- Spinka (Hasidic dynasty)
Spinka is the name of a
Hasidic group withinOrthodox Judaism . The group originated in a town calledSăpânţa (Yiddish : Spinka),Maramureş ,Romania , near the Hungarian border.pinka rebbes
The first Spinka Rebbe was Grand Rabbi Joseph Meir Weiss, author of "Imrei Yosef". He was succeeded by his son, Grand Rabbi Isaac Weiss, author of "Chakal Yitzchak". The "Chakal Yitzchak" was killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust.
After World War II, the group was divided among many Rebbes, descendants of the "Imrei Yosef". Spinka Rebbes can be found in Williamsburg, Boro Park, Flatbush, Kiryas Joel, Queens, Bnei Brak, Antwerp, London, throughout Israel, and Europe. All are offshoots of the original dynasty. Several Spinka Rebbes live in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn alone, and Israeli branches are found in
Jerusalem andBnei Brak .Among the surnames of the Spinka Rebbes are Weiss, Horowitz, and Kahane.
Lineage of Spinka rebbes (Weiss branch)
*Grand Rabbi
Joseph Meir Weiss , (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Author of "Imrei Yosef"
**Grand RabbiIsaac Weiss , (1875-1944) - Author of "Chakal Yitzchak", son of the "Imrei Yosef"
***Grand RabbiIsrael Chaim Weiss , (d. 1944) - son of the "Chakal Yitzchak"
****Grand RabbiJacob Joseph Weiss , (1916-1988) - Author of "Siach Yaakov Yosef" - son of Rabbi Israel Chaim
*****Grand RabbiNaftali Tzvi Weisz - Spinka Rebbe of Boro Park - son of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
*****Grand RabbiIsrael Chaim Weisz - Spinka Rebbe of Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
*****Grand RabbiMeir Eleazer Weisz - Spinka Rebbe of Boro Park - son of Rabbi Jacob JosephLineage of Spinka rebbes (Horowitz branch)
*Grand Rabbi Joseph Meir Weiss - (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Author of "Imrei Yosef"
**Grand Rabbi Isaac Weiss - (1875-1944) - Author of "Chakal Yitzchak", son of the "Imrei Yosef"
***Grand RabbiAbraham Abish Horowitz of Kruly, son-in-law of the "Chakal Yitzchak"
****Grand RabbiSamuel Tzvi Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe of Williamsburg - affectionately known as "Reb Hershele Spinker", son of Rabbi Abish of Kruly
*****Grand RabbiIssachar Dov Berish Horowitz , (d. 2007 (י"ט תשרי תשס"ח))- Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Beth Samuel Tzvi Synagogue - eldest son of Reb Hershele Spinker
******Grand RabbiYosef Meir Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Williamsbug - Beth Samuel Tzvi Synagogue - eldest son of Reb Berish Spinker.
*****Grand RabbiAbraham Abish Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Beth Isaac Synagogue - son of Reb Hershele Spinker
*****Grand RabbiIsaac Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Toldoth Tzvi Synagogue - son of Reb Hershele Spinker
*****Grand RabbiNata Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Boro Park - Beth Abraham Synagogue - son of Reb Hershele Spinker
*****Grand RabbiNaphtali Horowitz - Kruly Rebbe of Williamsburg - youngest son of Reb Hershele SpinkerLineage of Spinka rebbes (Kahane branch)
*Grand Rabbi Joseph Meir Weiss (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Author of "Imrei Yosef"
**Grand RabbiNachman Kahane - Author of "Orchos Chaim" - son-in-law of the "Imrei Yosef"
***Grand RabbiTzvi Hirsch Kahane of Spinka
****Grand RabbiNachman Kahane , (d. 1976) Spinka-Kahane Rebbe of Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch
*****Grand RabbiMoses Eliakim Briah Kahane , Spinka-Kahane Rebbe in Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Nachman
*****Grand RabbiAsher Yeshayah Aryeh Kahane , Spinka Rebbe in Kiryas Joel - son of Rabbi Nachman
*****Rabbi Elimelech Kahane, Rosh Kolel of Zidichov Kollel in Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Nachman
*****Grand RabbiMenachem Mendel Kahane , Spinka Rebbe of London - son of Rabbi Nachman
*****Grand Rabbi Kahane, Spinka Rebbe of Antwerp - son of Rabbi Nachman
******Grand RabbiBaruch Kahane , Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg
****Grand RabbiJoseph Meir Kahane , (d. 1978), Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem - son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch
*****Grand RabbiMordecai David Kahane , Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem - son of Rabbi Joseph Meir
*****Grand RabbiAlter Kahane , Zidichov-spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem - son of Rabbi Joseph Meir of SpinkaLineage of the Ulemer Rabbis of the Friedman family from the Spinka line
*Grand Rabbi Joseph Meir Weiss, (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Spinka Rebbe - Author of "Imrei Yosef"
