Rabbi Shlomo Chaim was the son of Rabbi Aharon Jaffe of Lechovitch who died when Reb Shlomo Chaim was a young child. After which he was raised by both his grandparents, his father's father,
Rabbi Mordechai Jaffe (ca. 1742–1810, founder of
Lechovitch Hasidism and his mother's father,
Rabbi Asher Perlow (1759–1826), the third
Karlin-Stolin Rebbe and son of
Rabbi Aharon Perlow HaGadol of Karlin (1736–1772), whose surname he adopted. Reb Shlomo Chaim was married at the young age of thirteen, and his paternal grandfather, Reb Mordechai died on the way to the wedding in
Stolin. Following this, Reb Shlomo Chaim learnt under his grandfather, Reb Asher for many years, later learning under the rebbes of
Mezhibuz,
Apta,
Chernobyl,
Ruzhin and
Zlotshov. Reb Shlomo Chaim's main teacher however was his uncle, Rabbi Noach Jaffe (d. 1832), the 2nd Lechovitcher Rebbe, after whose death, many Lechovitcher Hasidim accepted, Reb Shlomo Chaim as Reb Noach's successor. That following year, Reb Shlomo Chaim established a Hasidic court in the city of Koidanov and soon began to attract thousands of followers. Reb Shlomo Chaim was known for his tolerance of all Jews, even
Misngadim, many of whom later become his Hasidim after witnessing his kindness and Torah knowledge. Reb Shlomo Chaim embraced the simpler folk and aroused in them the desire to study and worship in joy. He was relatively against asceticism and personally spent many hours learning
Gemara and
Shulchan Aruch. After his death, Reb Shlomo Chaim was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Perlow (1818–1870), who was the Koidanover Rebbe for only eight years until his death in 1870. Reb Boruch Mordechai is described in many accounts and a cold and reserved rebbe entirely dedicated to his own chassidus. He was against the idea of miracle workers and believed that as long as one follows
Halakha carefully they will always be healthy and successful. Reb Baruch Mordechai is ultimately best known for establishing a Koidanover
kollel in
Tiberias which became a staple of the
old Yishuv. Reb Baruch Mordechai's was succeeded by his eldest son,
Rabbi Aharon Perlow (1839–1897), who was among the most influential rebbes of Koidanover Hasidism. Reb Baruch Mordechai younger son was
Rabbi Shalom Perlow (1850–1925) who headed the Koidanover community in
Lida. A Koidanover
synagogue,
Beth Midrash and
Yeshiva, were established in 1833, by
Rabbi Benjamin of Lida (d. 1862) who was one of the main disciples of the first Koidanover Rebbe (Reb Shlomo Chaim). Reb Shalom became a rebbe of
Brzezany, finally becoming the rebbe of
Brahin. In 1895, Reb Shalom wrote
Ateret Shalom, a commentary on the liturgical poem "Lord I Yearn for the Sabbath's Delight" by Reb Aaron Perlow of Karlin. In 1912 he wrote and published
Meshmeret Shalom and is the author of
Devrei Shalom as well. After the Holocaust, Koidanover Hasidism was re-established in
Tel Aviv by Rabbi Chanoch Henoch Dov Zilberfarb (1890–1978), who was the son of Reb Meshulam Zalman Yosef Zilberfarb and the Koidanover Rebbe of
Botoshan. Reb Chanoch Henoch Dov was succeeded by his son, Reb Aharon Zilberfarb (d. 1994), and then by his grandson, the present Koidanover Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Meir Ehrlich. Under Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Meir Ehrlich's direction, the Koidanover dynasty maintains synagogues in Tel Aviv and
Bnei Brak and a yeshiva, in addition to
chesed projects. The Rebbe is heavily involved in
kiruv (outreach). His
beis medrash, is located in
Dizengoff Square and serves as an outreach center where weekly lectures and a Friday-night
Oneg Shabbat attract many secular Jews and guide them towards religious observance. Reb Yaakov Tzvi Meir is well known as an inspiring speaker and educator of youth. == Koidanover Literature ==