Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain (died 23 September 1965), also spelled Borenstein or Bernstein, was the fourth Rebbe
of the Sochatchov Hasidic
dynasty. He acceded to the position of Rebbe following the death of his older brother, Rabbi Dovid Bornsztain
, the third Sochatchover Rebbe, who died in the Warsaw Ghetto
during the Holocaust
. Rabbi Dovid's children were also killed during the Holocaust, leaving no survivors. As Rabbi Chanoch Henoch had moved to Palestine and established a beth midrash
in Jerusalem during the 1920s, his assumption of the title of Admor relocated the Sochatchover dynasty from its home in Poland to the new state of Israel, where it flourishes to this day.
, also known as the Avnei Nezer, who founded the Sochatchover dynasty.
In 1924, Rabbi Chanoch accompanied his brother Rabbi Dovid to Palestine
for the purpose of acquiring land to establish a Hasidic settlement. Rabbi Dovid put a down payment on a plot of land south of Ramle. When he returned to Poland to raise the rest of the money, however, his plan was thwarted by an economic depression that hit Poland shortly after his return. He eventually lost his rights to the land, as well as the money he had invested in it.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Chanoch stayed in Jerusalem, living first in the Bucharim neighborhood and then settling in the new Bayit VeGan
neighborhood, where he established a beth midrash (study hall).
Upon the death of their father, the Second Sochatchover Rebbe, in 1926, Rabbi Dovid acceded to the leadership of the Sochatchover Hasidim, while Rabbi Chanoch continued to live and study in Palestine.
After World War II, when Rabbi Chanoch heard about the death of his brother in the Warsaw Ghetto
, he was inconsolable. Later, he accepted the request of the Sochatchover Hasidim to be their leader. He established his court in Jerusalem, preferring to remain in that city even during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
, when his followers in Tel Aviv urged him to join him there.
Rabbi Chanoch led the Hasidut until his death on 23 September 1965 (26 Elul
5725). He is buried on Har HaMenuchot
in Jerusalem.
His son, Rabbi Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain
, succeeded him as Rebbe.
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
of the Sochatchov Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
dynasty. He acceded to the position of Rebbe following the death of his older brother, Rabbi Dovid Bornsztain
Dovid Bornsztain
Dovid Bornsztain , also spelled Borenstein, Bornstein and Bernstein, was the third Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He succeeded his father, Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain , as Rebbe upon the latter's death in 1926.-Early life:Bornsztain was born in the Hebrew month of Elul 5636 in Nasielsk, Poland...
, the third Sochatchover Rebbe, who died in the Warsaw Ghetto
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Jewish Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. It was established in the Polish capital between October and November 15, 1940, in the territory of General Government of the German-occupied Poland, with over 400,000 Jews from the vicinity...
during the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. Rabbi Dovid's children were also killed during the Holocaust, leaving no survivors. As Rabbi Chanoch Henoch had moved to Palestine and established a beth midrash
Beth midrash
Beth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....
in Jerusalem during the 1920s, his assumption of the title of Admor relocated the Sochatchover dynasty from its home in Poland to the new state of Israel, where it flourishes to this day.
Biography
Chanoch Henoch was the second son of Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain, the Second Sochatchover Rebbe, and his wife, Yuta Leah. He grew up in the presence of his illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Avrohom BornsztainAvrohom Bornsztain
Avrohom Bornsztain , also spelled Avraham Borenstein or Bernstein, was a leading posek in late-nineteenth-century Europe and founder and first Rebbe of the Sochatchover Hasidic dynasty. He is known as the Avnei Nezer after the title of his posthumously-published set of Torah responsa...
, also known as the Avnei Nezer, who founded the Sochatchover dynasty.
In 1924, Rabbi Chanoch accompanied his brother Rabbi Dovid to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
for the purpose of acquiring land to establish a Hasidic settlement. Rabbi Dovid put a down payment on a plot of land south of Ramle. When he returned to Poland to raise the rest of the money, however, his plan was thwarted by an economic depression that hit Poland shortly after his return. He eventually lost his rights to the land, as well as the money he had invested in it.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Chanoch stayed in Jerusalem, living first in the Bucharim neighborhood and then settling in the new Bayit VeGan
Bayit Vegan
Bayit VeGan is a neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem, Israel, with a mostly charedi religious population. Bayit VeGan is located to the east of Mount Herzl and borders the neighborhoods of Kiryat Hayovel and Givat Mordechai. The Shaare Zedek Medical Center is located near Bayit VeGan...
neighborhood, where he established a beth midrash (study hall).
Upon the death of their father, the Second Sochatchover Rebbe, in 1926, Rabbi Dovid acceded to the leadership of the Sochatchover Hasidim, while Rabbi Chanoch continued to live and study in Palestine.
After World War II, when Rabbi Chanoch heard about the death of his brother in the Warsaw Ghetto
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Jewish Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. It was established in the Polish capital between October and November 15, 1940, in the territory of General Government of the German-occupied Poland, with over 400,000 Jews from the vicinity...
, he was inconsolable. Later, he accepted the request of the Sochatchover Hasidim to be their leader. He established his court in Jerusalem, preferring to remain in that city even during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, when his followers in Tel Aviv urged him to join him there.
Rabbi Chanoch led the Hasidut until his death on 23 September 1965 (26 Elul
Elul
Elul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days...
5725). He is buried on Har HaMenuchot
Har HaMenuchot
Har HaMenuchot is the largest cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel. It is located at the western edge of the city adjacent to the neighborhood of Givat Shaul, with commanding views of Mevaseret Zion to the north, Motza to the west, and Har Nof to the south.-History:...
in Jerusalem.
His son, Rabbi Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain
Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain
Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain , also spelled Borenstein, Bornstein, or Bernstein, was the fifth Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He acceded to the position of Rebbe following the death of his father, Rabbi Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain, the fourth Rebbe of Sochatchov...
, succeeded him as Rebbe.
Rebbes of Sochatchov
- Avrohom BornsztainAvrohom BornsztainAvrohom Bornsztain , also spelled Avraham Borenstein or Bernstein, was a leading posek in late-nineteenth-century Europe and founder and first Rebbe of the Sochatchover Hasidic dynasty. He is known as the Avnei Nezer after the title of his posthumously-published set of Torah responsa...
, the Avnei Nezer (1838–1910) - Shmuel Bornsztain (I), the Shem Mishmuel (1856–1926)
- Dovid BornsztainDovid BornsztainDovid Bornsztain , also spelled Borenstein, Bornstein and Bernstein, was the third Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He succeeded his father, Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain , as Rebbe upon the latter's death in 1926.-Early life:Bornsztain was born in the Hebrew month of Elul 5636 in Nasielsk, Poland...
(1876–1942) - Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain (d. 1965)
- Menachem Shlomo BornsztainMenachem Shlomo BornsztainMenachem Shlomo Bornsztain , also spelled Borenstein, Bornstein, or Bernstein, was the fifth Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He acceded to the position of Rebbe following the death of his father, Rabbi Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain, the fourth Rebbe of Sochatchov...
(1934–1969) - Shmuel Bornsztain (II)Shmuel Bornsztain (II)Shmuel Bornsztain , also spelled Borenstein or Bernstein, is the sixth Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He acceded to the position of Rebbe following the sudden death of his father, Rabbi Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain, the fifth Rebbe of Sochatchov, in a traffic accident in Jerusalem...
(b. 1961)