Amshinov (Hasidic dynasty)
Polish Hasidic dynasty descended from Warka, with courts in Jerusalem, Brooklyn and Bnei Brak
| Amshinov | |
|---|---|
| Founded | Amshinov (Mszczonów), Poland |
| Founder | Jacob David Kalish of Amshinov (1814–1878) |
| Leader | Rebbes Yaakov Arye Yeshayahu Milikovsky (Jerusalem); Menachem Kalish (Boro Park and Bnei Brak); Asher Chaim Kalish (Beit Shemesh) |
| Headquarters | Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem; Borough Park, Brooklyn; Bnei Brak; Beit Shemesh |
| Type | Hasidic dynasty |
| Notes | |
Amshinov (also Amshenov, Amshinow; Yiddish for Mszczonów, Poland) is a Hasidic dynasty that branched off from the Warka (Vurke) dynasty of Yitzhak Kalish of Warka.[1][2] Its first rebbe was Yitzhak's son Jacob David Kalish.[3] After the Holocaust the main line moved to New York and then to Jerusalem, where the Shem Olam yeshiva was established. The Jerusalem court in Bayit Vegan is led by Yaakov Arye Yeshayahu Milikovsky, a grandson through his mother of the rebbe Yerahmiel Yehuda Meir Kalish.[4][2][5] A separate Kalish line in Borough Park has been led since 2020 by Menachem Kalish, with a second son, Asher Chaim Kalish, leading a court in Beit Shemesh.[6][7][8] Many Amshinov associations are registered in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit.[9]
History
Warka origins
Yitzhak Kalish of Warka (1779 – 22 Nisan 1848) is described by the historian Harry Rabinowicz as "one of the most communally minded of Polish hasidic rebbes". He travelled widely to urge other rebbes to fight the conscription of Jewish boys (the Cantonists). On the advice of Israel of Ruzhyn he sent Yisrael Birenfeld of Cracow to London to win the support of Moses Montefiore. When Montefiore visited Warsaw in May 1846, Yitzhak called on him with Yitzhak Meir Alter. According to the Encyclopedia of Hasidism, his intervention led to the cancellation of a decree expelling Jews from the western frontier zone of Russia.[10][2] With Alter and Hayyim Davidsohn he signed a manifesto urging Jews in Poland to work on the land. The Encyclopedia dates it 14 Tevet 1847 and Hasidism in Israel 14 Tevet 1842. The latter quotes it: "Not only is there no trace in the Talmud of any edict against working on the land".[10][2] The historians David Biale and his co-authors note that "the courts of Amshinov and Skernievits emerged from the offspring of the Rebbe of Vurke".[1]
Amshinov in Poland
Jacob David Kalish (1814 – 4 Kislev 1878) was a disciple of Menahem Mendel of Kotzk and became rebbe in Amshinov. According to the Encyclopedia, he "fought vehemently against Russian proposals to change the traditional hasidic garments and the wearing of beards".[3] His son Menahem Mendel Kalish (1860 – 16 Kislev 1918) succeeded him in 1878. He tried to secure the release of religious Jews serving in the tsarist armies, regarding this as the ransoming of captives. He pleaded with Warsaw shopkeepers to keep the Sabbath, and during the First World War he helped Jews expelled from the frontier areas. He was buried in Warsaw.[11] His son Joseph Kalish (1878 – 3 Heshvan 1936), formerly rabbi of Ostrov near Łomża, succeeded him. He died in Otwock and was buried in Warsaw.[11]
Another of Menahem Mendel's sons, Simon Shalom Kalish (1883 – 19 Av 1954), lived in Warsaw from 1914 and then in Otwock. The Encyclopedia says he was active in Agudah and attended its Kenessiyah HaGedolah. He visited the Holy Land in 1933 and stayed for over a year, but the Second World War disrupted his plans to settle there. His wanderings during the war took him through Vilna, Kovno, Shanghai and Japan to Brooklyn. Another entry in the same work gives his death as 1957.[11][12]
