Kashou (Hasidic dynasty)

Kasho (also often spelled Kashau) is a hasidic dynasty lead today by Grand Rabbi Eleizer Chaim Blum. Kasho institutions are presently located Williamsburg, Monsey, and Bedford Hills, New York. Followers of the Kasho Rebbe live in other Jewish centers around the world. The Rebbe's advice is also sought by many Jews who are not hasidim of Kasho and who do not necessarily live according the holy takannos of Kasho. The Rebbe has authored several books of Hasidic tales, and is known as a pious leader, a brilliant thinker, and a skilled orator.

The Kasho Rebbe, R’ Rafuel Blum (1911-2005), was a talmid from R' Shaul Brach, zt"l (1865-1940), Rav, Rosh Av Beis Din, and Rosh Yeshiva of Kasho, and formerly of Magendorf and of Kruleh. R’ Rafuel Blum learned in R Shaul Brach's yeshiva for twenty-five zmanim thereby making R shaul brach his Rebbe Muvhak and role model. He constantly sought the advice of his holy Rav. Before World War II, the Rebbe led a yeshiva in Mihalowitz."Kasho Rav in Boro Park," by Gershon tannenbaum. "The Jewish Press". June 13, 2007.] The Rebbe was liberated from the Nazis on January 18, 1945 to the city of Arad in Romania. In the summer of 1945, the Rebbe returned to Kasho. The Rebbe was influential in establishing the halachic status of survivors of the war, freeing them to remarry after determining that their spouses had been killed. In 1948 the Rebbe arrived in Brooklyn and began the work of transferring his yeshiva from Kasho. Shortly afterwards, the Rebbe was appointed rosh yeshiva of the Tzelemer Yeshiva Arugas Habosem. At that time, the Rebbe founded Kehillas Kasho in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. In 1962 an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish the kehillah in Morris County, N.J. Eventually the Rebbe started yeshivos and a secluded village for Kasho hasidim in the forests of Westchester County, outside Bedford Hills. The village is known as Kiryas Kasho today. R' Rafuel's piety and brilliance were widely acknowledged. Talmidim from the Ruv's yeshivos are an influential presence in many branches of Hungarian hasidus today.

Kasho is most associated with Kiryas Kasho, although many hasidim live in Williamsburg and Monsey, New York. R' Rafuel's oldest son, Eleizer Chaim, the current Kasho Rebbe, resides in Monsey.

The Kasho hasidus is relatively small and considered extremely devout, even among other hasidic groups. The hasidus is known to be quiet and peaceful, despite their strict and sometimes controversial views on kashrus, zionism, tznius, and education.

The Rebbe was an influential advocate of the traditional practice of metzitza b'peh and its legal status in New York City.

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