sara Reizel<br>Married R. Moshe Shimon Volf Auerbach (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;24 Tevet 5597 [1 January 1837]) of Safed, son of R. Avraham Dov Auerbach, rabbi of Chmielnik, and grandson of R. Yaakov Yosef of Polnoe, one of the most prominent disciples of the Baal Shem Tov. Died in the Galilee earthquake of 1837.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', pp. 59, 85, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)". ''Even Yisraʼel'' has 5499 [1839], following ''Shem u-sheʼerit'', but the Galilee earthquake was in 1837.</ref>
****?<br>Married R. Dov Ber of Chvastov, great-grandson of R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch and grandson of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 85, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)".</ref>
****Tsivya<br>Married R. Yehuda Arye, son of R. Menahem Mendel Tsauzmir the rabbi of Mohliv.<ref>"Keter Shem Tov (1)",  p. 172, "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)", and "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (3)".</ref>
****R. Yisrael of Lodezhin.<ref>"Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (2)".</ref>
**Odl (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;c. 1772 or c. 1787)<ref name="KeterShem">"Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)".</ref> <br> Married R. Yechiel of Medzhybizh, son of R. Baruch.<ref>Sometimes called R. Yechiel Mikhl of Tulchyn, with the epithet ''dos Daytshel'' ("the German") or its Hebrew equivalent ''Ashkenazi''. All the additions are erroneous. "Vayityaldu" #85.</ref>
***R. Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov (c. 1748&nbsp;–&nbsp;17 Iyar 5560 [12 May 1800]). ''Rebbe'' of Sudilkov and Mezhibuzh.<ref name="KeterShem" /> <br>  <!--To do: ****/****/****/****/****/**** To be completed per "Keter Shem Tov" and "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh"-->
***R. Boruch of Mezhibuzh (c. 1753&nbsp;–&nbsp;18 Kislev 5572 [4 December 1811]). ''Rebbe'' of Tultshin and Mezhibuzh. <br> Married (i) ? (daughter of R. Tovia Katskes of Ostroh), (ii) Sima Chusha, daughter of R. Aharon of Titiov, his cousin  (''see above''). All his children are from his first marriage.<ref>''Even Yisraʼel'', p. 111, "Keter Shem Tov (1)", "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh (1)".</ref> <!-- To do: ****/****/****/**** To be completed per "Keter Shem Tov" and "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh"-->
***Feiga (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;before c. 1802) <br> Married R. Simcha (c. 1763&nbsp;–&nbsp;before c. 1802), son of R. Nachman, ''rebbe'' of Horodenka, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.<ref name="KeterShem" />
****R. Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810). ''Rebbe'' of Breslov those paternal ancestry came from (According to Jewish tradition), the Maharal's family descended patrilineally from the Babylonian Exilarchs (during the era of the geonim) and therefore also from the [[Religion:Davidic line|Davidic dynasty]].<ref>See [http://chfreedman.blogspot.com/2007/06/maharal-of-pragues-descent-from-king.html The Maharal of Prague's Descent from King David], by Chaim Freedman, published in ''Avotaynu'' Vol 22 No 1, Spring 2006</ref><br> Married (i) Sosia (mother of his children), (ii) ?, daughter of R. Yehezkel Trachtenberg of Brody.<ref name="KeterShem_a">"Keter Shem Tov (1)".</ref>
****R. Yisrael ''der Toyter'' (or Hebrew: מת ''Met'') i.e. "The Dead" <br> Married a granddaughter of R. Moshe of Kitov, an early disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.<ref name="KeterShem_a" />
****R. Yechiel Tsvi (?&nbsp;–&nbsp;c. 1812)<ref name="KeterShem_a" />
****Perl <br> Married R. Pinhas Meir <br> They went to Safed.<ref name="KeterShem_a" />
{{tree list/end}}

== References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*Brim, M. S., "כתר שם טוב" "Keter Shem Tov" (a family tree of the descendants of the Baal Shem Tov to the fifth generation, in two parts), in היכל הבעש"ט ''Heichal Habesht'' '''23''', pp.&nbsp;164–182, and '''24''', pp.&nbsp;157–272. Extended to the sixth and seventh generations in ''Heichal Habesht'' '''26''', '''29–30'''. {{ISSN|1545-8423}}
*{{cite book |first=Leṿi |last=Grosman |title=שם ושארית Shem u-sheʹerit |url=http://hebrewbooks.org//29141 |year=1943 |publisher=Betsal'el|location=Tel Aviv |language=Hebrew |pages=58–60 |oclc=36052853}}
*{{cite book |first=Raichel |last=Horowitz |title=The Bostoner Rebbetzin remembers |year=1996 |publisher=Mesorah Publications |location=Brooklyn, New York |isbn=978-0-89906-592-2}}
*{{cite book |first=Tzvi M. |last=Rabinowicz |title=The Encyclopedia of Hasidism |year=1996 |publisher=Jason Aronson |location=Northvale, New Jersey |isbn=978-1-56821-123-7}}
*Vekshtein, N. A., "נהר יוצא ממעזיבוז" "Nahar Yotzei mi-Mezhibuzh", (a ten-part series on the descendants of the Baal Shem Tov, based on the above-mentioned ''Shem u-sheʼerit'', ''ha-Hasidut mi-dor le-dor'', "Keter Shem Tov" and ''Even Yisraʼel'', with comments and additions), in "Vayityaldu" #30–38 and #41.
*Vekshtein, N. A., "ויתילדו" "Vayityaldu" (a [[Social:Genealogy|genealogical]] column in the Hebrew edition of ''Hamodia'') #85 (can be accessed online at [https://web.archive.org/web/20140803082626/http://yuchasin.co.il/?page_id=180 Yuchasin - Vayityaldu 85 (archive.org link)])
{{refend}}

[[Category:Family trees]]

{{Sourceattribution|Baal Shem Tov family tree}}