A grandson of Yitzhak of Warka, Simhah Bunem Kalish of Otwock (1851 – 2 Shevat 1907), travelled to the Holy Land with his family in the winter of 1887. Hasidism in Israel says he overstayed his thirty-day permit and was arrested in Tiberias, spending five days in prison. Biale and his co-authors say instead that he was "imprisoned by the Turks, and was deported back to Poland". He returned alone in 1905 and died in Tiberias.[13][1][14]
Jerusalem
Simon Shalom's son Yerahmiel Yehuda Meir Kalish (1901 – 27 Iyar 1976) escaped to Vilna and Shanghai during the war and settled in New York. He emigrated to Israel in 1958. Hasidism in Israel says he established the Shem Olam yeshiva in 1954 in memory of his father, first in Tel Aviv, then in Holon and finally in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem. He was buried on Har HaMenuhot.[2][12] Biale and his co-authors quote his attempt to persuade the reluctant heir of Kopitshinitz to become rebbe in 1975: "A Rebbe is just somebody who binds his people together."[15]
His son-in-law Hayyim Milikovsky (spelt Malikovsky in the Encyclopedia) was born in Slonim in 1916. He escaped the Holocaust by finding refuge in Shanghai and later travelled to Kobe with a Curaçao visa. He married Hayyah Nehamah Kalish and became principal of Shem Olam, at HaPisga Street 22 in Bayit Vegan.[4][12] Their son, Yaakov Arye Yeshayahu Milikovsky, was born in New York in 1947 and came to Israel aged one. Hasidism in Israel describes his disregard for fixed prayer times, an attitude it traces to Kotzk and Przysucha. He does not recite Havdalah until Sunday, his Grace after Meals takes more than two hours, and on Hanukkah he lights the candles just before the following dawn. Services in his home in Bayit Vegan take place "continuously from dawn until midnight". He married Perl, the daughter of Avraham Eger of Lublin.[16][4][2]
Temple Mount remarks (2026)
In May 2026 the Jerusalem rebbe's son, Moshe Milikovsky, issued a public statement after excerpts from an internal Amshinov publication, Yirah V'Simchah, were circulated as showing that the rebbe permitted Jews to go up to the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit). Matzav reported the statement as saying that the excerpts came from "an internal halachic discussion" and that "the Rebbe did not, chalilah, permit ascending the mountain in opposition to the view of all the poskim". It added that the rebbe had also opposed acts such as waving the Shtei Halechem (the Shavuot bread offering) on the Mount "in a manner not consistent with halachah".[5]
Boro Park, Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh
Yosef Kalish, the Amshinover rebbe of Boro Park, died of COVID-19 on 12 Nisan (6 April) 2020 at the age of 63 and was buried in Israel. Matzav reported that he was a son of "Rav Yitzchok of Amshinov", whom he had succeeded about seventeen years earlier. He led the Amshinover beit midrash at 15th Avenue and 44th Street in Borough Park, and was a son-in-law of Eliyahu Shternbuch of Machzikei Hadas in Antwerp.[6][8] His son Menachem Kalish, who lives in Bnei Brak and opened a beit midrash on Ben Yaakov Street there, succeeded him. Menachem Kalish first visited the Boro Park congregation as rebbe in June 2020.[8][7] In August 2020 another son, Asher Chaim Kalish, was installed as Amshinov rebbe in Beit Shemesh and opened the Beit Yosef beit midrash in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet. At the opening, thanks were expressed to the deputy mayor, Shimon Goldberg, for his help in establishing it.[8] The Israeli register lists Merkaz Mosdot Amshinov ba-Eretz HaKodesh (580743128), registered in Bnei Brak in 2022, whose objects refer to activity "headed by" Menachem Kalish of Amshinov.[17]
Settlements
