The Modzhitz Hasidic Dynasty is unique in that its leaders emphasized the centrality of music and melody in religious expression. Its founder, Yecḥezkel ben Tzvi Hirsh Taub, a disciple of the Seer of Lublin, became a rebbe in Kuzmir, Poland in 1827 and grew famous for the many Hasidic melodies he composed. His son, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Taub, was rebbe in Zvolin. It was Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu’s son Yisrael who moved to the town of Modzhitz and became the first Grand Rabbi of the Modzhitz Dynasty. He, too, was an acclaimed composer of Hasidic melodies. Rabbi Yisrael was succeeded by his son, Grand Rabbi Shaul Yedidia Elazar Taub (1886–1947), known as the Imrei Shaul for his most important book. Rabbi Shaul Yedidia managed to escape the Nazi onslaught in 1939 and, via Lithuania, Russia and Japan, made his way to America’ East coast where he reestablished the Modzhitz dynasty, continuing its musical traditions. Rabbi Shaul Yedidia fulfilled his lifelong dream of settling in Israel shortly before his passing away. Tonight, the 16th of Misled, begins his Yahrzeit. Rabbi Shaul was probably the most prolific Hasidic composer of all time with the total output numbering close to 1000 compositions. Like all other Modzhitz Rebbes, he had no musical training. Reb Shauls melodies, which appear in several publications, were initially transcribed by Cantor Joshua Weisser and later on by Ben Zion Shenker, a Modzhitz Hasid, who became the musical secretary for Rabbi Shaul. Rabbi Saul’s melodies were more than simplistic folk melodies - a number of them were intricately structured and quite lengthy. He thought in terms of instrumental colorations and often suggested that accompaniment of strings, winds and horns would enhance his melodies. Modzhitz music can be heard at modzitz.org/music. When Rabbi Shaul succeeded his father in 1920, he set up his court in Otwock, near Warsaw. His following continued to grow, drawing both Torah scholars and lay people - attracted by the Torah, the music, and the special atmosphere of Modzhitz religious life. He established Yeshivat Tiferet Yisrael, a yeshiva for young men in Otwock. The Yeshiva had over 200 students in Otwock and quickly earned an excellent reputation. There were nearly 100 Modzhitz “shtiblach” throughout Poland, smaller synagogues that served as outposts for Modzhitz Hasidism. Informal branches of the Yeshiva were opened at many of these local synagogues throughout Poland, with students as few as ten or as many as sixty. Rebbi Shauls son, Shmuel Eliyahu (who later succeeded his father as Rebbe), led the yeshiva branch at the Nalavky St. shtible in Warsaw. In keeping with a tradition established by his father, Rabbi Shaul created new melodies for the Halel text with the tempo of a march or a waltz. He was especially fond of the march tempo, although as a practical matter the Jews of the shtetls had little use for militaristic sounding melodies. When Hasidim questioned the composition of such marches by a people without country, flag or military, the Rebbes prophetic response was that a Jewish State would soon come into being and marches would also be needed. All his life Rabbi Shaul’s heart ached to live in Eretz Yisrael. He visited there three times from Poland. His fourth and last trip to Eretz Yisrael was from the United States in 1947, made with the intention of settling there. Within six months he became very ill and died on November 29, 1947, the very day that the U.N. passed its partition plan for Palestine. He was the last person buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem until it was recaptured in the 6 Day War in 1967. A monument was placed on his grave in 1967, 20 years after his interment. Modzhitz hasidism today is based mainly in Bnei Brak, Israel where the Rebbe Chaim Shaul Taub (great-grandson of Rabbi Shaul) lives, and in Jerusalem. There are also smaller communities in Brooklyn, Monsey and Far Rockaway in New York, as well as in Los Angeles and Toronto. Pictured are Rabbi Shaul Yedidia Elazar Taub, his Yeshiva and some of its outposts. geni/people/Shaul-Yedidya-Elazar-Taub/6000000002616137377 (Posted by Edna Kalka Grossman)
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 23:45:00 +0000
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