Boston (Hasidic dynasty)

Boston is a Hasidic sect, originally established in 1915 by Grand Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz. Following the custom of European Chassidic Courts, where the Rebbe was called after the name of his city, Bostoner Chassidus was named after Boston, Massachusetts. The most senior and well-known of the Bostoner Rebbes in contemporary times was Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz who died in December 2009. Amid a spectrum of notable accomplishments and "firsts in America," the Bostoner Chassidim are known for acts of kindness, the ability to apply ancient Jewish values in modern society, outreach to students, and tangible help for the sick and their families during crucial times of need. The Bostoner Chassidim also have a rich musical tradition with many unique songs sung in the Chassidic Courts of Boston in various locations around the world. The community of the late Bostoner Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Horowitz is headquartered in both Har Nof, Jerusalem in Israel and in the town of Brookline. Currently, the title of Grand Rabbi has been bestowed upon all three surviving sons, who will carry the title Bostoner Rebbe in their respective cities: New York, Boston, and Jerusalem

Origins

Grand Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz, the first Bostoner Rebbe, a scion of the Rebbe Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the Lelov dynasty, first arrived in Boston in 1915 from the Land of Israel via Europe. Shortly after his arrival, Rabbi Pinchas David was accepted as Rebbe by the Jewish community of Boston. In 1939, the Bostoner Rebbe moved to Brooklyn, and opened the Bostoner Beis Medrash of Williamsburg. After his death in 1941, his son Rav Moshe succeeded him. In 1943, Rav Levi Yitzchok became another Bostoner Rebbe and built the New England Chassidic Center.

Reb Moshe later founded the Bostoner Bais Medrash of Crown Heights and the Bostoner Bais Medrash of Borough Park. In 1985, upon the passing of Reb Moshe, his sons Reb Avrohom Horowitz and Reb Pinchas Dovid succeeded their father. In 2006 the Bostoner Rebbe of Borough Park moved to Beit Shemesh in Israel to lead his sizeable community in that growing city. Reb Avrohom's younger brother Reb Pinchas Dovid, moved to Flatbush In 1989 and founded Yeshiva Darchei Noam and brought Bostoner Chassidus to his new Bais Medrash in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.

The Bostoner Rebbe of Brookline MA, Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, became very popular and because of his seniority is commonly considered "The Bostoner Rebbe" The Bostoner Rebbe was niftar on Shabbos Vayishlach (Yud Ches Kislev 5770) in Yerushalayim.

There are also Bostoner communities in the Borough Park and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn, Lawrence, Monsey, Highland Park/Edison, New Jersey and Beitar Illit in Israel.

On Saturday December 5, 2009 the Bostoner Rebbe died in Jerusalem, Israel.

The sons of the late Bostoner Rebbe, Rav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz zt”l, will be succeeding their venerated father in leading the Bostoner chassidus. Rav Pinchos Dovid Horowitz, the Chuster Rov of Boro Park, will serve as Bostoner Rebbe in New York; Rav Mayer Alter Horowitz will serve as Bostoner Rebbe in Har Nof, Yerushalayim; and Rav Naftali Horowitz will serve as Bostoner Rebbe in Boston/Brookline, Massachusetts.

Lineage of the Boston dynasty

L-to-R, Admoor Grand Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz of New York, Admoor Grand Rabbi Mayer Alter Horowitz of Jerusalem, Admoor Grand Rabbi Naftali Yehudah Horowitz of Boston, MA

• Grand Rabbi Pinchos Duvid Horowitz (1876-1941) first Bostoner Rebbe
  • Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz,(1921-2009) the Bostoner Rebbe in Brookline and Har Nof – son of Rabbi Pinchas David Horowitz
    • Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz, Chuster Ruv – eldest son of Grand Rabbi Leivi Yitzchok - successor to his father as Bostoner Rebbe of New York, and spiritual leader of Betar Illit
      • Rabbi Moshe Shimon Horowitz, Bostoner Ruv of Betar Illit - eldest son of the Chuster Ruv
      • Rabbi Yisroel Aharon Horowitz - son of the Chuster Ruv and son-in-law of Rabbi Yitzchok Arie Weiss, Horodonka Rebbe of Manchester, England
      • Reb Shia'le Horowitz, Bostoner Ruv of Monsey - son of the Chuster Ruv
      • Rabbi Yechiel Mechel Horowitz, Bostoner Ruv of Highland Park - son of the Chuster Ruv
    • Rabbi Mayer Alter Horowitz, of Har Nof – Bostoner Ruv (Jerusalem) - second son of Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok, successor to his father as Bostoner Rebbe of Jerusalem
    • Rabbi Naftuli Horowitz, Bostoner Ruv (Boston, MA) – youngest son of Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok, successor to his father as Bostoner Rebbe of Boston, MA
    • Rabbi Moshe Chaim Geldzahler of Har Nof, Rabbi of Cong. Beis Borofsky, Bostoner Dayan – son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok
    • Rabbi Yosef Frankel Vyelipoler Rov of Flatbush, New York – son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok
  • Grand Rabbi Moshe Horowitz (d. 1985) Bostoner Rebbe of New York – son of Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz.
    • Grand Rabbi Chaim Avrohom Horowitz, present Bostoner Rebbe of Borough Park and Ramat Beit Shemesh – son of Grand Rabbi Moshe
      • Rabbi Yankel Horowitz of Lawrence, NY – son of Grand Rabbi Chaim Avrohom
      • Rabbi Yisroel Yona Horowitz of Boro Park – son of Grand Rabbi Chaim Avrohom
    • Grand Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz, present Bostoner Rebbe of Flatbush – son of Grand Rabbi Moshe Horowitz
      • Rabbi Mordechai Horowitz R"M of Darchei Noam - son of Grand Rabbi Pinchos Dovid of Flatbush
      • Rabbi Chaim Avrohom Horowitz of Monsey – son of Grand Rabbi Pinchos Duvid of Flatbush

External Links

• Bostoner Rebbes
• Moshe D. Sherman Orthodox Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook pp 94-96