Moshe Teitelbaum

Who was Moshe Teitelbaum?

Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, also known as the Yismach Moshe, was the Rebbe of Ujhely in Hungary. According to Löw, he signed his name "Tamar", this being the equivalent of Teitelbaum, which is the Yiddish for "palm-tree". An adherent of the Polish Hasidic Rebbe, the Chozeh of Lublin, Rabbi Teitelbaum was instrumental in bringing Hasidic Judaism to Hungary. Though initially opposed to Hassidism, after his son-in-law introduced him to the Chozeh of Lublin, he soon became an adherent to Hassidism. *

Teitelbaum first served as a rabbi in Przemyśl, and later in Sátoralja-Ujhely, where he was called in 1808. In Ujhely he founded a Hassidic congregation which was independent of the Galician leaders. In 1822 Teitelbaum was suspected of having supplied amulets to certain Jewish culprits who had been cast into prison for libel, in order to assist them in escaping. When called upon to vindicate himself he declared that the amulets in question served only as substitutes for the mezuzah and that their only purpose was to protect their bearers against demons. Teitelbaum enjoyed an enviable reputation, with even Rabbi Moses Sofer paying him homage.