The Mezhbizh dynasty is more than just a branch of Hasidic Judaism because it was the small town from where Hasidism eventually spread throughout the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. Geographically, the Hasidic movement originated in Mezhbizh, where the movement's founder, Yisroel ben Eliezer made his home, Beis Medrash, held court, and is buried. He came to be known as the Baal Shem Tov abbreviated as BESHT, a name that was given to various Jewish miracle workers in the Middle Ages.
The Hasidic dynasty of Mezhbizh
Besides the position of the Mezhbizh dynasty as a "trunk" of Hasidic Judaism, an important branch of Hasidism led by the Baal Shem Tov's descendants and heirs evolved from there as well. The Baal Shem Tov's grandson, Reb Boruch was the first "rebbe" of the Hasidic movement to hold court in Mezhbizh in his grandfather's home and Beis Medrash, which he inherited. He was the son of R' Yechiel Mikhl Ashkenazi and Udl, only daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. As recorded in the early Hasidic work Mekor Boruch, at the time of the Baal Shem Tov's death, Reb Pinchos of Korets and Reb Yosef of Polonoe, two of the Baal Shem Tov's closest followers, reported to the Hasidim that the Baal Shem Tov had designated Reb Boruch as his successor, and instructed Reb Pinchos to take responsibility for carrying out those wishes. Reb Boruch was not yetbar mitzvah at the time of his grandfather's death, and he was then taken to live in Reb Pinchos' home, where the Baal Shem Tov's other close Hasidim and other leaders of the Hasidic movement visited regularly to check on his progress and assist with his preparation to assume his grandfather's mantle. Reb Boruch remained with Reb Pinchos of Korets until the Chevraya Kadisha, as the close inner circle of the Baal Shem Tov was known, decided that he was ready to return to Mezhbizh and become "The Rebbe." When he finally returned to Mezhbizh, all of the Hasidic leaders of that time regularly visited Reb Boruch, including the Maggid of Chernobyl, the Magid of Mezritch, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and others. From Reb Boruch the mantle of leadership was inherited by his son-in-law Reb Yitzchok Drubitsher, who was a son of Reb Yosef of Yampol, the son of Reb Yechiel Michl, the Magid of Zlotshov. Reb Yitzchok's son, Reb Yechiel Michl, succeeded him, followed by his son, Reb Mordechai. Both Reb Yechiel Michl and his son Reb Mordechai married descendants of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty. The last rebbe of this lineage to be born in Mezhbizh was Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Korff. Son of the last Mezhbizher Rebbe, Reb Mordechai, he was a direct descendant of the Baal Shem Tov and his grandson, Reb Boruch of Mezhbizh, and the Hasidic dynasties of the Rebbes of Mezhbizh, Chernobyl, Karlin, Ryzhin, and Apt. Reb Yaakov Yisroel married the daughter of the Zvhiller Rebbe of that time, Reb Yichiel Michl. He subsequently succeeded his father-in-law as Zvhiller Rebbe until his own father, Reb Mordechai of Mezhbizh died, after which he then became the Zvhil-Mezhbizh Rebbe, continuing the dynasty after his father, although he continued to be known as the Zvhiller Rebbe.
