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The Biale Rebbe of Bnei Brak

The Biale Chassidic dynasty descends from the Rebbe Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Rabinowitz of Biala. He was descended from the Rebbe Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Pshiskhe known as the “Yid Hakadosh” (The Holy Jew). The Yid Hakadosh was a disciple of the Chassidic Rebbe, the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin. The Chozeh of Lublin was a disciple of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk, who was a disciple of the Maggid (Preacher) of Mezritch, who was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement. After the Holocaust the dynasty was spread to Israel by a member of the Biale dynasty in an uninterrupted male line, Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua of Biale whose son the Rebbe David, author of Lahavas Duvid of Bnei Brak, survived the Holocaust and was appointed by his father to lead Yeshivas Biale, the advanced religious school of the Bnei Brak, Biale Chassidim. After Rabbi Yechiel Yehoshua passed away, the Lahavas Duvid succeeded him as Rebbe, and his son, Rabbi Yaakov Menachem, succeeded his father as head of the Yeshiva. There he instilled in his students, Torah and morals, and despite his young age, became a renowned educator.

After his father's passing he succeeded him as Rebbe. Continuing in the Biale dynasty's emphasis of helping those in need, the Biale Rebbe of Bnei Brak has been busy in addition to building new yeshivas, and synagogues in the periphery cities, he also established a foundation, the "Chasdei Duvid (kindness of Duvid (David)) Foundation," to help widows, orphans, and needy families.

The Rebbe’s main concern, to which he devotes all his powers, is the program for orphans in the yeshiva in Jerusalem. From when many tragedies came to the attention of the Rebbe, including children whose parents were killed in terrorist attacks, and do not have anyone else to provide for their educational and physical needs, the Rebbe ordered the opening of a special department for these orphans. To these poor children are supplied the best teachers and mentors, who act as fathers and mothers for them. These children receive all their needs from the Biale institutions, including clothes and footwear, residence, tuition fees, and all expenses.

Biale advocates relate that one time the day before the Passover festival, after the Rebbe returned from a long trip abroad, as soon as he got off the plane he went immediately to visit “his children”—the orphans. He immediately convened the staff, and informed them that before the holiday he wants to buy new clothing of superb quality for the orphans. Only after seeing that all the needs of the orphans are taken care of, did he return to his home to his biological children.

The Rebbe has a reputation as a miracle worker and spends his day offering his prayers and advice to the many who ask his advice and help.

Edited and sometimes directly quoted from http://www.bialaisrael.com/articles-biala-rebbe-news.html and more online about the Biale Rebbes and from the book Chassidic Rebbes whose author Rabbi Tzvi Rabinowicz is the son of a Bialer Rebbe

It is always moving to see Chassidic Rebbes visiting with their Chassidim the graves and holy places in Eastern Europe that were abandoned after the Holocaust. The below is an example.