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Boston is a Hasidic sect, originally established in 1915 by Grand Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz. Following the custom of European Chassidic Courts, where the Rebbe was called after the name of his city, Bostoner Chassidus was named after Boston, Massachusetts. The most senior and well-known of the Bostoner Rebbes in contemporary times was Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, who died in December 2009.
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Amid a spectrum of notable accomplishments and "firsts in America," the Bostoner Chassidim claim to be skilled in applying ancient Jewish values in modern society, engaging in outreach to students, and providing tangible help for the sick and their families during crucial times of need. The Bostoner Chassidim also pride themselves on their musical tradition.
The worldwide community of Bostoner Chassidim has headquarters in Brookline, Massachusetts and Har Nof, Jerusalem, with additional branches in Beit Shemesh, Israel; Beitar Illit, Israel; Flatbush, NY; Highland Park, NJ; Lawrence, NY; and Monsey, NY.
Origins
Grand Rabbi Pinchas David Horowitz, the first Bostoner Rebbe, a scion of the Rebbe Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the Lelov dynasty, first arrived in Boston in 1915 from the Land of Israel via Europe. Shortly after his arrival, Rabbi Pinchas David was accepted as Rebbe by a group of followers he attracted from within the Boston Jewish community. However, in 1939, he left Boston and moved to Brooklyn where he opened the Bostoner Beis Medrash of Williamsburg. After his death in 1941, his older son, Rav Moshe, succeeded him in New York, while his younger son, Rav Levi Yitzchok, moved back to Boston in 1943 and built the New England Chassidic Center.
In his lifetime, Reb Moshe founded the Bostoner Bais Medrash of Crown Heights and the Bostoner Bais Medrash of Borough Park. In 1985, upon the passing of Reb Moshe, his eldest son, Reb Avrohom Horowitz, succeeded him as Bostoner Rebbe of New York. In 1989, Reb Moshe's younger son, Reb Pinchas Dovid, moved to Flatbush to establish a community there. He eventually accepted the mantle of Bostoner Rebbe of Flatbush. In 2006 Reb Avrohom moved to Beit Shemesh in Israel to establish a community there.
In the mid 1980s, Rav Levi Yitzchok established another Boston community in Har Nof, Jerusalem, and would spend half of the year in Boston and half of the year in Jerusalem. On Saturday, December 5, 2009 the Bostoner Rebbe, Rav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, died in Jerusalem, Israel, survived by his three sons and 2 daughters. In the spiritual will of Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, the title of Grand Rabbi of Boston was bestowed upon all three surviving sons. Rav Pinchos Dovid Horowitz, the Chuster Rov of Boro Park, the oldest, serves as Bostoner Rebbe in New York; Rav Mayer Horowitz, serves as Bostoner Rebbe in Har Nof, Jerusalem; and Rav Naftali Horowitz, the youngest, serves as Bostoner Rebbe in Boston.