Yosef Leifer

Yosef Leifer (1891 – 7 March 1966) was the founder and first Rebbe of the Pittsburg Hasidic dynasty in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which he led for 42 years. Known as the Tzidkas Yosef after the name of his posthumously-published sefer, he was a scion of the Nadvorna dynasty.

Early life Rabbi Yosef was the son of Rabbi Yissachar Dov Ber (Bertche) Leifer of Navordna-Satmar, who was the son of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna. His paternal ancestry goes back to Grand Rabbi Meir the Great of Premishlan, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Yosef's five brothers also became leaders of Hasiduts; they were: Rabbi Meir Leifer, first Grand Rabbi of Cleveland-New York, Rabbi Isamar Leifer, first Grand Rabbi of Bushtina, Rabbi David Leifer, Grand Rabbi of Bania, Rabbi Aharon Moshe Leifer of Grosswardein, and Rabbi Sholom Leifer, Grand Rabbi of Brighton Beach. He also had several sisters. His father died in 1906, when he was 15 years old. He served as Rebbe until his death in 1966. Two of his brothers, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Sholom, followed him to America and founded their Hasiduts there as well.

Though the family now lived in America, Rabbi Yosef sent his three oldest sons to learn in yeshivas in Europe. Avraham Abba went to the yeshiva in Rachov after his bar mitzvah in 1930. He also learned in the yeshiva in Sekelheid. considered to be the crown of Hungarian yeshivas.

In 1970, Rabbi Avraham Abba relocated the Pittsburg Hasidut to the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod. Here he founded Yeshivas Tzidkas Yosef, named in memory of his father, as well as established a Torah school for children and a kollel for married men. After Rabbi Avraham Abba's death in 1990, his son, Rabbi Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer, succeeded him as Rebbe and further built up the Hasidic presence in Ashdod with a cheder, yeshivas, and kollels. After Rabbi Mordche's death in october 2020 his son, Rabbi Meshulem Elizer Leifer, continued and further built up the Hasidic presence in Ashdod.

Rebbes of Pittsburgh Yosef Leifer (1924–1966) Avraham Abba Leifer (1966–1990) Mordechai Yissachar Ber Leifer (1990–2020) Meshulam Eliezer Leifer (2020– )