Spinka (Hasidic dynasty)
Spinka is the name of a Hasidic group within Haredi Judaism. The group originated in a city called Szaplonca (Yiddish: Spinka), Máramaros County, Kingdom of Hungary (today Săpânţa, Romania).
Spinka rebbes
The first Spinka Rebbe was Joseph Meir Weiss, author of Imrei Yosef. He was succeeded by his son, Isaac Weiss, author of Chakal Yitzchak. The Chakal Yitzchak was murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust.
After World War II, the group was divided among many Rebbes, descendants of the Imrei Yosef. Spinka Rebbes can be found in Williamsburg, Boro Park, Flatbush, Kiryas Joel, Queens, Monsey, Bnei Brak, London, Antwerp, throughout Israel, and Europe. All are offshoots of the original dynasty. Several Spinka Rebbes live in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn alone, and Israeli branches are found in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak.
Among the surnames of the Spinka Rebbes are Weiss, Horowitz, and Kahane.
Lineage of Spinka rebbes
- Joseph Meir Weiss, (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Author of Imrei Yosef
- Isaac Weiss, (1875-1944) - Author of Chakal Yitzchak, son of the Imrei Yosef
- Israel Chaim Weiss, (d. 1944) - son of the Chakal Yitzchak
- Jacob Joseph Weiss, (1916-1988) - Spinka Rebbe in Boro Park and Bnei Brak Author of Siach Yaakov - son of Rabbi Israel Chaim
- Naftali Tzvi Weisz - Spinka Rebba - son of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
- Israel Chaim Weisz - Spinka Donalow Rebbe of Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
- Meir Eleazer Weisz - Spinka 18th Ave Rebba of Boro Park - son of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
- Jacob Joseph Weiss, (1916-1988) - Spinka Rebbe in Boro Park and Bnei Brak Author of Siach Yaakov - son of Rabbi Israel Chaim
- Israel Chaim Weiss, (d. 1944) - son of the Chakal Yitzchak
- Isaac Weiss, (1875-1944) - Author of Chakal Yitzchak, son of the Imrei Yosef
Lineage of Spinka Rebbes (Horowitz branch)
- Joseph Meir Weiss - (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Author of Imrei Yosef
- Isaac Weiss - (1875-1944) - Author of Chakal Yitzchak, son of the Imrei Yosef
- Abraham Abish Horowitz of Kruly, son-in-law of the Chakal Yitzchak
- Samuel Tzvi Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe of Williamsburg - affectionately known as "Reb Hershele Spinker", son of Rabbi Abish of Kruly
- Issachar Dov Berish Horowitz, (d. 2007 (י"ט תשרי תשס"ח))- Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Beth Samuel Tzvi Synagogue - the eldest son of Reb Hershele Spinker
- Joseph Meir Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Williamsbug - Beth Samuel Tzvi Synagogue - eldest son of Reb Berish Spinker.
- Moshe Yakov Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Airmont - Oholei Tzvi Synagogue - son Of Reb Berish Spinker.
- Aron Duved Horowitz - Zabiltover Rebbe in Williamsburg - son Of Reb Berish Spinker.
- Abraham Abish Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Beth Isaac Synagogue - son of Reb Hershele Spinker
- Isaac Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Toldoth Tzvi Synagogue - son of Reb Hershele Spinker
- Nuta Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe in Bor Park- Zichron Avraham Synagogue - son of Reb Hershele Spinker
- Naphtali Horowitz - Kruly Rebbe of Williamsburg - the youngest son of Reb Hershele Spinker
- Issachar Dov Berish Horowitz, (d. 2007 (י"ט תשרי תשס"ח))- Spinka Rebbe in Williamsburg - Beth Samuel Tzvi Synagogue - the eldest son of Reb Hershele Spinker
- Samuel Tzvi Horowitz - Spinka Rebbe of Williamsburg - affectionately known as "Reb Hershele Spinker", son of Rabbi Abish of Kruly
- Abraham Abish Horowitz of Kruly, son-in-law of the Chakal Yitzchak
- Isaac Weiss - (1875-1944) - Author of Chakal Yitzchak, son of the Imrei Yosef
Lineage of Spinka Rebbes (Kahane branch)
- Joseph Meir Weiss (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Author of Imrei Yosef
- Nachman Kahane - Author of Orchos Chaim - son-in-law of the Imrei Yosef
- Tzvi Hirsch Kahane of Spinka
