Reb Levi Yitzchok HaLevi Horowitz zy"a, the Bostoner Rebbe of Boston and of Har Nof, Yerushalayim
Reb Levi Yitzchok Horowitz zy"a, the Bostoner Rebbe of Boston and Har Nof
רבי לוי יצחק הורוויץ זי״ע, דער באסטאנער רבי פון באסטאן און הר נוף
Upcoming yahrzeit: 28 November 2026 (5787)
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Reb Levi Yitzchok HaLevi Horowitz zy"a was the younger son of the first Bostoner Rebbe, and the Bostoner Rebbe of Boston and of Har Nof. He was born on 27 Sivan 5681 (3 July 1921) in Boston — often described as the first American-born Chasidic Rebbe. He received semicha at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in 1944, and was a son-in-law of Reb Naftali Ungar of Neumarkt. In 1943–44 he went back to Boston and renewed his father's court there, later building the New England Chassidic Center in Brookline. He was known for kiruv, especially among Jewish university students, and he founded ROFEH International, which helps Yidden who come to Boston for medical care.
In 1984 he established a Bostoner kehillah in Har Nof, Yerushalayim, and thereafter divided his time between Boston and Eretz Yisroel. A further kehillah was established in Beitar; English sources often give 1999, and Hebrew Wikipedia gives 5762 (2002). He was a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel. Every year he davened Shavuos vasikin at the Kosel.
After a heart attack in Tammuz 5769, he was niftar on 18 Kislev 5770 (5 December 2009), Shabbos Vayishlach, at Shaare Zedek in Yerushalayim. The levayah was held in his beis medrash in Har Nof, and he was buried the same night on Har HaZeitim. Your kvittel will be brought to his kever. In his tzavaah the title of Bostoner Rebbe was given to his three sons: Reb Pinchas Dovid, the Chuster Rav of Boro Park (later niftar, 1 Shevat 5781 / January 2021 — a different person from the Bostoner Rebbe of Flatbush); Reb Mayer Alter, in Har Nof; and Reb Naftali Yehuda, in Boston. His collected Torah was later issued as Shaar Levi.
Historical background
In the second half of the twentieth century, Bostoner Chasidus in Boston became well known for kiruv and for medical chessed, and a second center was built in Har Nof. After 2009 the court continued through his sons in Har Nof, in Boston, and, for a time, in Boro Park.
Before & after
Who came before
- The first Bostoner Rebbe, Reb Pinchas Dovid Horowitz zy"a — His father. Reb Levi Yitzchok renewed the Bostoner court in Boston itself after the father's histalkus.
Who came after
- —
In his dor
- Reb Moshe Horowitz zy"a, Bostoner Rebbe of Brooklyn — His older brother, who led the Bostoner court in New York.
Sources
The facts on this page come from the earlier site and from the sources listed here. Where the sources are not one shittah, it is written in the text.
- Hebrew Wikipedia: Chasidut Boston — yahrzeits, kevarim on Har HaZeitim, reinterment of the first Rebbe, and the family line
- Wikipedia: Levi Yitzchak Horowitz (3 July 1921 – 5 December 2009); buried the same night on the Mount of Olives; Har Nof community 1984
- Matzav.com: The Bostoner Rebbe, Rav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz zt"l — levayah in Har Nof; kevurah on Har HaZeitim; founded ROFEH; Shaar Levi is mentioned in later sources as collected teachings
- Har HaZeitim Preservation: Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, second Bostoner Rebbe, 1921–2009; buried the same night on the Mount of Olives
- Encyclopaedia Judaica / Encyclopedia.com: Horowitz, Pinchas David Ha-Levi (1876–1941); sons Moshe (New York) and Levi Yitzchok (Boston / Har Nof)
- Hebcal date converter (Hebrew–Gregorian yahrzeit dates, including 5787)
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