Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes

Who was Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes?

Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes was a noted Hassidic rabbi.

He was the rabbi of the Tulchin community. Later he moved to Medzhibozh where he, together with Rabbi David Purkes, stood at the head of the group of Chassidim that preceded the Baal Shem Tov. When the Baal Shem Tov arrived in Mezhibuzh, Kitzes and Purkes opposed him, however they later accepted and supported his leadership. Kitzes was a student of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the Baal Tokeah at the beit midrash of the Baal Shem Tov.

Rabbi Yitzchak Michelowitz of Radvil writes that Kitzes was famous for his piety and meticulous observance of Mizvot, to the extent that "he would even [ritually] immerse a needle". In a book called Me'ah Shearim, it is mentioned that Kitzes was very strict about not eating meat that was made kosher with him not being present, even if his rabbi, the Baal Shem Tov was present. There are many stories about him in the biography of Baal Shem Tov called Shivhei ha-Besht.

Kitzes is buried in Medzhibozh next to the Ba'al Shem Tov.