Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin


Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin of Aleksander served as the rebbe of a community of thousands of Hasidim during the "interregnum" between the Chidushei HaRim of Ger and the Sfas Emes.

Biography

Levin was one of the leading students of the Rebbe Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa. After the latter's death he became one of the most prominent followers of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Kotzk and the senior disciple of Chidushei haRim. Following the death of the Chidushei haRim in 1866, the bulk of his numerous chasidim chose Rabbi Chanokh Heynekh as the next rebbe.
Levin served as the Rabbi in the Jewish communities of Aleksander from approximately 1837 until 1853, Nowy Dwór from 1853 through 1859, and Przasnysz from 1859 until 1864. After his tenure in Przasnysz he retired from the rabbinate and settled in Aleksander, where he lived during his period of leadership as rebbe.
His teachings are collected in Chashovoh leToivo, and are quoted widely.

Rebbes of Ger

  1. Yitzchak Meir Alter
  2. Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin|Chanoch Henoch of Aleksander
  3. Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter
  4. Avraham Mordechai Alter
  5. Yisrael Alter
  6. Simcha Bunim Alter
  7. Pinchas Menachem Alter
  8. Yaakov Aryeh Alter