The Maggid of Kozhnitz—Rabbi Yisrael Hopstein המגיד מקוז'ניץ — רבי ישראל הופשטיין
the first to carry Chassidism into Poland; teacher of Peshischa, Belz and Ger
Born in Opatow; the sources give the year of birth as 1733 or 1737. He learned under three: Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, the Maggid of Mezritch and Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk—that is, he knew both the second and the third link in the Chassidic chain. Around 1766 he became maggid—preacher—in Kozienice and did not leave the place until his death.
He was the first to carry Chassidism into Poland proper, beyond Galicia and Ukraine. Frail in body—tradition says he was carried in people's arms—he kept a court to which thousands came, and was held a wonder-worker; Polish nobles turned to him too. He taught sternly for all that: his Avodat Yisrael is a book on service, not on wonders.
His disciples set the face of Polish Chassidism: Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, Rabbi Shalom of Belz, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Ger. He died on 14 Tishrei 1814; his son Rabbi Moshe Elyakim took the court.
On the timeline
Places
Related
Sources
Acharonim and later rabbinic literature
- Avodat Yisrael by the Maggid of Kozhnitz — his teaching on service
Scholarship
- Encyclopaedia Judaica, “Kozienice, Israel ben Shabbetai Hapstein” — the teachers, Kozienice from 1766, the students; birth 1733 by EJ, 1737 by tradition
Basis: documents and evidence.