Tzvi Hirsh (the son of the Baal Shem Tov)
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh was the son of the Baal Shem Tov and served as Rebbe in Mezhybizh and later in Pinsk.
He was born in 1734 (תצ"ד).
Immediately upon the conclusion of the seven days of mourning for the Baal Shem Tov, the disciples — the Chevra Kadisha, the sacred fellowship that had gathered around the Besht — appointed Rabbi Tzvi as their president and leader. He consented to take upon himself the crown of leadership.
Rabbi Tzvi was a man of stillness and inwardness. He did not lead the community through public Torah discourses or open audiences, but conducted himself quietly, within himself. His silences far outnumbered his words.
That year of transition was one of almost unbearable difficulty. Rabbi Tzvi was without question a man of great spiritual stature, yet he did not possess the strength and force of will needed to carry the Chassidic movement's banner boldly against the opponents of Chassidus — the fierce rabbinic establishment that sought to suppress the new movement at every turn.
Transfer of Leadership to the Maggid
On Shavuot of 1761 (תקכ"א) — a full year after the Baal Shem Tov's passing — the members of the Chevra Kadisha sat together at the festival meal. Rabbi Tzvi sat at the head of the table, dressed in his father's rabbinic garments.
Suddenly Rabbi Tzvi rose from his place and declared:
Today my holy father came to me and informed me that the heavenly retinue, together with all those who had been accustomed to attend upon him, has now passed to the holy disciple, our master and teacher Rabbi Ber'niu, son of Rabbi Avraham. Therefore — my father told me — you are to transfer the leadership to him in the presence of the entire Chevra Kadisha, and he shall sit in my place at the head of the table and guide the Chassidic community with wisdom.[1]
Without another word, Rabbi Tzvi removed his outer garment, wrapped it around the Maggid's shoulders, and blessed him with the words mazel tov. At that moment the face of Rabbi Dov Ber blazed with light, and in awe and trembling he took his seat in the chair of leadership — a new head and prince of the Chassidic community. The first discourse the Maggid delivered from his place at the head of the table was the teaching beginning with the words mara'eihem uma'aseihem — "their appearances and their deeds."[2][3]
Shortly afterward Rabbi Tzvi moved to the town of Pinsk, where he established his own Chassidic court. Hundreds of Chassidim gathered under his roof there.
He passed away on 7 Teves 1780 (ז' טבת תק"מ), and is buried in Pinsk.
Children
- His son, Rabbi Aharon of Titov.
- His son, Rabbi Dov Ber of Lanov — father-in-law of Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli.
- His son, Rabbi Yisrael of Pavlovitch.
- His son-in-law, Rabbi Moshe Zev.
- His son-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov of Anipoli.
- His son-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov Menlis of Karlin.