Amshinov (Hasidic dynasty)

Amshinov is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Kalish. It is an offshoot of Vurka dynasty. It takes its name from the Yiddish name of Mszczonów, a town in Poland.

The first Amshinover Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Kalish, was a son of Rabbi Israel Yitzhak Kalish (Yitzchok of Vurka), the (first) Vurker Rebbe.

Rabbi Yitzchok of Warka (Yiddish: Vurka‎) was a disciple of Grand Rabbi Dovid Biderman of Lelov (1746–1814), who was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin, who was a disciple of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, who was a disciple of Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch (the Maggid), the senior disciple of Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov), the founder of Hasidism. After the death of Rabbi Dovid Biderman of Lelov, Rabbi Yitzchok became a disciple of Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa.

Rabbi Yaakov Dovid died in 1878 (ד' כסלו תרל"ח) and was succeeded as Amshinover Rebbe by one of his sons, Menachem Kalish.

When Rabbi Menachem died in 1917 (ט"ז כסלו תרע"ח), his son, Rabbi Yosef, became the Rebbe in Amshinov, and the other son, Rabbi Shimon Sholom, became rebbe in Otwock (Yiddish: אטוואצק‎ Otvotsk). Rabbi Shimon was a major driving force behind the exodus of thousands of young men in Mir, Kletzk, Radin, Novhardok, and other yeshivas via Japan to Shanghai at the outbreak of World War II. By the time Shanghai came under Japanese control, it held 26,000 Jews.

...
Wikipedia