Jews from Ukraine: Ukraine as the homeland of Hasidism — 37 main dynasties and their Ukrainian roots

The phrase "Ukraine is the homeland of Hasidism" sounds emotional, but it has a serious historical basis. Modern encyclopedic and academic sources indicate that Hasidism originated in the 18th century on the lands of present-day Western and Central Ukraine — primarily in Podolia and Volhynia, around the circle of Baal Shem Tov and his disciples. It is important to clarify: the formula of "37 main dynasties, of which 15 originate from the territory of present-day Ukraine" is more of a popularization scheme than a strict universally accepted academic standard. But the general conclusion does not change: the Ukrainian space was one of the main centers of the emergence and early development of the Hasidic world.

In Hasidism, they usually talk about courts or dynasties — lines of rebbes, which were most often named after their cities of origin. Over two and a half centuries, there have been many such lines: modern lists include dozens and hundreds of names, not a single canonical register. Therefore, when it comes to "37 main," it is more correct to understand this as a conditional list of the most notable historical houses, rather than a definitive list that everyone equally…

Read more:
nikk.agency/en/jews-from-ukrai…