The Israeli register lists nine Amshinov-linked associations at addresses in Beitar Illit, eight of them still registered. The largest, Merkaz Amshinov (580701530, registered 2020, Kedushat Levi Street 98), reported income of ₪4,716,302 for 2024. Tomchin – Amshinov (580488674, registered 2008, Kedushat Levi Street 98, Beitar Illit 9054831) reported ₪1,210,516 for 2025, and Ish LeRe'ehu Amshinov (580707636, registered 2020) reported ₪669,501 for 2022.[9] Mashmia Shalom, Tamar Neighbourhood Beitar (580453942, registered 2006) aims to build a synagogue, mikveh and library in the Tamar neighbourhood of Beitar Illit, and also runs "Tzavta", a programme to encourage the study of halakha among young men of the Amshinov Hasidim. Mikraei Kodesh – Amshinov (580753549) is registered at HaRebbe MiZvhil Street 5, Beitar Illit 9053005.[9]
Kvutzat Diyur Amshinov ("Amshinov Housing Group", 580560092) was registered on 26 June 2012 at Yesod HaAvoda Street 14, Beitar Illit. Its stated object was "to establish, by self-build, residential areas in Beitar Illit for the members of the association and their families only". It was deleted from the register in March 2024.[9] Beitar Illit is an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. In 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem "have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law".[18]
Rebbes
| Rebbe | Dates | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Yitzhak Kalish of Warka (founder of the Warka line) | 1779 – 22 Nisan 1848 | Warka |
| Jacob David Kalish | 1814 – 4 Kislev 1878 | Amshinov |
| Menahem Mendel Kalish | 1860 – 16 Kislev 1918 | Amshinov |
| Joseph Kalish | 1878 – 3 Heshvan 1936 | Amshinov, Otwock |
| Simon Shalom Kalish | 1883 – 19 Av 1954 | Otwock, New York |
| Yerahmiel Yehuda Meir Kalish | 1901 – 27 Iyar 1976 | New York, Jerusalem |
| Yaakov Arye Yeshayahu Milikovsky | born 1947 | Jerusalem (Bayit Vegan) |
| Yosef Kalish | c. 1957 – 6 April 2020 | Boro Park |
| Menachem Kalish | Boro Park and Bnei Brak (from 2020) | |
| Asher Chaim Kalish | Beit Shemesh (from 2020) |
Legal cases
No criminal conviction, civil judgment or reported allegation of abuse, fraud or money laundering involving the Amshinov rebbes or the dynasty's registered institutions was found in the court records and press reports consulted.
Charities and trustees
United Kingdom
Searches of the Charity Commission for England and Wales register and of Companies House for "Amshinov" return no charity or company linked to the dynasty.[19][20]
Canada
The Canada Revenue Agency's 2024 list of charities contains no organisation with an Amshinov name.[21]
United States
| Organisation | EIN | Address (IRS register) | IRS ruling |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Friends Amshinover Yeshiva Jerusalem Inc | 11-2575133 | C/O Mayer Kanner Cpa 5417 18th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11204 | September 1981[22] |
| Beth Hamedrach Chasidei Amshinov | 11-2836896 | 4408 15th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219 | February 1987[23] |
| Congregation Tzeduka Vuchesed Amshinov | 47-4455264 | 1164 50th St, Brooklyn, NY 11219 | August 2015[24] |
| Khal Beth Yoseph Amshinov | 85-4261592 | 1341 52nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11219 | November 2022[25] |
| Kolel Metziyonim Ohel Yosef Chasidei Amshinov C O Icchok Kalis | 11-2453132 | 4408 15th Ave, Bklyn, NY 11219 | April 1978[26] |
| Rosh Yosef Amshinov | 87-2340150 | 4403 15th Ave Unit 272, Brooklyn, NY 11219 | February 2022[27] |
American Friends Amshinover Yeshiva Jerusalem Inc raises money in the United States for the Amshinov yeshiva in Jerusalem. It reported revenue of $1,800,382 and net assets of $2,637,384 for 2025. Its officers are Abraham Jacobowitz (president), Yechiel M. Reich (secretary) and Eli Samuels (director).[22] Kolel Metziyonim Ohel Yosef Chasidei Amshinov is registered in the care of "Icchok Kalis" at 4408 15th Avenue, the same address as Beth Hamedrach Chasidei Amshinov.[26][23]
Israel
Searches of the Israeli Registrar of Associations for "אמשינוב" and "אמשינאוו" (Amshinov) return the following associations.[9][17]
