Osrov-Henzin (Hasidic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
The Ozerov Hasidic dynasty is a Hasidic
group that began in 1827 when Rabbi Yehudah Leib Epstein, Rabbi of Ożarów
in Poland
since 1811, assumed leadership of his Hasidim ("disciples").
Rabbi Epstein was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin
, the Holy Jew of Prshiskhe
, the Ohev Yisrael of Apt
, Poland, and Rabbi Myer, the Or LaShamayim of Apt. When Rabbi Myer died in 1827, his chasidim asked the Rabbi of Ożarów to be their new rebbe. Rabbi Yehudah Leib accepted this position reluctantly. His followers were numbered in the thousands. He moved to Opole
towards the end of his life and died in 1837. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein. Rabbi Yechiel Chaim was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib Epstein in 1887.
Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib had six children:
Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein was the son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Chaim Shmuel of Khentshin
. He served as rebbe for only four years, and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein.
In 1925, the Ozerover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein of Ozerov came to New York where he set up his Hasidic court. He spent several years in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and then moved to the Bronx. In 1952, the rebbe moved to the Holy Land, where he spent the rest of his life. After World War II
the remnants of the chasidim of Chentshin
were left leaderless, their rebbe having been killed by the Nazis. They adopted the Ozerover Rebbe, a grandson of the first Chentshiner Rebbe, as their leader. Rabbi Moshe Yechiel was therefore given the title Grand Rabbi of Ozerov-Chentshin.
Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein was known as one of the great Torah scholars of his generation. His encyclopedic series of Torah commentaries entitled Eish Dos (11 volumes) and Be'er Moshe (12 volumes) are renowned for their depth. They were considered to be just a small sample of the Rebbe's erudition.
In 1968 Rabbi Epstein was a recipient of the Israel Prize
in the category of Torah literature.
The Rebbe died in 1971, and was succeeded by his grandson, Grand Rabbi Tanchum Becker (son of Rabbi Epstein's daughter, Rebbetzin Miriam Becker of Milwaukee, Wisconsin), the present Rebbe of Ozerov-Chentshin, who was trained by his grandfather to succeed him. Grand Rabbi Becker presently resides with his family in Bnei Brak, where he leads the Ozerov Torah Center, comprising a yeshiva, a kollel for married Talmudic scholars, and the Ozerover Beis Medrash..
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...
group that began in 1827 when Rabbi Yehudah Leib Epstein, Rabbi of Ożarów
Ozarów
Ożarów is a town in Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in Powiat of Opatów . It has 4,906 inhabitants and its largest employer is a large cement factory nearby. The cement factory was privatized in 1995 and a controlling stake in the company was purchased by Irish company CRH plc from HCP...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
since 1811, assumed leadership of his Hasidim ("disciples").
Rabbi Epstein was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin
Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin
Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin, also Jacob Isaac of Lublin, or Y. Y. Horowitz , known as "The Chozeh of Lublin" , or simply as the "Chozeh", was a Hasidic rebbe from Poland....
, the Holy Jew of Prshiskhe
Przysucha
Przysucha is a town in Poland. Located in the Masovian Voivodeship, about 100 km southwest of Warsaw, it is the capital of Przysucha County. It has 6,762 inhabitants . Its name in Yiddish is פשיסחא or פשיסכא . It was home to a number of prominent Hasidic Rabbis, such as The Holy Jew and...
, the Ohev Yisrael of Apt
Opatów
Opatów is a town in Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. It is the capital of Opatów County. Its population is 7,833 .Tourist attractions include a 12th century Collegiate Church of St...
, Poland, and Rabbi Myer, the Or LaShamayim of Apt. When Rabbi Myer died in 1827, his chasidim asked the Rabbi of Ożarów to be their new rebbe. Rabbi Yehudah Leib accepted this position reluctantly. His followers were numbered in the thousands. He moved to Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
towards the end of his life and died in 1837. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein. Rabbi Yechiel Chaim was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib Epstein in 1887.
Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib had six children:
- Grand Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein of Ozharov (1864-1917) (who succeeded his father in 1913),
- Rabbi Eliezer Shalom Epstein of Partzev,
- Rabbi Yoseph Epstein of Josefów,
- Grand Rabbi Alter Moshe David Epstein of ĆmielówCmielówĆmielów is a town in Ostrowiec County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, seat of Gmina Ćmielów. It has 3,222 inhabitants . It is known for one of Poland's oldest porcelain factories dating back to 1790.The town history dates back to 14th century...
, - Rabbi Yaakov Epstein, Rebbetzin Chava Rabinowicz (wife of Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi RabinowitzRabinowitzRabinowitz , is a Polish Ashkenazi Jewish surname, Slavic for "son of the rabbi". The Russian equivalents are Rabinovich or Rabinovitch.It may refer to:* Alan Rabinowitz , American zoologist...
of BialaBiala (Hasidic dynasty)The Biala Hasidic dynasty originated from Poland. The Rebbes of Biala are descended from Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Rabinowicz, known as the Yid Hakodosh .-Lineage:...
-Shedlitz),
and - Rebbetzin Feiga Taub (wife of Rabbi Yaakov Yerachmiel Taub of RadomRadomRadom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and...
, brother of Rabbi Israel Taub of ModzhitzModzitz (Hasidic dynasty)Modzitz or Modzhitz is the name of a Hasidic group within Orthodox Judaism that derives its name from Modrzyce, one of the boroughs of the town of Dęblin, Poland, located on the Vistula River...
