Kosov (Hasidic dynasty) explained

Kosov is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager of Kosiv, a town in Galicia, presently in Ukraine.

The Kosov Hasidic dynasty, Rabbi Mendel of Kosov's descendants, founded the many Kosov Hasidic sects. The Vizhnitz dynasty is the best known branch of the original Kosover dynasty. Other branches include Seret.

Among the many contemporary descendants of the Kosov dynasty, two are called "the Kosover Rebbe": Rabbi Shraga Feivish Hager of Borough Park, Brooklyn(died 2024), where he has a substantial following and presides at his tish, and Rabbi Menachem Monderer of Jerusalem (died 2013).^[1] There is also a historic Kosover synagogue in Tzfas (Safed), Israel, which, however, is run by followers of the Biala Rebbe of Lugano, Switzerland.

Dynasty

• Grand Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager of Kosov(1768–1825), author of Ahavas Sholom—son of Rabbi Yaakov Kopl Chosid of Kolomyia, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov
  • Grand Rabbi Chaim Hager of Kosov (1755–1854), author of Toras Chayim—son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel
    • Grand Rabbi Yaakov Shimshon Hager of Kosov (1814–1880)—son of Rabbi Chayim, continued the dynasty in Kosov
      • Grand Rabbi Moshe Hager of Kosov (1860–1925), author of Leket Oni—son of Rabbi Yaakov Shimshon
        • Grand Rabbi Shraga Feivish Hager of Zalishtshik (1870–1937)—son-in-law of Rabbi Moshe of Kosov and son of Rabbi Boruch of Vizhnitz
          • Grand Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel Hager of Kosov-Zalishtshik (died 1999)—son of Rabbi Shraga Feivish of Zalishtshik
            • Grand Rabbi Shraga Feivish Hager, present Kosover Rebbe of Borough Park—son of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Kosov
    • Grand Rabbi Yosef Alter Hager of Radovitz
    • Grand Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager of Vizhnitz, author of Tzemach Tzaddik, son of Rabbi Chayim, founder of the Vizhnitz branch of the Kosov dynasty.
      See Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
  • Grand Rabbi David Hager of Zablitov, son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel

Further reading

• Benjamin Brown, 'Individualism, truth and the repudiation of magic as the tsadik's prerogative - Pshiskhe-like Elements in the Theology of Rabbi Menahem Mendel of Kosov'

See also

• Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
• History of the Jews in Poland
• History of the Jews in Galicia (Central Europe)
• History of the Jews in Ukraine

Notes and References

1. News: Harav Menachem Monderer. Hamodia. May 6, 2013. May 19, 2013. January 12, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112141855/http://hamodia.com/2013/05/06/harav-menachem-monderer-ztl/. live.