Background
The Divrei Chaim was born in 1793, in Tarnogród, Poland. His first wife was the daughter of Rabbi Boruch Frenkl-Thumim. Rochel Feyga, who bore him five sons and three daughters.
The Divrei Chaim was born in 1793, in Tarnogród, Poland. His first wife was the daughter of Rabbi Boruch Frenkl-Thumim. Rochel Feyga, who bore him five sons and three daughters.
He was a pupil of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Heshl Orenstein and the Rebbe, Rabbi Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz. His first rabbinical position was in Rudnik. In 1830 he was appointed as the town rabbi of Sanz, where he founded a Hasidic dynasty.
He attracted many followers and students, due to his piety and greatness.
Sanz has been succeeded nowadays by the Sanz-Klausenberg, Sanz-Zmigrad Hasidic dynasties and the Bobov Hasidic dynasties, among others The Divrei Chaim was acclaimed by the leading rabbis of his generation as one of the foremost Talmudists, poskim and Kabbalistic authorities of his time, he received queries from Rabbis and communities from all over the world.
His responsa, as well as his Torah commentaries, published under the title Divrei Chaim, reflect his Torah greatness, his humility, and his compassionate nature. He was the first Honorary President of Kolel Chibas Yerushalayim.
His compassion and generosity was legendary.
He literally gave away everything he had for the needy. And went to sleep penniless. Among his many disciples, are counted such leaders as Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Friedlander of Liska, the Tiferes Shlome of Radomsk, Rabbi Meir Horowitz of Dzhikov, and the Kedishes Yom Tov of Sighet.