Rabbi Avrohom Gershon of Brody was probably born in or near Kuty, Poland around 1701 and died in Yerushalayim in 1761. He is best known as the Baal Shem Tov's brother-in-law.
A scion of a famous rabbinic family, Avraham Gershon is a descendant (possibly the grandson) of Shabsai Cohen ("the ShACh") (1625-1663).
Both Avraham Gershon and his father Rav Ephraim of Brody served in one of the four beis din (Jewish Court) of Brody. It was here that he and his father encountered Rabbi Yisrael "Baal Shem Tov". According to early Chasidic work Shivchei haBesht, his father gave his blessing of marriage for his sister Chana to the Baal Shem Tov on his deathbed. But once Ephraim died, Avraham Gershon was unaware of this secret betrothal until the Baal Shem Tov revealed the engagement contract.
Avraham Gershon rose to a powerful position within the Jewish community of Brody.
In 1747, Avraham Gershon traveled to Yerushalayim, one of the first Chasidim to establish a presence in the holy land. There he embraced the Rashash, together with those who were students of Kabbalah. He lived in Chevron for six years. In 1753, he moved to Yerushalayim and was further associated with the (kabbalistic) Yeshivas Beit El. He died in 1761 and was buried on Har Hazeisim. After the Six Day War in 1967, his grave was rediscovered along with the grave of his second wife Bluma.