| Association | Number | Registered | Address (register) | Status | Latest reported income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeshivat Amshinov Shem Olam (ישיבת אמשינוב שם עולם) | 580028686 | 12 May 1983 | HaRav Frank Street 4, Jerusalem 9638602 | Registered | ₪900,356 (2024) |
| Beit Talmud LeTashbar founded by the Amshinov Hasidim (בית תלמוד לתשב"ר מיסודם של חסידי אמשינוב) | 580097194 | 4 August 1986 | HaPisga Street 22, Jerusalem 9638201 | Registered | ₪0 (2021) |
| Yeshiva founded by the Amshinov Hasidim (ישיבה מיסודם של חסידי אמשינוב) | 580680973 | 6 May 2019 | Eretz Hefetz Street 111, Jerusalem 9725529 | Registered | ₪2,160,460 (2024) |
| Beit Midrash Toldot Yehuda Amshinov – Jerusalem (בית מדרש תולדות יהודה אמשינוב - ירושלים) | 580512556 | 24 August 2009 | Avinadav Street 15, Jerusalem 9534922 | Registered | ₪103,500 (2024) |
| Keren Amshinov in memory of Rebbetzin Feiga Bracha (קרן אמשינוב ע"ש הרבנית פייגא ברכה) | 580586105 | 4 March 2014 | HaPisga Street 42, Jerusalem 9638211 | Registered | ₪4,000 (2024) |
| Agudat Chasidei Amshinov Bnei Brak (אגודת חסידי אמשינוב בני ברק) | 580393528 | 17 June 2002 | Ezra Street 52, Bnei Brak 5160602 | Registered | |
| Tiferet Meir Amshinov – kollel, beit midrash and gemach (תפארת מאיר אמשינוב - כולל ביהמ"ד וגמ"ח) | 580569671 | 19 March 2013 | HaShlosha Street 24, Bnei Brak 5136308 | Registered | ₪1,364,589 (2024) |
| Merkaz Mosdot Amshinov ba-Eretz HaKodesh (מרכז מוסדות אמשינאוו בארץ הקודש) | 580743128 | 9 May 2022 | Street 435 no. 4, Bnei Brak | Registered | ₪0 (2024) |
| Rosh Yosef Amshinov (ראש יוסף אמשינאוו) | 580701050 | 3 May 2020 | Abaye Street 13, Beit Shemesh 9920426 | Registered | ₪1,059,180 (2025) |
| Otzrot Amshinov (אוצרות אמשינאוו) | 580807295 | 31 December 2024 | Talmud Yerushalmi Street 24, Beit Shemesh 9921106 | Registered | ₪18,228 (2025) |
| Merkaz Amshinov (מרכז אמשינוב) | 580701530 | 13 May 2020 | Kedushat Levi Street 98, Beitar Illit | Registered | ₪4,716,302 (2024) |
| Tomchin – Amshinov (תמכין - אמשינוב) | 580488674 | 14 January 2008 | Kedushat Levi Street 98, Beitar Illit 9054831 | Registered | ₪1,210,516 (2025) |
| Ish LeRe'ehu Amshinov (איש לרעהו אמשינוב) | 580707636 | 31 August 2020 | Knesset Yechezkel Street 43, Beitar Illit 9055142 | Registered | ₪669,501 (2022) |
| Amudei Shesh Amshinov (עמודי שש אמשינוב) | 580638575 | 6 February 2017 | Knesset Yechezkel Street 43/6, Beitar Illit 9055107 | Registered | |
| Beit Amshinov ba-Aretz HaKodesh (בית אמשינוב בארה"ק) | 580632206 | 23 August 2016 | HaChozeh MiLublin Street 43, Beitar Illit 9056735 | Registered | ₪64,343 (2019) |
| Mikraei Kodesh – Amshinov (מקראי קודש - אמשינוב) | 580753549 | 24 October 2022 | HaRebbe MiZvhil Street 5, Beitar Illit 9053005 | Registered | |
| Torah VaChesed Amshinov (תורה וחסד אמשינוב) | 580827384 | 28 October 2025 | HaChozeh MiLublin Street 11, Beitar Illit 9056711 | Registered | ₪30,937 (2025) |
| Mashmia Shalom, Tamar Neighbourhood Beitar (משמיע שלום שכונת התמר ביתר) | 580453942 | 3 January 2006 | Pachad Yitzhak Street 33, Beitar Illit 9054603 | Registered | ₪448,848 (2022) |
| Kvutzat Diyur Amshinov (קבוצת דיור אמשינוב) | 580560092 | 26 June 2012 | Yesod HaAvoda Street 14, Beitar Illit | Deleted | |
| Beit HaChasidim Amshinov Tzfat (בית החסידים אמשינוב צפת) | 580601102 | 3 February 2015 | Street 16 no. 10, Safed 1321324 | Registered | ₪5,645,917 (2024) |
| Amshinov Kiryat Gat (אמשינוב קרית גת) | 580849180 | 18 October 2026 | Malchei Yisrael Boulevard 130, Kiryat Gat 8225901 | Registered |
