Rav Dovid Tzvi Taub of Neishtadt zt"l
הרב דוד צבי בן יחזקאל טויב זצ"ל
Tammuz 6 , 5642 / Tammuz 6 , 5643
Rav Dovid Tzvi Taub of Neishtadt zt"l
Rav Duvid Tzvi Taub of Neustadt was born in the year 1809 to Rav Yechezkel of Kuzhmir, the founder of the Kuzhmir dynasty. Rav Duvid Tzvi was a disciple & talmid muvhak of Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. With the passing of his father in 5616, he was crowned and appointed as a rebbe, but refused to take on the chassidim as his followers and continued going to his own rebbe, the Kotzker. Even when the Kotzker rebbe himself ordered him to act as a rebbe and lead the flock he refused to do so. The chassidim tell how Rav Dovid Tzvi turned to the Chiddushei HaRim of Ger and asked him to intercede on his behalf with the Kotzker and persuade the Kotzker to let Rav Dovid Tzvi be, and not force him to accept the mantle of leadershop as he claimed a dearth of Torah and lack of middos and character, rendering him incapable of serving as rebbe. As he said so he burst into a torrent of bitter tears. The Chiddushei HaRim responded that even if his words were true he would still be worthy to be a great rebbe due to his great humility and lowliness. How much more so now that his claims were also patently false. In 5619 when the Kotzker passed away he finally agreed and acquiesed to accept the chassidim and he led them in the same sincere fiery pursuit of truth that he learned back in Kotzk. His sayings were short, sharp and to the point. He was beloved by the other tzadikim of his generations, well respected and beloved. The Chiddushei HaRim testified that Rav Dovid Tzvi was like a son to the Kotzker. He was also only very good friendly terms with the likes of Rav Avraham Landua of Tshechenow and Rav Avrohom Bornstein of Sokatshuv, the Avnei Nezer, as wellas Rav Yaakov Aryeh Gutterman of Radzimin.
His Torah was collected and published as Chemdas Dovid by his disciple Rav Shmuel Yaakov Kopel Kleigsberg of Kalischin who added his own glosses and comments titled Klei Chemdah. At the end of the sefer Rav Dovid Tzvi' torah on the Moadim was published as well. His only son Rav Yosef YomTov passed away in his father's own lifetime. Rav Yosef YomTov's sons served as chassidic rebbes they were Rav Yaakov and Rav Yechezkel of Yablona. Rav Duvid Tzvi Taub of Neustadt Passed away on 6 Tammuz 1883.