Sanz Chassidus
The Sanz Chassidic dynasty was founded by the holy Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim, who was a student of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz, who in turn was a primary student of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk.
The foundations of this Chassidus are based on serving Hashem through mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice), with tremendous diligence and devotion to Torah study.
Beyond his righteousness, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz was known for his tremendous Torah scholarship and authored many seforim including responsa, novellae on Tractate Bava Metzia, Torah commentaries and more.
Rabbi Chaim wrote admiringly about the Alter Rebbe, stating "Who among the later authorities is greater than him."
His son was Rabbi Yechezkel of Shinova. Once when he heard someone refer to "the holy Sefer HaTanya," he protested, saying the title "holy" was traditionally used only for three seforim: the holy Zohar, the holy Shelah, and the holy Ohr HaChaim. After making this comment, he was concerned there may have been a hint of disrespect toward the Tanya, and subsequently fasted multiple times as penance.
Contemporary Sanz[edit | edit source]
To this day, Sanz Chassidic courts worldwide are characterized by their Torah-focused nature. As an example, in Sanz Chassidus the Rebbe delivers an in-depth Torah discourse every Friday night and during Chanukah.
The Chassidus is also known for establishing the Mifal HaShas HaOlami institutions to promote Torah study with effort and diligence. These institutions are especially known for their monthly tests and the honorary titles they bestow upon scholars who master specific numbers of Talmudic folios: "Tzurva D'Rabanan" for 300 folios with Tosafos, "Chaver" for 600 folios with Tosafos, and "Moreinu" for 1000 folios with Tosafos. This was established by directive of the last Sanzer Rebbe of Klausenburg to increase honor for Torah and love for its students.
Establishment of Sanz-Klausenburg[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam arrived in the United States in 1946 after miraculously surviving the Holocaust, and established the Sanz-Klausenburg institutions in America.
In 1955 he came to Israel. There he established his magnificent institutions in Netanya, in the center of the large Kiryat Sanz, which houses the yeshiva, Talmud Torah, girls' school, and medical center. He also established Kiryat Sanz in central Jerusalem with an impressive network of institutions.
Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda once said that he envied Lubavitch.
After his passing in Tammuz 1994, his path is continued by his son Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Halberstam in Israel (known as the Sanzer Rebbe), and his second son Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Halberstam in Brooklyn (known as the Sanz-Klausenburg Rebbe).
Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Halberstam, the Sanzer Rebbe, maintains a friendly relationship with Chabad. Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Halberstam, currently the Sanz-Klausenburg Rebbe, came to comfort the Rebbe after the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. He asked the Rebbe for a blessing for his father Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda's health, and the Rebbe blessed him.
Many Sanz-Klausenburg rabbis maintained close connections with the Rebbe, including Rabbi Eliyahu Shmerler, head of Kiryat Sanz yeshivos (who signed the psak din that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach), Rabbi Aharon Wieder, rabbi of the Sanz community in New York and father-in-law of the Klausenburg Rebbe - United States, Rabbi Shmuel Alexander Unsdorfer, father-in-law of the Sanz-Klausenburg Rebbe, Rabbi Binyamin Wilger, a close associate of the Sanz-Klausenburg Rebbe, and others.
Rabbi Naftali Halberstam[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Naftali Halberstam, the Rebbe of Gribov, was the firstborn son of Rabbi Baruch, Av Beis Din of Gribov and the youngest rabbi of the Sanz community. He was the grandson of Rabbi Mordechai Zeev, Av Beis Din and Rebbe of Sanz (who was killed during the Holocaust), who was the son and successor of Rabbi Aryeh Leibush of Sanz, who was the son and successor of Rabbi Aharon of Sanz (the Kreiszer Rav), who was the son and successor of Rabbi Chaim, Av Beis Din of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim and founder of the dynasty.
Rabbi Naftali was born in 1924 in Sanz. He merited to know his grandfather Rabbi Aryeh Leibush of Sanz. In 1939, when war broke out, he fled with his mother to Lemberg together with his grandfather Rabbi Sinai Halberstam of Zmigrod. From there he was exiled to Siberia where, with great mesiras nefesh, he did not eat non-kosher food or desecrate Shabbos. Throughout the war, he kept the tefillin he received from his father for his Bar Mitzvah. He survived the Holocaust and immigrated to the United States, settling in Boro Park. He studied in the Lubavitch Yeshiva under the Frierdiker Rebbe and married the daughter of Rabbi Lipa Mann, Av Beis Din of Bekitshev. In 1961, he established the Gribov Chassidic institutions and founded the Yichus Institute.
After his passing, his position was inherited by his sons: His firstborn Rabbi Baruch serves as leader in Boro Park, his son Rabbi Menachem Tzvi serves as Av Beis Din of Bnei Torah Sanz-Gribov, his son Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman serves as Av Beis Din of Sanz-Gribov in Kiryas Joel Monroe, his son Rabbi Aryeh Leibush serves as Av Beis Din of Sanz-Gribov. His son-in-law is Rabbi Yosef Singer of Alexander.
Rabbi Elimelech Halberstam[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Halberstam serves as the Rebbe of Sanz-Lipnik. In Teves 2020, Rabbis Moshe Horowitz and Chaim Brod participated in a family celebration of his court and conversed with him. In Sivan 2021, Rabbi Moshe Horowitz participated in a celebration in his court. In Av 2024, Rabbi Halberstam participated in the Educators' Conference and shared his life story.
Rabbi Naftali Schmerler[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Naftali Schmerler, son of Rabbi Eliyahu Schmerler and author of "Halachos Gedolos."
In 2008, the Rabbi visited the Chabad Yeshiva Chanoch L'Naar in Dalton together with the dean of Sanz Yeshiva, Rabbi Lazarovitz, and an honorable delegation. He was received by the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Eliezer Wolishansky along with the teachers who gave him a brief tour of the yeshiva.
The Rabbi spoke, and among other things said: "You need to thank Hashem that you merited to be connected to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who is the great tree of our generation."
During the conversation, Rabbi Schmerler added, "The Rebbe is a giant among giants and you need to not only rejoice but also cherish and feel the great responsibility that rests on your shoulders. When I entered here, I saw the Rebbe's light and his holiness in this place. Continue to learn and only bring nachas to Hashem and to the Rebbe."