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 David Biale, David Assaf, Benjamin Brown, Uriel Gellman, Samuel C. Heilman, Moshe Rosman, Gadi Sagiv and Marcin Wodziński, Hasidism: A New History, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2018, p. 352.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Tzvi Rabinowicz, Hasidism in Israel: A History of the Hasidic Movement, Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 2000, p. 111.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1996, ISBN 1-56821-123-6, p. 254.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tzvi Rabinowicz, Hasidism in Israel: A History of the Hasidic Movement, Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 2000, p. 110.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Amshinover Rebbe's Son Clarifies Har Habayis Remarks After Uproar Over "Misquoted Comments" Matzav, 25 May 2026, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rav Yosef Kalish zt"l, the Amshinover Rebbe of Boro Park Matzav, 6 April 2020, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Amshinov Rebbe Visits His Shul and Chasidim in Boro Park for First Time BoroPark24, 17 June 2020, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 הכירו: האדמו"ר החדש שכבש את בית שמש Behadrei Haredim, 25 August 2020 (in Hebrew), accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Registrar of Associations, Israeli Ministry of Justice, Register of associations and public benefit companies: search "אמשינוב" data.gov.il, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1996, ISBN 1-56821-123-6, p. 258.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1996, ISBN 1-56821-123-6, p. 255.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1996, ISBN 1-56821-123-6, p. 257.
- ↑ Tzvi Rabinowicz, Hasidism in Israel: A History of the Hasidic Movement, Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 2000, p. 112.
- ↑ Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1996, ISBN 1-56821-123-6, p. 256.
- ↑ David Biale, David Assaf, Benjamin Brown, Uriel Gellman, Samuel C. Heilman, Moshe Rosman, Gadi Sagiv and Marcin Wodziński, Hasidism: A New History, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2018, p. 704.
- ↑ Tzvi Rabinowicz, Hasidism in Israel: A History of the Hasidic Movement, Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, 2000, p. 109.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Registrar of Associations, Israeli Ministry of Justice, Register of associations and public benefit companies: search "אמשינאוו" data.gov.il, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ International Court of Justice, Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 icj-cij.org, 19 July 2024, accessed 26 October 2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission, Register of Charities search results for "Amshinov" Charity Commission for England and Wales, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Search results for "Amshinov" Find and update company information, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ Canada Revenue Agency, 2024 List of charities (identification, directors/officers and programme files; searched for "Amshinov", "Amshenov" and "Amshinow") Open Government Portal, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 ProPublica, American Friends Amshinover Yeshiva Jerusalem Inc Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File data), EIN 11-2575133, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 ProPublica, Beth Hamedrach Chasidei Amshinov Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File data), EIN 11-2836896, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ ProPublica, Congregation Tzeduka Vuchesed Amshinov Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File data), EIN 47-4455264, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ ProPublica, Khal Beth Yoseph Amshinov Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File data), EIN 85-4261592, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 ProPublica, Kolel Metziyonim Ohel Yosef Chasidei Amshinov C O Icchok Kalis Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File data), EIN 11-2453132, accessed 29 October 2026.
- ↑ ProPublica, Rosh Yosef Amshinov Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File data), EIN 87-2340150, accessed 29 October 2026.