Israel Friedman of Ruzhyn - Early Life

Early Life

Friedman was a direct descendant through the male line of Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch (the Maggid of Mezritch) (1704–1772), the main disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the great-grandson of the Maggid of Mezritch, the grandson of Rabbi Avrohom HaMalach (1740–1777), and the son of Sholom Shachne, Rebbe of Prohobisht (1769–1802). His maternal grandfather was Rabbi Nochum of Chernobyl, a close associate of the Baal Shem Tov. He was given the name Yisroel (Israel) after the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer. He had two older brothers, Avrohom (1787–1812) and Dov Ber (the latter died in childhood), and a younger sister, Chaya Ita.

Claiming descent from the Royal line of King David, his father, the Rebbe of Prohobisht, comported himself differently from other Hasidic leaders of the time. While most Hasidic leaders dressed in white clothes, he wore fashionable woolen clothes sewn with buttons. He also lived in an impressive house with a large garden. These elements would later be incorporated into Friedman's conduct as Rebbe.

Friedman was six years old when his father died and his brother Avrohom, aged 15, took over the leadership of their father's Hasidim in Prohobisht. At age 7 Friedman was engaged to Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Moses Efrati of Berdichev. At age 13 he married and moved to Botoșani, Romania. Three years later, his brother Avrohom died without offspring and he succeeded him as leader of the Prohobisht Hasidim. After living first in Prohobisht and then in Skvyra, Friedman settled in Ruzhyn, where he achieved the reputation of a great holy man and attracted thousands of followers, making the Ruzhin dynasty "the largest and most influential Hasidic community in the southwestern districts of the Pale of Settlement". His leadership also promoted widespread acceptance of the Hasidic movement, allowing Hasidism to flourish in Ukraine and Volhynia without opposition for the next hundred years.