Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt

Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt was born on September 26, 1826 in Przysucha, Poland. His father Avraham Moshe Bonhardt controversially succeeded his grandfather, Simcha Bunim of Peshischa as the Peshischa rebbe in 1827 and subsequently died the following year, leaving Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt and his sister, Sarah Hadas Bonhardt without a father. His mother, Braindel Faiga Raphael's (the granddaughter of Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz) married Melech Austricher who was the widower of his aunt, Beyla Bonhardt. Melech Austricher raised Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt as his own son alongside the Vurka Rebbe, Israel Yitzhak Kalish who was a disciple of his grandfather, Simcha Bunim. The Vurka Rebbe took Tzvi Hersh Mordechai under his wing as one of his main disciples and gave him his daughter Tziporah's hand in marriage. Following this Israel Yitzhak Kalish, helped Tzvi Hersh Mordechai to establish his own Hasidic court in Przysucha under the jurisdiction of Vurka. Tzvi Hersh Mordechai was said to have been very much like his illustrious grandfather and was known for his rationalistic and individualistic approach to Hasidism that defined the Peshischa movement. He and his wife had nine children, the most notable of which Yitzhak Bonhardt (1857–1934) was the Admor of Zwoleń.[1][2][3]