Medzhybizh

Medschybisch (Ukrainian Меджибіж; Russian Меджибож / Medschibosch, Polish Międzybuż, Yiddish מעזביזש Mezbizh ) is an urban-type settlement in Rajon Letytschiw, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Western Ukraine with almost 2000 inhabitants. It is divided into the settlement and the village Stawnyzja ( Ставниця ).

For centuries Medschybisch because of its location between the East and Central Europe, a cultural and economic center.

History

In the 14th century the site of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania after 1596 belonged to the noble Republic of Poland - Lithuania.

The famous fort Medschybisch, which was built in 1540 by Captain Nikolai Siniawski is, despite the unrest in the history of the city is still preserved. In 1593 the city received Magdeburg rights, what their importance increased and trade strengthened. In the 17th century Medschybisch had about 12,000 inhabitants (only 3000 less than the then Kiev). The city's population was composed of Poles, Jews, Ukrainians, Armenians, Greeks, Germans, Tatars and others. The fairs in Medschybisch were visited by merchants from Poland, Germany and Italy.

Between 1672 and 1699 Medschybisch was occupied by the Ottomans and the church converted into a mosque.

In the 18th century the city became a center of Hasidism, the founder of the movement, Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, was better known as the Baal Shem Tov, lived and died in Medschybisch. After his death in 1760 his grave was a place of pilgrimage.

19th and 20th centuries

At the time of Soviet Union, the city became a provincial village.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, activists from around the world to work together with the Ukrainian authorities to make the city an international place of pilgrimage and a tourist center.

Personalities

Israel ben Eliezer (1700-1760), rabbi, worked and died in Medschybisch
Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810), Hasidic scholar
Micha Josef Berdyczewski (Micah Bin Gorion, 1865-1921 ), Hebrew writer

Place in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast

List of Ukrainian oblasts and territories by population Raions of Ukraine Classification of objects of the administrative-territorial system of Ukraine Administrative divisions of Ukraine Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine Dunaivtsi Horodok, Khmelnytskyi Oblast Iziaslav, Ukraine Krasyliv Slavuta Starokostiantyniv Volochysk Antoniny, Ukraine Yampil, Khmelnytskyi Oblast Yarmolyntsi Smotrych (urban-type settlement)

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