R. Zevi Hirsch Eichenstein of Zhidachov (1785–1831), the dynasty's founder and most outstanding personality, was born in the village of Safrin, Hungary. In his youth he was known as a brilliant Torah scholar and while still a young man, he devoted himself mainly to the study of the Kabbalah. Under the influence of his brother, R. Moses of Sambor (d. 1840), he became a Hasid and the outstanding disciple of R. Jacob Isaac ha-Hozeh ("the Seer") of Lublin. In addition, R. Zevi Hirsch studied with R. Moses Leib of Sasov, whom he also considered to be his mentor, and with R. Baruch of Medzhibezh, among others. Only after the death of R. Jacob Isaac of Lublin did he become the leader of a large hasidic community. His unique approach to Hasidism, which aroused the opposition of other hasidic leaders, consisted in strengthening the kabbalistic-philosophical foundation of the movement. He wrote a number of important works on mysticism, and his disciples and followers were distinguished from other streams of Hasidism by their open and dedicated study of the system of R. Isaac Luria, whose thought they considered to be a direct forerunner of Hasidism. R. Zevi Hirsch saw Hasidism as the means by which the ideals of the important later kabbalists could be put into practice, and, in addition, he maintained that no understanding of Hasidism was possible without a deep knowledge of Kabbalah. Among his numerous disciples were his brother, R. Judah Zevi of Rozdol, and his nephew, R. Isaac Eizik of Komarno. The well-known Malbim (R. Meir Leib b. Jehiel of Michael) studied Kabbalah under R. Zevi Hirsch. The 11th of Tammuz, the date of R. Zevi Hirsch's passing, became a day of celebration, when his disciples, admirers, and the adherents of closely related hasidic sects made a pilgrimage to his grave.

דף לא-לד, [1]: דרוש נחמד בענין תפילין. מעבר לשער הקדמת ר' יוסף הכהן ראפאפורט. כותב בין השאר: "אדמו"ר ח"ז [חותני זקני]... בעוד היותו בחיים ... תלמידיו ... התאוו ... להעתיק הקונטרסי' אשר על התורה ... גם הוא ... נתן להם הכתבים אחד אחד להעתיקם. ויהי בהלקח ארון אלקים ... נשארו הקונטרסים ת"י [תחת יד] התלמידים אחת הנה ואחת הנה, אשר על כן שנסתי מתני ... לקבצם ... ואמרתי לחבר ... את בית ישראל. ואפס קצהו תראו ... לאשר עוד מפוזרים אנה ואנה. והי' כאשר יזכני ד' למצוא הנשארים, חלילה לי ... מחדול להביאם לפניכם". בספר הערות שבראשן: א"ה [אמר המגיה, או: אמר המעתיק].