Levi Yitzchak Horowitz
Encyclopedia
Levi Yitzchak HeLevi
Horowitz (born 3 July 1921, Boston
, Massachusetts
, died 5 December 2009, Jerusalem) was a rabbi
and the second Rebbe
of the Boston
Hasidic dynasty
founded by his father, Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz
. He was the first American-born Hasidic rebbe and a champion of Orthodox Jewish outreach, reaching out to many students in the Boston area through his New England Chassidic Center. He was also the founder of ROFEH International, a community-based medical referral and hospitality liaison support agency.
, died in November 1941. On 17 November 1942 he married Rachel Unger Leifer of Cleveland, Ohio
, daughter of Rabbi Naftali Unger, av beis din of Neumarkt and a descendant of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz
.
who traveled to Washington, D.C.
just before Yom Kippur
, to plead with President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to rescue Jews from Hitler.
Upon ascending to the leadership of the Bostoner Hasidim in 1944, he announced that his primary thrust as rebbe would be aimed at the area's large number of college students, many of whom were away from home and in a perfect position to partake of all that he felt the New England Chassidic Center could offer them. Many tried to dissuade him, saying that Hasidism and college
did not mix, but he persevered and was personally responsible for returning many students at Harvard University
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
to their Jewish roots.
In 1984 Horowitz decided to create a Hasidic community in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem, establishing Givat Pincus and dividing his time between Israel and Boston. The nascent Bostoner community in Har Nof was instrumental in developing that neighborhood's Orthodox
community. In 1999, an additional community was established in Beitar for the next generation of Bostoner Chassidim.
Horowitz served as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
of Agudath Israel of Israel.
Horowitz suffered a cardiac arrest on July 6, 2009, and hospitalized in the Sharei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem. He died at the Sharei Tzedek Medical Center, on Saturday, December 5, 2009 (Shabbat
Vayishlach). He was buried the same night on the Mount of Olives
.. The Boston Globe carried a comprehensive obituary on December 24, 2009.
Per his will, he was succeeded by his eldest son, the Chuster Rav Rabbi Pinchos Dovid as Bostoner of Borough Park, Brooklyn
; Bostoner Rebbe of Har Nof was succeeded by his second son, Rabbi Mayer Alter
; And Bostoner Rebbe of Boston by his third son, Rabbi Naftali Yehuda
.
Levite
In Jewish tradition, a Levite is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. When Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Canaan, the Levites were the only Israelite tribe that received cities but were not allowed to be landowners "because the Lord the God of Israel himself is their inheritance"...
Horowitz (born 3 July 1921, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, died 5 December 2009, Jerusalem) was a rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and the second 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 Boston
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...
Hasidic dynasty
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...
founded by his father, Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz
Pinchas Horowitz
Rabbi Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz was a rabbi and Talmudist.-Life:The descendant of a long line of rabbinical ancestors and the son of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Horowitz of Chortkiv, he received a thorough Talmudic education, chiefly from his older brother, Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, together with whom he...
. He was the first American-born Hasidic rebbe and a champion of Orthodox Jewish outreach, reaching out to many students in the Boston area through his New England Chassidic Center. He was also the founder of ROFEH International, a community-based medical referral and hospitality liaison support agency.
Family
Horowitz's parents were Rabbi Pinchas Dovid Horowitz and Sora Sosha Horowitz. His father, founder of the Boston Hasidic dynastyBoston (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...
, died in November 1941. On 17 November 1942 he married Rachel Unger Leifer of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, daughter of Rabbi Naftali Unger, av beis din of Neumarkt and a descendant of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz
Ropshitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Ropshitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty, or rabbinical family and group who are descendants of Rabbi Naftali Zvi of Ropshitz . Ropshitz is the name of a town in southern Poland known in Polish as Ropczyce....
.
Communal activism
In 1943, Horowitz was one of the 400-plus rabbis led by Rabbi Baruch KorffBaruch Korff
Baruch Korff was a longtime Jewish community activist. He was politically close to Richard Nixon, and was known as "Nixon's rabbi."-Early years:Korff was born in Ukraine and emigrated to the United States in 1926...
who traveled to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
just before Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
, to plead with President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to rescue Jews from Hitler.
Upon ascending to the leadership of the Bostoner Hasidim in 1944, he announced that his primary thrust as rebbe would be aimed at the area's large number of college students, many of whom were away from home and in a perfect position to partake of all that he felt the New England Chassidic Center could offer them. Many tried to dissuade him, saying that Hasidism and college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
did not mix, but he persevered and was personally responsible for returning many students at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
to their Jewish roots.
In 1984 Horowitz decided to create a Hasidic community in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem, establishing Givat Pincus and dividing his time between Israel and Boston. The nascent Bostoner community in Har Nof was instrumental in developing that neighborhood's Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
community. In 1999, an additional community was established in Beitar for the next generation of Bostoner Chassidim.
Horowitz served as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah refers to the supreme rabbinical policy-making council of any of several related Haredi Jewish organizations....
of Agudath Israel of Israel.
Horowitz suffered a cardiac arrest on July 6, 2009, and hospitalized in the Sharei Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem. He died at the Sharei Tzedek Medical Center, on Saturday, December 5, 2009 (Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
Vayishlach). He was buried the same night on the Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
.. The Boston Globe carried a comprehensive obituary on December 24, 2009.
Per his will, he was succeeded by his eldest son, the Chuster Rav Rabbi Pinchos Dovid as Bostoner of Borough Park, Brooklyn
Borough Park, Brooklyn
Borough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....
; Bostoner Rebbe of Har Nof was succeeded by his second son, Rabbi Mayer Alter
Mayer Alter Horowitz
Grand Rabbi Mayer Alter Horowitz is an American chassidic rabbi, son of Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, the previous Bostoner Rebbe, a scion of the Boston Hasidic dynasty. Horowitz is the rebbe of the Jerusalem branch of the Bostoner Hasidic dynasty...
; And Bostoner Rebbe of Boston by his third son, Rabbi Naftali Yehuda
Naftali Yehuda Horowitz
Naftali Yehuda Halevi Horowitz is the Bostoner Rebbe of Boston, having succeeded his father, Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, the second Bostoner Rebbe, upon the latter's death in December 2009...
.