BDE: The Bostoner Rebbe, zt”l

YS Gold 

It is with a heavy heart that we report on the petirah of Rav Pinchos Dovid Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe of Flatbush. The Rebbe was a scion of great chaasidishe dynasties, including the zidichoiver dynasty, and a grandson of Rav Pinchos Dovid Horowitz, zt”l, the first Bostoner Rebbe. 

The Rebbe was born to his father, Rav Moishe’ele Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe of Boro Park, who was a brother to Rav Levi Yitzchok of Boston. The family hailed from a strong connection to Yerushalayim and the chassidim and tzaddikim of the old Yishuv, as well as a strong tradition of fiercely upholding Torah, Yiddishkeit, and chassidus on American shores. 

The Rebbe, zt”l, was a fusion of both worlds. He kept one foot in Yerushalayim shel ma’alah even as he could speak with every type of Yid, about any topic. 

The Rebbe was a successor of his father’s chassidus and yeshiva, establishing his court deep in Flatbush, even before the neighborhood was popular. The Rebbe immediately drew around him a group of families who came to love and admire, and deeply appreciated his sweet ways and the Torah and chassidus that he disseminated. 

Many years ago, before Tannersville became a destination, the Rebbe purchased a home there. This became a chassidishe outpost in what was heretofore a vacation spot for Jews of German origin. With time, more and more chassidishe yidden began flocking to Tannersville, knowing that they could find a minyan with a true chassidishe varemkeit, and the Rebbe’s warm tefillos and divrei Torah. 

The rebbe was an exceptional ba’al menagen, and may have even composed nigunim. His singing was otherworldly, and would infuse warmth into all those who heard him. He was warm and welcoming to everyone he encountered, and people of all ages felt comfortable being around him. He would regularly be mashpiah, and speak before audiences of all types and all ages. 

Sadly, the Rebbe contracted a machlah in recent years, and struggled valiantly until his petirah this afternoon—leaving behind a mourning family and community, and an incredible legacy of disseminating Torah and chassidus for many decades.  

The Levaya will take place outside the Bostoner Beis Medrash, Avenue J and East 29th Street at 4:00pm. There will be no hespedim, and the aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel.