Makova (Hasidic dynasty)

Rabbi Moshe Phorhand

The progenitor of the dynasty is Rabbi Moshe Phorhand, author of Ohel Moshe[1] and responsa Ateret Moshe,[2] who was the rabbi of the city of Makó and Rosh Yeshiva of a yeshiva in the city, according to the format of the Hungarian Hasidic yeshivas.

Rabbi Moshe died on 8 June 1944, during the Holocaust, in the city of Budapest. After efforts he was transferred to his town for burial.

Rabbi Moshe Natan Lemberger (1909[3]-1982)

Rabbi Moshe Nathan Nota Lemberger was a primary disciple of Rabbi Shimon Greenfeld, Rabbi of Szentmihály and author of Responsa Maharshag.[4]

He married Sarah Le’ah,[3] the granddaughter of Rabbi Moshe Farhand, rabbi of Makó, and settled there and taught at his grandfather's yeshiva. He served as a dayan in the community from 1936. During World War II, he stayed in the Szeged ghetto, Bergen-Belsen and Theresienstadt camps.

After the war, some of the survivors returned to Makó. Rabbi Moshe Nota rehabilitated and led the community and the yeshiva.

In 1952 Rabbi Lemberger immigrated to Israel.[4] He first settled in Jerusalem and afterwards he was appointed rabbi of the Hasidic community in Kfar Ata (now Kiryat Ata) where he established the "Makova Yeshiva".[4] He died on Shabbat Vayera 20th of Marcheshvan 5743, 6 November 1982.

His Torah Chidushim (novellae) and halachic responsa were published in the books of Ateret Moshe and Kli Golah. He began to write his novellae when he was in the Theresienstadt camp, working at the bakery there. He would write his novellae on the slips of paper the camp workers gave him in order to receive their allotted slices of bread.[5] These were the basis of his books. He disseminated Torah to thousands, left many novellae in the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah, in homily and chassidus.[5]

His sons-in-law are Rabbi Dov Berish Panet of Deyzh Ramot, Rabbi Chaim Meir Englard Av Beit Din of Dobra, Rabbi Moshe Oshri,[6] and Rabbi Shlomo Goldman of Zvhil.

Rabbi Shimon Lemberger

The current Rebbe, Rabbi Shimon Lemberger, is his son.

His daughter Sarah Leah is married to Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, son of Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, Belzer Rebbe.[7][8] The couple has ten sons and three daughters.[9]

With the fall of the eastern bloc, the Makava Chassidim set up a world committee to rebuild the large synagogue of the community in Makó and the three Jewish cemeteries in the city, headed by David Margali of Bnei Brak. The synagogue was reopened in 1988. The place attracts visitors and almost every Sabbath there are prayers. The rebbe visits him several times a year, especially on the day of the Hilula of the author of Ohel Moshe.

Rabbi Shimon wrote a letter against Hassidim who admire the aingers and aantors: Carlebach, Werdyger and Koussevitzky.[10]

Other rabbis

Rabbi Shimon's brothers serve as rabbis of the dynasty's communities in various cities:

• Rabbi Ephraim (d. 1997) was the rabbi of the Makava community in Boro Park[3] until his death. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Meir Yehezkel.
• Rabbi Avraham Yechiel (d. 1995)[3] served as rabbi of the community in Bnei Brak, and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov.
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel (1947-2011) served as rabbi of the community in Jerusalem. His place was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yisrael Aharon.
• Rabbi Asher Anshel is the rabbi of the community in Netanya and Elad. Son-in-law of Rabbi Shmuel Alexander Unsdorfer.
• Rabbi Meir Shlomo is the rabbi of the community in Ashdod. Son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sheinfeld, rabbi of Kiryat Herzog.

• "Makava Rav at Grave of Shimon HaTzaddik". YouTube. 8 January 2015.