Osrov-Henzin (Hasidic dynasty)

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The Osrov Hasidic dynasty began in 1811 when Grand Rabbi Yehudah Leib Epstein was coronated as the Rabbi or Osrov (Ozarow) in Poland. Rabbi Epstein was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin, the Holy Jew of Peshischa, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, and the Or La'Shamayim of Apta. When the Or La'Shamayim of Apta died in 1827, his Hassidim asked the Rabbi of Osrov to be their new Rebbe. Rabbi Yehudah Leib reluctantly accepted this position. He died in 1837 and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein. Rabbi Yechiel Chaim was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib Epstein in 1887. Rabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib had six children, Grand Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein of Osrov (1864-1917) (who succeeded his father in 1913), Rabbi Eliezer Shalom Epstein of Partzova, Rabbi Yoseph Epstein of Yuzepof, Grand Rabbi Alter Moshe David Epstein of Tamishlov, Rabbi Yaakov Epstein, Rebbetzin Chavah Rabinowitz, (wife of Grand Rabbi Yerachmiel Tzvi Rabinowitz of Biala-Shedlitz), and Rebbetzin Feiga Taub, (wife of Rabbi Yaakov Yerachmiel Taub of Radom, brother of Rabbi Israel Taub of Modzitz).

Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein served as Rebbe for only four years, and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein.

In 1925, the Osrover Hasidic dynasty moved to America. Grand Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein of Osrov-Henzin 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. Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein was known as one of the great Torah scholars of his generation. His encyclopedic series of Torah comentaries entitled Eish Das (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.

The Rebbe died in 1971, and was succeeded by his grandson, Grand Rabbi Tanhum Becker (son of Rabbi Epstein's daughter, Rebbetzin Miriam Becker), the present Rebbe of Osrov-Henzin, who was trained by his grandfather to succeed him as Grand Rebbe. Grand Rabbi Becker presently resides in Bnei Brak.

Grand Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein of Osrov-Henzin (1889-1971), author of Eish Das

Grand Rabbi Tanchum Becker, present Rebbe of Osrov-Henzin

[edit] Outline of Osrov dynasty

Grand Rabbi Yehudah Leib Epstein of Osrov (d. 1837), disciple of Rabbi Meir of Apta (d. 1827), the author of Or LaShamayim
- Grand Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein (d. 1887), son of Rabbi Yehudah Leib
  - Grand Rabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib Epstein of Osrov (1836-1913), son of Rabbi Yechiel Chaim
    - Grand Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein of Osrov (1864-1917), author of She'aris HaBrachah, son of Rabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib, son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Horowitz-Sternfeld of Henzin
      - Grand Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein of Osrov-Henzin (1889-1971), author of Eish Das and Be'er Moshe, son of Rabbi Avraham Shlomo
        
        Rabbi David Eliyahu Becker of Milwaukee (was not Rebbe), son-in-law of Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Epstein of Osrov-Henzin
        
        Grand Rabbi Tanchum Becker of Osrov-Henzin (b. 1949), present Osrov-Henzin Rebbe, son of Rabbi David Becker