**Grand RabbiIsaac Weiss , (1875-1944) - Spinka Rebbe - Author of "Chakal Yitzchak", son of the "Imrei Yosef"
***Grand RabbiIsrael Chaim Weiss , (d. 1944) - son of the "Chakal Yitzchak"
****Rabbi Shmuel Friedman, Chief Rabbi of Ulem - son of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Friedman, zt"l - son-in-law of Rabbi Israel Chaim Weiss
*****RabbiYaakov Yitzchak Friedman , present Ulemer Rav of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, N.Y., son of Rabbi Samuel
******RabbiChaim Joseph Friedman ] , Brezaner Rav of Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y., son of the Ulemer Rav
******RabbiBerish Friedman , Spinka Rav of Rego Park, Queens, N.Y., son of the Ulemer Rav
******RabbiHershel Friedman , Seilish Rav of Williamsburgh, N.Y., son of the Ulemer RavImportant Spinka works
The main books particularly revered by the Spinka Hasidic sect (in addition to those revered by all Hasidim) are "Imrei Yosef", "Chakal Yitzchak". The followers of the Horowitz Spinka line also revere the book "Toldos Tzvi". Since then many of the Spinka Rebbes have written books, and several prayer books have been published according to the "nusach" of the Spinka Rebbes.
Allegations of fraud
On
December 19 ,2007 , Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Weisz, hisGabbi , and six other men were charged in connection with an allegedtax fraud scheme inLos Angeles, California . American authorities claimed that the scheme involved soliciting tens of millions of dollars of donations to Spinka charities over a span of approximately ten years, then refunding 80-95% of the funds back to the donor through an Israeli bank, despite the donors' claiming a tax deduction on the full amount. Five Brooklyn Spinka institutions were also named as defendants. [cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/nyregion/20rabbis.html?ref=nyregion|title=Hasidic Rabbi and Assistant Are Arrested in Tax Scheme"|publisher=The New York Times|date=December 20 ,2007 |accssdate=December 25 ,2007 |author=Alan Feuer] [cite news|publisher=San Jose Mercury News|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7760897?nclick_check=1|accessdate=2007-12-25|title=Rabbi indicted in tax fraud and money laundering scheme in LA|date=December 19, 2007] [cite news|publisher=United Press International|accessdate=2007-12-25|title=Jewish leaders arrested on fraud charges|date=December 20, 2007] [cite news|publisher=FBI Press Release|url=http://losangeles.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/la121907usa.htm|accessdate=2008-01-13|title=BROOKLYN RABBI AND SEVERAL ASSOCIATES CHARGED IN SOPHISTICATED TAX FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME|date=December 19, 2007]References
Image gallery
External links
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6068298263856474591&q=spinka+sukkos Video of Grand Rabbi Berish Horowitz, Spinka Rebbe of Keap st. and Bedford ave. in Williamsburg, celebrating Sukkos]
* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=spinka+sukkos+meir Video clips of Grand Rabbi Meir Eleazar Weiss, the Spinka Rebbe of 18th avenue in Boro Park, celebrating Sukkos]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4995978790260427940&q=spinka+wedding+duration%3Along Video of a Wedding of scions of the Spinka dynasty, with the participation of several Spinka Rebbes]
* [http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/106023.html Spinka rabbi arrested for tax fraud]
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