Kozhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by the Kozhnitzer Maggid, Rebbe Yisroel Hopsztajn. Kozhnitz is the Yiddish name of Kozienice, a town in present-day Poland.
Rebbe Yisroel Hopsztajn, the founder of the Kozhnitz dynasty, and one of the three "patriarchs" of Polish Hasidism, was a disciple of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk (Rabbi Elimelech Lipman of Lizhensk), author of Noam Elimelech. The Rebbe Elimelech was a disciple of the Rebbe Dovber, the Maggid ("preacher") of Mezeritch, the primary disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.
Kozhnitzer Magid : Yisroel Hopsztajn (c. 1733 – 1814), author of the classic Avodas Yisroel.Second Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Moshe Elyokim Bri'o Hopsztajn (c. 1757 – 1828)— son of the Avodas Yisroel; rebbe from 1814 to 1828.Third Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Chayim Myer Yechiel Shapira (1789 – 1849), the Sorof of Moglenitz—grandson of the Avodas Yisroel : rebbe from 1828 to 1849; descendant ben acher ben, from the Megaleh Amukos, son-in-law of R' Elozor of Lizensk (son of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizensk). His father, R' Avi Ezri Zelig Shapira was the son-in-law of the Maggid of Kozhnitz.Rebbe Avi Ezri Zelig Shapira of Moglenitz, son of R Chaim Myer Yechiel, son-in-law of Admor Avrohom Yaakov Friedman, first Sadigura rebbe.Rebbe Chaim Myer Yechiel Shapira of Drubitch, son of R Avi Ezri Zelig Shapira, son-in-law of Rebbe Yitzchok Friedman of Bohush.Rebbe Avraham Yaakov Shapira of Drubitch and Jerusalem, Drubitcher Rebbe, son of Rebbe Chaim Myer Yechiel Shapira, son-in-law of Rebbe Nosson Dovid Rabinowicz of Partzov (below).Reb Avraham Glasner of Jerusalem, Israel, son-in-law of Rebbe Avraham Yaakov, son of Shimon Glasner who immigrated from Klausenberg with his father, the Dor Revi'i, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Glasner, great-grandson of the Chasam Sofer.Reb Moshe Shmuel Glasner of Jerusalem, Israel, son-in-law of Reb Avraham Glasner and son of Rabbi Yuda / Yehuda Tzvi Glasner of Los Angeles and Klausenberg, Romania, son of Rabbi Akiva Glasner, son of the Dor Revi'i (see above).Fourth Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Elozor Hopsztajn (I) (d. 1861)—son of Moshe Elyokim Bri'o Hopsztajn; rebbe from 1849 to 1861.Fifth Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Yechiel Yaakov Hopsztajn (1846–1866)—son of Elozor; rebbe from 1863 – 1866.Rebbe Nosson Dovid Rabinowicz of Partzov, Partzover Rebbe, son-in-law of Rebbe Yechiel Yaakov (and son of the Biala Rebbe, Yitzchok Yaakov Rabinowicz and direct descendent of the Yid / Yehudi HaKadosh)Sixth Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Yerachmiel Moshe Hopsztajn son of Yechiel Yaakov (18?- 13th of Elul 1909)Seventh Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Yisroel Elozor Hopsztajn (?–1966), son of Yerachmiel Moshe. He was Rebbe around the same time as his brothers Rebbe Aharon Yechiel and Rebbe Asher Elimelekh.’’’Eighth Kozhnitzer Rebbe : Rebbe Mordekhai (?-1989), son of R' Yisroel Elozor.The current Kozhnitzer Rebbe of Tel Aviv Rabbi Shimshon Moshe Sternberg (a grandson of Rav Yisroel Elozor) is one of the last Hasidic Rebbes remaining in the mostly secular Tel Aviv, does outreach (kiruv) work there.
