List of Hasidic dynasties

A Hasidic dynasty is a dynasty led by Hasidic Jewish spiritual leaders known as rebbes,[1] and usually has some or all of the following characteristics:

• Each leader of the dynasty is often known as an ADMOR[2] (abbreviation for ADoneinu MOreinu Rabeinu - "our master, our teacher, and our rabbi"), or simply as Rebbe (or "the Rebbe"), and at times called the "Rav" ("rabbi"), and sometimes referred to in English as a "Grand Rabbi";
• The dynasty continues beyond the initial leader's lifetime by succession (usually by a family descendant);
• The dynasty is usually named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, or where the group began to grow and flourish;
• The dynasty has (or once had) followers who, through time, continue following successive leaders (rebbes), or may even continue as a group without a leader by following the precepts of a deceased leader.

A Hasidic group has the following characteristics:

• It was founded by a leader who did not appoint or leave a successor;
• It may be named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, or where the group began to grow and flourish, or it may be named after the founder himself;
• It has followers who continue as a group under the direction of rabbis who expound and interpret the precepts of the deceased founder.