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end of 18th Century contributed to this fact. He was a student of Elimelech from
Leżajsk, the most famous zaddik connected with Lublin, who equally, with his teacher,
contributed to the development of the doctrine of Zaddikism within personal reach,
based on the interpretation of supernatural powers attributed to Seeing. The founders
of the Chassidic dynasties from Kock, Izbica or Przysucha recruited from the students
of the zaddik from Lublin. This allowed for the continuation of his teaching, in spite
of the end of his own dynasty 8 . It may seem that the power of the Chassidism of Lublin
faded after his death. The establishment in 1930, by Rabbi Meir Szapir Yeshivas,
of the Wise Men of Lublin, had to consider the power of Rabbinism in the classical
edition, and even the influences of literacy. However, it was support from Gerer Rebe
Alter (zaddik from Góra Kalwaria) that made the creation of the school possible, for
the price of Chassidic elements to the canon of teaching, and it was the last Zaddik of
Lublin, Szlomo Eiger who was nominated by Szapirta to his successor at the position
of yeshivas' rector 9 .
The two described cases of mystical trends presented in the history of the Jewish
community of Lublin permit the statement that Lublin was for a long time a centre
for the intensive development of the religious life of Jews. It was a centre in which the
traditions of mystical exegesis had an opportunity to enter the canon of orthodox sciences,
as part of the institutionalization of their form. Firstly this process happened
thanks to the famous scientists engaged in Kabbalah, who had a possibility of sharing
knowledge through the publication of their works and commentaries in the Hebrew
printing houses which were located there. The next stage was the full blooming of
Chassidism and then the placement of the elements of Chassidic exegesis in the canon
of teaching in the Yeshiva of the Wise Men of Lublin. This process was stopped by the
outbreak of the Second World War.
8 Cf. ALFASSI Y.: R.Jacob Isaac Horowitz,ha-Choze mi-Lublin.His Life and Doctrine. Ramat Gan 1974.
9 MANDELBAUM D. A.: Jeshivat Hahmei Lublin. Bnei Barak 1995.
*** Translation from the Polish language by Michał Gumowski
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