Amshinov (Hasidic dynasty)

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Amshinov is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Kalish. It is an offshoot of Vurka dynasty. It takes its name from the Yiddish name of Mszczonów, a town in Poland.

[edit] History

Rabbi Shimon Sholom Kalish, (1882-1954), in Shanghai, (second from right)

The first Amshinover Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Kalish, was a son of Rabbi Israel Yitzhak Kalish (Yitzchok of Vurka), the (first) Vurker Rebbe.

Rabbi Yitzchok of Vurka was a disciple of Grand Rabbi Dovid Biderman of Lelov (1746-1814), who was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin, who was a disciple of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, who was a disciple of Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch (the Maggid), the main disciple of Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov), the founder of Hasidism. After the death of Rabbi Dovid Biderman of Lelov, Rabbi Yitzchok became a disciple of Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa.

Rabbi Yaakov Dovid was succeeded as Amshinover Rebbe by one of his sons, Menachem Kalish.

When Rabbi Menachem died in 1918, his son, Rabbi Yosef, became the Rebbe in Amshinov, and the other son, Rabbi Shimon Sholom, became rebbe in Otwock (Yiddish: אטוואצק Otvotsk). Rabbi Shimon was a major driving force behind the exodus of thousands of young men in Mir, Kletzk, Radin, Novhardok, and other yeshivas via Japan to Shanghai at the outbreak of World War II. By the time Shanghai came under Japanese control, it held 26,000 Jews.

Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehuda Myer Kalish (1901-1976) of Amshinov, a son of Rabbi Shimon Sholom,was born in Przysucha (Yiddish: פרשיסחא Prshiskhe), Poland. He studied Torah with his grandfather, Rabbi Menachem of Amshinov.

After the war, Rabbi Shimon moved to the United States. Upon his passing in 1954, Rabbi Myer accompanied Rabbi Shimon's body to Tiberias in Israel, and remained there. Rabbi Myer later moved to Tel Aviv, and then to the Bayit Vegan neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Rabbi Myer was noted for his greatness in Torah scholarship, as well as his warmth and sensitivity to all.

[edit] Present rebbes

[edit] Jerusalem

The present Amshinover Rebbe of Jerusalem (left), speaking with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Milikowsky was born in the United States. He is the present Amshinover Rebbe in the Bayit Vegan section of Jerusalem. He is the grandson and successor of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehudah Meir Kalish of Amshinov, son of Rabbi Chaim and Rebbetzin Chayah Nechamah Milikowsky, daughter of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehudah Meir Kalish.

He is reported to pray for hours on end, meditating on every word, as a result of which he ends the Sabbath on Sunday night or Monday. He allegedly discussed the Halachic implications of this with his mentor, the late Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and according to Amshinover hasidim, Rav Auerbach sanctioned his practices. This last point is denied by those close to Rav Auerbach. The Rebbe is also reported to be the mentor of the famous Hasidic preacher, R. Tzvi Maier Zilberberg.

The Amshinover Rebbe is widely known within the Haredi world, and is regarded within Hassidic circles as somewhat left wing in his views; for example, in his support of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] New York

Rabbi Yosef Kalish II is the present Amshinover Rebbe in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, New York City. He is the son of Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish of Amshinov, who was the son of Rabbi Yosef Kalish of Amshinov, the brother of Rabbi Shimon Shalom Kalish of Amshinov.

[edit] Lineage of the Amshinov dynasty

Yitzchok Kalish Rebbe of Vurka                                                                                                                           Yaakov Dovid Kalish I (1814–1878) 1st Rebbe of Amshinov                                                                                                                           Menachem Kalish of Amshinov (1860-1918) 2nd Rebbe of Amshinov                                                                                                                                     Shimon Sholom Kalish (1882-1954) Rebbe of Amshinov-Otvotsk                     Yosef Kalish I (d. 1935) Rebbe of Amshinov                                                                                                         Yerachmiel Yehuda Myer Kalish (1901-1976) Rebbe of Amshinov-Otvotsk               Yaakov Dovid Kalish II (1906-1942) Rebbe of Amshinov   Yitzchok Kalish (d. 1993) Rebbe of Amshinov                                                                                     Chaya Nechama (daughter)       Chaim Milikowsky Rosh Yeshivah of Amshinov, Jerusalem (did not become Rebbe)             Yosef Kalish II Amshinover Rebbe of America                                                                                               Yaakov Aryeh Milikowsky Amshinover Rebbe of Jerusalem

[edit] External links

• A collection of pictures of the previous Amshinover Rebbe with Hebrew captions