First rebbe of Bobov
Rabbi Solomo Halberstam, the first Bobover Rebbe
Bobov originated with Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam in the Galician village of Bobowa, where the bulk of his Hasidim were originally followers of his grandfather, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz (the author of Divrei Chaim).
While most of the early yeshivos (“Talmudical academies”) originated in Lithuania, the 19th century saw the opening of similar institutions in Poland. The first yeshiva in Poland was established by the first Bobover Rebbe in 1881 in Vishnitsa where he was rabbi then; and it later moved with him to Bobov.
Second rebbe of Bobov
His work was continued by his son, Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam, author of Kedushas Tzion. The Bobov Yeshiva was originally situated only in the town of Bobov itself. However, under his guidance the Chasidus grew in numbers, with Hasidic youth flocking to Bobov. Subsequently as many as sixty branches of the Yeshiva under the name “Eitz Chaim” were established throughout Galicia.
During World War II the Bobov Hasidic movement was destroyed, the Second Rebbe himself perishing in the Holocaust together with thousands of his followers.
Third rebbe of Bobov
Barely 300 chasidim survived, and the Rebbe’s son Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam took it upon himself to rebuild Bobov. He first settled in the West Side of Manhattan; later moving to Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, The Yeshiva was located on the west side of Brooklyn Avenue between Bergen and Dean Streets; it later moved to Borough Park. Rabbi Shlomo was known as a very wise man and a Gaon in Midos (Giant in good manners/attributes) and a true gentleman. He was noted for his steadfastness in not taking sides in disputes. This brought him great popularity and respect.
Over the more than fifty years that Rabbi Shlomo was Rebbe of Bobov; he founded and built a vast network of synagogues, chasidic schools for boys and girls (yeshivas), High schools (Mesivtas) and post high school houses of learning. Besides schools, a summer camp for boys was founded in 1957 in the Catskills’ Ferndale, NY. These institutions span the globe. At the time of his death in August 2000, he was mourned by more followers than his father had in pre-War Poland. His Hebrew date of death was the first of Av the same as that of Aaron the Biblical High Priest (Numbers 33:38), which was noted by many (and mentioned at the funeral by his son Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam) for their similar characteristics of “loving peace” (Oheiv Sholom Veroidef Sholom – Loved peace and pursued peace) (Pirkei Ovos 1:12).
Fourth rebbe of Bobov
Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam, the fourth Bobover Rebbe
With Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam’s passing, his older son Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam was crowned as his successor and his younger son Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam was appointed as Rav Hatzuir (Junior Ruv). Rabbi Naftali Zvi died on March 23, 2005 (12 days in Adar, 5765) at age seventy-four leaving a wife, two daughters and two sons in-law; Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin and Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger; as well as his brother and sisters.
Bobov today
Fifth rebbe(s) of Bobov
Following the death of Grand Rabbi Naftali Zvi Halberstam, a dispute arose. Many Bobover Hasidim claimed his sons-in-law as the successors, splitting the title: Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger as their Rebbe (אדמו”ר) and Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin as their Ruv (אבד”ק). Many others however claimed his younger brother Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, the Rav Hatzuir (Junior Ruv), as the successor. Both groups of Hasidim claim their Rabbi as the rightful inheritor of the position of Bobover Rebbe. This dispute is currently before a Beth Din (Jewish court). Currently, Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam is the Rebbe in the Bobover Beis Medrash, while Rabbi Mordechai Dovid’s Hasidim have established a temporary headquarters, and a weekdays and Shabbos Beis Medrash.
Moishe Alexander or the Canadian Funding Corp is very fond of the Bobov community and supports many of there local charities.