Kashou (Hasidic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Kashau is a hasidic dynasty led today by Grand Rabbi Eleizer Chaim Blum. Kashau institutions are presently located in Williamsburg
, Monsey
, and Bedford Hills, New York
. Followers of the Kashau Rebbe live in other Jewish centers around the world. The Rebbe's advice is also sought by many Jews who are not hasidim of Kasho and who do not necessarily live according the holy takannos of Kashau. The Rebbe has authored several books of Hasidic tales, and is known as a pious leader, a brilliant thinker, and a skilled orator.
The Kashau Rebbe, R’ Rafuel Blum (1911–2005), was a talmid from R’ Shaul Brach, zt"l (1865–1940), Rav, Rosh Av Beis Din, and Rosh Yeshiva of Kashau, and formerly of Magendorf and of Kruleh. R’ Rafuel Blum learned in R Shaul Brach's yeshiva
for twenty-five zmanim thereby making R’ Shaul Brach his Rebbe Muvhak and role model
. He constantly sought the advice of his holy Rav. Before World War II
, the Rebbe led a yeshiva in Mihalowitz. The Rebbe was liberated from the Nazis on January 18, 1945 to the city of Arad in Romania. In the summer of 1945, the Rebbe returned to Kashau. The Rebbe was influential in establishing the halachic status of survivors of the war, freeing them to remarry after determining that their spouses had been killed.
In 1948 the Rebbe arrived in Brooklyn
, New York and began the work of transferring his yeshiva from Kashau. Shortly afterwards, the Rebbe was appointed rosh yeshiva of the Tzelemer Yeshiva Arugas Habosem. At that time, the Rebbe founded Kehillas Kashau in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. In 1962 an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish the kehillah in Morris County, New Jersey
. Eventually the Rebbe started yeshivos and a secluded village for Kashau hasidim in the forests of Westchester County
, outside Bedford Hills. The village is known as Kiryas Kashau today. R' Rafuel's piety and brilliance were widely acknowledged. Talmidim from the Rebbe's yeshivos are an influential presence in many branches of Hungarian
hasidus today.
Kashau is most associated with Kiryas Kashau, although many hasidim live in Williamsburg and Monsey, New York. R' Rafuel's oldest son, Eleizer Chaim, the current Kashau Rebbe, resides in Monsey.
The Kashau hasidus is relatively small and considered extremely devout, even among other hasidic groups. The hasidus is known to be quiet and peaceful, despite their strict and sometimes controversial views on kashrus, zionism, tznius, and education.
The Rebbe was an influential advocate of the traditional practice of metzitza b'peh and its legal status in New York City.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
, Monsey
Monsey, New York
Monsey is a hamlet , in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the state of New Jersey; east of Suffern; south of Airmont and west of Nanuet...
, and Bedford Hills, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Followers of the Kashau Rebbe live in other Jewish centers around the world. The Rebbe's advice is also sought by many Jews who are not hasidim of Kasho and who do not necessarily live according the holy takannos of Kashau. The Rebbe has authored several books of Hasidic tales, and is known as a pious leader, a brilliant thinker, and a skilled orator.
The Kashau Rebbe, R’ Rafuel Blum (1911–2005), was a talmid from R’ Shaul Brach, zt"l (1865–1940), Rav, Rosh Av Beis Din, and Rosh Yeshiva of Kashau, and formerly of Magendorf and of Kruleh. R’ Rafuel Blum learned in R Shaul Brach's yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
for twenty-five zmanim thereby making R’ Shaul Brach his Rebbe Muvhak and role model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
. He constantly sought the advice of his holy Rav. Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Rebbe led a yeshiva in Mihalowitz. The Rebbe was liberated from the Nazis on January 18, 1945 to the city of Arad in Romania. In the summer of 1945, the Rebbe returned to Kashau. The Rebbe was influential in establishing the halachic status of survivors of the war, freeing them to remarry after determining that their spouses had been killed.
In 1948 the Rebbe arrived in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York and began the work of transferring his yeshiva from Kashau. Shortly afterwards, the Rebbe was appointed rosh yeshiva of the Tzelemer Yeshiva Arugas Habosem. At that time, the Rebbe founded Kehillas Kashau in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. In 1962 an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish the kehillah in Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
. Eventually the Rebbe started yeshivos and a secluded village for Kashau hasidim in the forests of Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, outside Bedford Hills. The village is known as Kiryas Kashau today. R' Rafuel's piety and brilliance were widely acknowledged. Talmidim from the Rebbe's yeshivos are an influential presence in many branches of Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
hasidus today.
Kashau is most associated with Kiryas Kashau, although many hasidim live in Williamsburg and Monsey, New York. R' Rafuel's oldest son, Eleizer Chaim, the current Kashau Rebbe, resides in Monsey.
The Kashau hasidus is relatively small and considered extremely devout, even among other hasidic groups. The hasidus is known to be quiet and peaceful, despite their strict and sometimes controversial views on kashrus, zionism, tznius, and education.
The Rebbe was an influential advocate of the traditional practice of metzitza b'peh and its legal status in New York City.