Chaim Halberstam of Sanz (1793–1876) (), known as the Divrei Chaim after his sefer (works), was the rabbi of Sanz (), a famous Hasidic Rebbe and the founder of the Sanz Hasidic dynasty, and one of the leaders of Eastern European Jewry in his generation. Life Halberstam was a pupil of Rabbi Sholom Rokeach of Belz, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Heshl Orenstein and Rabbi Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz. His first rabbinical position was in Rudnik. In 1830 he was appointed as the town rabbi of Sanz, where he founded a Hasidic dynasty. He attracted many followers and students, due to his piety and greatness. Sanz has been succeeded nowadays by the Sanz-Klausenberg, Sanz-Zmigrad, Tshakover (Chokover) Hasidic dynasties, and the Bobov Hasidic dynasties, among others. Family life Halberstam was born in 1793, in Tarnogród, today Poland. His first wife Rochel Feyga was the daughter of Rabbi Boruch Frenkl-Thumim (1760–1828), the rabbi of Lipník nad Bečvou ( Leipnik) and author of the work Boruch Taam. She bore him five sons and three daughters. When she died he then married her sister, who died childless. His third wife was Rechil Devorah Unger, daughter of Rabbi Yechil Tzvi Unger, son of Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger of Dombrov; who bore him three sons and four daughters. Halberstam had eight sons and seven daughters. His eight sons were: Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam (1814–1898) of Shinove Rabbi Dovid Halberstam (1821–1894) of Chrzanów Rabbi Myer Noson Halberstam (1827–1855), father of Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam, the first Bobover Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Halberstam (1828-1903) his successor in Nowy Sącz Rabbi Boruch Halberstam (1829–1906) of Gorlice () Rabbi Shulem Lazer Halberstam of Ratzfert (1861–1944), who was murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust Rabbi Yeshaye Halberstam of Czchów (Yiddish: טשחויוו Tshkhoiv) (1864–1944), who was also murdered by the Nazis. Aryeh Leibish Halberstam died at age of 7 Halberstam's sons all became famous rebbes (except for Myer Noson, who predeceased him). His seven daughters all married Hasidic leaders. Halberstam died in Sanz, Austria-Hungary (now Poland) in 1876 (25 Nisan 5636). Leadership Halberstam was acclaimed by the leading rabbis of his generation as one of the foremost Talmudists, poskim and Kabbalistic authorities of his time, he received queries from Rabbis and communities from all over the world. His responsa, as well as his Torah commentaries, published under the title Divrei Chaim, reflect his Torah greatness, his humility, and his compassionate nature. He was a champion