- Nachman Kahane, (d. 1976) Spinka-Kahane Rebbe of Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch
- Moses Eliakim Briah Kahane, Spinka-Kahane Rebbe in Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Nachman
- Asher Yeshayah Aryeh Kahane, Spinka Rebbe in Kiryas Joel - son of Rabbi Nachman
- Elimelech Kahane, Rosh Kolel of Zidichov Kollel in Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Nachman
- Menachem Mendel Kahane, Spinka Rebbe of London - son of Rabbi Nachman
- Kahane, Spinka Rebbe of Antwerp - son of Rabbi Nachman
- Baruch Kahane, karlesberg Rebbe in Williamsburg
- Joseph Meir Kahane, (d. 1978), Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem - son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch
- Mordecai David Kahane (1932-2011), Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem - son of Rabbi Joseph Meir
- Alter Kahane died 2009, Brother of Rabbi Mordecai David Kahane ztl son of Rabbi Joseph Meir of Spinka
- Rabbi Avraham Yitchak Kahana Shlita (son of Rabbi Mordechai David) spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem
- Mordecai David Kahane (1932-2011), Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem - son of Rabbi Joseph Meir
- Nachman Kahane, (d. 1976) Spinka-Kahane Rebbe of Bnei Brak - son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch
- Tzvi Hirsch Kahane of Spinka
- Nachman Kahane - Author of Orchos Chaim - son-in-law of the Imrei Yosef
Lineage of the Ulemer Rabbis of the Friedman family from the Spinka line
- Joseph Meir Weiss, (1838-1909 (ו' אייר תרס"ט)) - Spinka Rebbe - Author of Imrei Yosef
- Isaac Weiss, (1875-1944) - Spinka Rebbe - Author of Chakal Yitzchak, son of the Imrei Yosef
- Israel Chaim Weiss, (d. 1944) - son of the Chakal Yitzchak
- Shmuel Friedman, Chief Rabbi of Ulem - son of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Friedman - son-in-law of Rabbi Israel Chaim Weiss
- Yaakov Yitzchak Friedman, present Ulemer Rav of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, N.Y., son of Rabbi Shmuel
- Chaim Joseph Friedman, Brezaner Rav of Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y., son of the Ulemer Rav
- Berish Friedman, Rav of Kehillas Bais Yisroel Cedarhurst, N.Y., son of the Ulemer Rav
- Hershel Friedman, Seilish Rav of Williamsburgh, N.Y., son of the Ulemer Rav
- Yisroel Chaim Friedman, Ulemer Rav in Far Rockaway, N.Y., son of Rabbi Shmuel
- Yaakov Yitzchak Friedman, present Ulemer Rav of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, N.Y., son of Rabbi Shmuel
- Shmuel Friedman, Chief Rabbi of Ulem - son of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Friedman - son-in-law of Rabbi Israel Chaim Weiss
- Israel Chaim Weiss, (d. 1944) - son of the Chakal Yitzchak
- Isaac Weiss, (1875-1944) - Spinka Rebbe - Author of Chakal Yitzchak, son of the Imrei Yosef
Financial fraud
In 2009, rabbi Naftali Tzi Weisz and five other Spinka members pleaded guilty to charges in what prosecutors called "a decade-long tax fraud and money laundering scheme".[1][2][3][4][5]
References
- Hasidic Rabbi and Assistant Are Arrested in Tax Scheme, Alan Feuer, Dec 20, 2007, New York Times
- The Spinka money trail — and the informant who brought them down, Amy Klein, Jan. 11, 2008
- Ultra-Orthodox Rabbis Begin To Question Their Own Insularity, by Nathaniel Popper, July 28, 2009
- New York Rabbi Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud IRS, FBI, August 03, 2009
- Rabbi Pleads Guilty in Decade Long Tax Fraud Scheme, Jan 7, 2010
Image gallery
- Two brothers, both Spinka Rebbes from Williamsburg, Rabbi Isaac Horowitz and the late Rabbi Berish Horowitz, sons of Rebbe Hershele Spinker
- Grave of Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi "Hershele" Horowitz, Spinka Rebbe of Williamsburg, buried in New Jersey
External links
- Video of Berish Horowitz, Spinka Rebbe of Keap st. and Bedford ave. in Williamsburg, celebrating Sukkos
- Video clips of Meir Eleazar Weiss, the Spinka Rebbe of 18th avenue in Boro Park, celebrating Sukkos
- Video of a Wedding of scions of the Spinka dynasty, with the participation of several Spinka Rebbes