).
Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein was the son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Chaim Shmuel of Khentshin
Checiny
Chęciny is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,252 inhabitants .The town is first mentioned in historical documents from 1275. It obtained its city charter in 1325. The most important sight in the town is the royal castle built in the late 13th or early 14th century...
. He served as rebbe for only four years, and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein.
In 1925, the Ozerover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein of Ozerov came to New York where he set up his Hasidic court. He spent several years in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and then moved to the Bronx. In 1952, the rebbe moved to the Holy Land, where he spent the rest of his life. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the remnants of the chasidim of Chentshin
Chentshin (Hasidic dynasty)
Chentshin is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by the Rebbe Chayim Shmuel Szternfeld. Chentshin is the Yiddish name of Chęciny, a town in present-day Poland....
were left leaderless, their rebbe having been killed by the Nazis. They adopted the Ozerover Rebbe, a grandson of the first Chentshiner Rebbe, as their leader. Rabbi Moshe Yechiel was therefore given the title Grand Rabbi of Ozerov-Chentshin.
Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein was known as one of the great Torah scholars of his generation. His encyclopedic series of Torah commentaries entitled Eish Dos (11 volumes) and Be'er Moshe (12 volumes) are renowned for their depth. They were considered to be just a small sample of the Rebbe's erudition.
In 1968 Rabbi Epstein was a recipient of the Israel Prize
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
in the category of Torah literature.
The Rebbe died in 1971, and was succeeded by his grandson, Grand Rabbi Tanchum Becker (son of Rabbi Epstein's daughter, Rebbetzin Miriam Becker of Milwaukee, Wisconsin), the present Rebbe of Ozerov-Chentshin, who was trained by his grandfather to succeed him. Grand Rabbi Becker presently resides with his family in Bnei Brak, where he leads the Ozerov Torah Center, comprising a yeshiva, a kollel for married Talmudic scholars, and the Ozerover Beis Medrash..
Outline of Ozerov dynasty
- Grand Rabbi Yehuda Leib Epstein of OzharovOzarówOżarów is a town in Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in Powiat of Opatów . It has 4,906 inhabitants and its largest employer is a large cement factory nearby. The cement factory was privatized in 1995 and a controlling stake in the company was purchased by Irish company CRH plc from HCP...
(d. 23 Teiveis 1837), disciple of Rabbi Meir of Apt (d. 1827), the author of Or LaShamayim- Grand Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein (1820-1888), son of Rabbi Yehudah Leib
- Grand Rabbi Aryeh Yehuda Leib Epstein of Ozharov (1836-1914), son of Rabbi Yechiel Chaim
- Grand Rabbi Avrohom Shlomo Epstein of Ozharov (1864-1917), author of She'eiris HaBrachah, son of Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib and son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Horowicz-Szternfeld of ChentshinChentshin (Hasidic dynasty)Chentshin is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by the Rebbe Chayim Shmuel Szternfeld. Chentshin is the Yiddish name of Chęciny, a town in present-day Poland....
- Grand Rabbi Moshe Yechiel HaLevi Epstein of Ozerov-ChentchinChecinyChęciny is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,252 inhabitants .The town is first mentioned in historical documents from 1275. It obtained its city charter in 1325. The most important sight in the town is the royal castle built in the late 13th or early 14th century...
(1889-1971), author of Eish Dos and Be'er Moshe, son of Rabbi Avrohom Shlomo- Rabbi Dovid Eliyahu Becker of Milwaukee (was not Rebbe), son-in-law of Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein of Ozerov-Chentchin
- Grand Rabbi Tanchum Becker of Ozerov-Chentchin (b. 1949), present Ozerover Rebbe, son of Rabbi Dovid Eliyahu Becker and Rebetzin Miriam Becker (daughter of Reb Moshe Yechiel, Zt"l)
- Rabbi Dovid Eliyahu Becker of Milwaukee (was not Rebbe), son-in-law of Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein of Ozerov-Chentchin
- Grand Rabbi Moshe Yechiel HaLevi Epstein of Ozerov-Chentchin
- Grand Rabbi Alter Moshe David Epstein of TshmelovCmielówĆmielów is a town in Ostrowiec County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, seat of Gmina Ćmielów. It has 3,222 inhabitants . It is known for one of Poland's oldest porcelain factories dating back to 1790.The town history dates back to 14th century...
, son of Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib.
- Grand Rabbi Avrohom Shlomo Epstein of Ozharov (1864-1917), author of She'eiris HaBrachah, son of Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib and son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Horowicz-Szternfeld of Chentshin
- Grand Rabbi Aryeh Yehuda Leib Epstein of Ozharov (1836-1914), son of Rabbi Yechiel Chaim
- Grand Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein (1820-1888), son of Rabbi Yehudah Leib
External links
- Text of Sefer Eish Dos Volume 1 in Hebrew, PDF file
- Text of Sefer Eish Dos Volume 2 in Hebrew, PDF file
- HaRav Moshe Yechiel Halevi Epstein zt'l, the Ozharover Rebbe - Part 1
- HaRav Moshe Yechiel Halevi Epstein zt'l, the Ozharover Rebbe - Part 2
- A Letter from Grand Rabbi Tanchum Becker of Ozharov-Khentshin concerning the Jewish Cemetery in Ożarów, Poland, and a history of the Ozharover Dynasty