- Amshinov (Hasidic dynasty)
Amshinov is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi
Yaakov Dovid Kalish . It is an offshoot of Vurka dynasty. It takes its name from the Yiddish name ofMszczonów , a town inPoland .History
The first Amshinover Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Kalish, was a son of Rabbi
Israel Yitzhak Kalish (Yitzchok of Vurka), the (first) Vurker Rebbe.Rabbi Yitzchok of Vurka was a disciple of Grand Rabbi Dovid Biderman of Lelov (1746-1814), who was a disciple of the "Seer of Lublin", who was a disciple of Rabbi
Elimelech of Lizhensk , who was a disciple of RabbiDovber of Mezeritch (the "Maggid"), the main disciple of RabbiYisroel ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov) , the founder of Hasidism. After the death of Rabbi Dovid Biderman of Lelov, Rabbi Yitzchok became a disciple of RabbiSimcha Bunim of Peshischa .Rabbi Yaakov Dovid was succeeded as Amshinover Rebbe by one of his sons, Menachem Kalish.
When Rabbi Menachem died in 1918, his son, Rabbi Yosef, became the Rebbe in Amshinov, and the other son, Rabbi Shimon Sholom, became rebbe in
Otwock ( _yi. אטוואצק "Otvotsk"). Rabbi Shimon was a major driving force behind the exodus of thousands of young men in Mir, Kletzk, Radin, Novhardok, and otheryeshiva s viaJapan toShanghai at the outbreak ofWorld War II . By the time Shanghai came under Japanese control, it held 26,000 Jews.Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehuda Myer Kalish (1901-1976) of Amshinov, a son of Rabbi Shimon Sholom,was born in
Przysucha ( _yi. פרשיסחא "Prshiskhe"),Poland . He studied Torah with his grandfather, Rabbi Menachem of Amshinov.After the war, Rabbi Shimon moved to the United States. Upon his passing in 1954, Rabbi Myer accompanied Rabbi Shimon's body to
Tiberias inIsrael , and remained there. Rabbi Myer later moved toTel Aviv , and then to theBayit Vegan neighbourhood ofJerusalem . Rabbi Myer was noted for his greatness in Torah scholarship, as well as his warmth and sensitivity to all.Present rebbes
Jerusalem
Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Milikowsky was born in the
United States . He is the present AmshinoverRebbe in theBayit Vegan section ofJerusalem . He is the grandson and successor of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehudah Meir Kalish of Amshinov, son of Rabbi Chaim and Rebbetzin Chayah Nechamah Milikowsky, daughter of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehudah Meir Kalish.He is reported to pray for hours on end, meditating on every word, as a result of which he ends the Sabbath on Sunday night or Monday. He allegedly discussed the Halachic implications of this with his mentor, the late Rav
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach , and according to Amshinover hasidim, Rav Auerbach sanctioned his practices. This last point is denied by those close to Rav Auerbach. The Rebbe is also reported to be the mentor of the famous Hasidic preacher, R. Tzvi Maier Zilberberg.The Amshinover Rebbe is widely known within the Haredi world, and is regarded within Hassidic circles for his exceptional Ahavas Yisroel, love of every jew, even those somewhat beyond the pale; for example, in his warmth towards
Shlomo Carlebach .Fact|date=June 2007 and others like him on the fringe of Judaism.Notable, is the rebbes guidance to the
Sde Tzofim Yeshiva in Beitar forBaalei Teshuva .New York
Rabbi Yosef Kalish II is the present Amshinover Rebbe in the
Boro Park section ofBrooklyn ,New York City . He is the son of Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish of Amshinov, who was the son of Rabbi Yosef Kalish of Amshinov, the brother of Rabbi Shimon Shalom Kalish of Amshinov.Lineage of the Amshinov dynasty
External links
* [http://hydepark.hevre.co.il/hydepark/topic.asp?whichpage=1&topic_id=1407571 A collection of pictures of the previous Amshinover Rebbe with Hebrew captions]
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