Rav Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levine zt"l
הרב חנוך העניך בן פינחס לוין זצ"ל
Adar 18 , 5630
Rav Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levine zt"l
Rebbe Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levin of Alexander (1798-1870), leading disciple of R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa and of the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa. He held a rabbinic position for close to 40 years. He first served as rabbi of Alexander and Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, and from 1859, as rabbi of Proshnitz (in 1865, he retired from the rabbinate, and returned to Alexander as a private person). He was a descendant of R. Shmuel Schotten HaKohen of Frankfurt (the Maharshashach – who was also the grandfather of the Chasam Sofer). After he supported the Polish revolution in 1830, he was compelled to change his surname from Schotten to Levin. He was renowned in his youth for his prodigious brilliance, and for his Peshischa-Kotsk style of sharpness. All his actions were concealed, and with great wisdom. His sayings were penetrating and peppered with incisive humor, and he knew how to disguise exalted matters in jokes which only a precious-few would understand. He would frequently cite the saying of his teacher R. Bunim of Peshischa: "By us, all the negative commandments in the Torah can be condensed to one negative commandment – Do not be a fool! and all the positive commandments in the Torah can be encapsulated in one – be wise!".
While still a young man, his teacher the Yehudi HaKadosh appointed him as rebbe, by removing his spodik from his head and placing it on that of his young student, R. Henich, saying: "This spodik suits you well…". Following the passing of R. Bunim of Peshischa, R. Henich subjected himself to the authority of his colleague, Rebbe Mendel of Kotsk. After the latter's demise, R. Henich followed his (younger) colleague R. Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger. Only after the passing of the Chiddushei HaRim in 1866 did the elderly R. Henich agree to serve as rebbe, and lead the Chassidic courts of Kotsk and Ger. His disciples and relatives attested to the Divine inspiration he benefitted from, and the wonders and miracles which he performed. His nephew testified that he was present when souls came down to him from Upper spheres, to request a reparation. These accounts were recorded in the new edition of his book Choshvo LeTova VeLikutim (published by Mossad HaRim Levin, Jerusalem, 1990), see there.
The foreword of the new edition contains a beautiful description of the Chassidic legacy which R. Henich transmitted to future generations, and his molding of the character of the Ger Chassidic dynasty: "Alexander of Rebbe Henich was concealed for about seventy years; in those years the Peshischa Chassidism branched out into seventy facets. For decades, he stood as a disciple before his colleagues, subjected himself to their authority and enjoyed the Peshischa elevation in the hidden parts of his soul, until the crown of leadership was placed upon him… R. Henich of Alexander combined in his leadership all the wellsprings deriving from Peshischa. With rare and unparalleled wisdom, he merged a following of elite, truth-seeking Chassidim into a single unit, and they together rose to high levels of Torah and worship of G-d. He brought Peshischa, Kotsk and Ger together under one roof, selecting the unique points of each of them - their light, to create a center of Torah, Chassidism, sharpness, holiness and total devotion".
He was one of the teachers of the Sfat Emet, Rebbe of Ger (grandson of the Chiddushei HaRim), whom he appointed as his successor. His descendants were leading members of the Ger court, and his grandson R. Chanoch Tzvi HaKohen Levin Rabbi of Bendin was the son-in-law of the Sfat Emet. His disciples became the leading Torah scholars and rebbes of Poland, including: R. Ze'ev Nachum of Biala and his son Rebbe Avraham of Sochatchov author of Avnei Nezer; Rebbe Avraham of Porisov; R. Pinchas Menachem Justman Rabbi of Piltz; R. Yoav Yehoshua of Kintzk the Chelkat Yoav; R. Yitzchak Feigenbaum of Warsaw, and others. His teachings are recorded in his book Choshvo LeTova.
https://www.kedem-auctions.com/en/content/letter-rebbe-chanoch-henich-alexander-%E2%80%93-regarding-trip-chiddushei-harim-ger-and-move
Stories of Rav Chanoch Henich HaKohen Levine zt"l
Rav Feivel of Gritza, (father of Rav Yechiel of Alexander) once approached the Seraph of Kotzk and said, “Good news! The wealthy Jewess Tamarel is supposed to arrive tomorrow and then we will have some money to relieve the abject poverty.
The Kotzker bellowed, “Money!!! Fech (Disgusting)!”
“From that moment on,” related Rav Feivel, “money disgusted me so, that I simply could not handle any without becoming so nauseous that I almost vomited. It took me over six months before I was able to even touch money again without becoming sick.”
Rav Chanoch Henich of Alexander once told the Kotzker, “Tonight I am preparing a seuda with fish and meat.” The Kotzker thundered back, “Meat? Fish? Who needs those?! Bread and borscht are plenty!”
“From then on,” admitted Rav Henich, “I could taste no flavor in any food save bread and borscht for the rest of my life. Every other food was loathsome to me, all except bread and borscht.” When he traveled on Shabbos to the Gerrer Rebbe, the Chiddushei HaRim, he ordered that they cook borscht for Rav Henich so he could delight in the taste of Oneg Shabbos, otherwise what would he enjoy? (Bais Kotzk 29)