Rabbi Yosef Kalish II (1957–2020) was the beloved Grand Rebbe of the Amshinov Hasidic dynasty in Boro Park, Brooklyn. He spent nearly three decades leading his community, preserving the distinct Polish Hasidic traditions of Warka and Amshinov in modern America until his untimely passing during the global pandemic.

Lineage and Early Life

Born in New York in 1957, Rabbi Yosef was named after his great-grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Kalish I (the third Amshinover Rebbe in Poland).

• His Father: He was the son of Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish (1921–1993), who had miraculously survived the Holocaust by fleeing through Shanghai with the Mir Yeshiva alongside his cousin, Reb Meir'l. His father subsequently immigrated to New York and founded the Amshinov community in Brooklyn.

• Education: Growing up in the United States, the young Rabbi Yosef studied in elite institutions, primarily at the Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush, Brooklyn, where he excelled as a brilliant and highly analytical Talmudic student.

He married the daughter of Rabbi Elijah Sternbuch, a prominent rabbinic figure from Antwerp, Belgium, further connecting him to elite European rabbinic lineages.

Leadership in Boro Park

Following the passing of his father in 1993, Rabbi Yosef was crowned as the Amshinover Rebbe of Boro Park. He established his court at the Amshinover Shul on 15th Avenue (between 45th and 46th streets), which became a beacon of warmth in the neighborhood.

Spiritual Style and Character

Rabbi Yosef beautifully embodied the hallmark traits of the Warka-Amshinov tradition:

• Radical Humility: Despite his position, he avoided the typical royal pomp often associated with Hasidic courts. He walked the streets of Boro Park unassumingly, refusing to let assistants push people away from him.

• Ahavas Yisrael (Unconditional Love): He possessed a uniquely gentle soul and a radiant countenance. He spent hours counseling broken-hearted individuals, offering comfort to anyone who walked through his doors regardless of their background, affiliation, or level of religiosity.

• Prayer and Halacha: Following the famous Amshinov tradition, his preparation for prayer and the performance of mitzvot was an intense, hours-long emotional crucible, often extending far beyond conventional times as he poured his entire being into serving God.

Literary Legacy

In addition to his oral teachings, the Rebbe dedicated immense effort to preserving his father's spiritual legacy. He compiled, edited, and published Zera Yitzchak (The Seed of Isaac), a highly regarded, comprehensive multi-volume set containing his father's deep Hasidic discourses, insights on the Torah, and essays on the Jewish holidays.

Passing and Burial

Rabbi Yosef Kalish II passed away on April 5, 2020 (11 Nissan 5780) at the age of 63, a victim of the devastating initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the Jewish communities of New York. Because of strict lockdown restrictions at the time, his Hasidim could not hold a traditional massive funeral procession through the streets of Boro Park, which caused immense grief throughout the Orthodox world.

In accordance with family tradition, his body was flown to Israel for interment. He was laid to rest in the Tiberias Ancient Jewish Cemetery along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, buried in the same holy plot near his father, his great-uncle (Reb Meir'l), and his great-great-grandfather (Rabbi Shimon Sholom).

Succession

Following his passing, his legacy was divided between his two sons, ensuring the continuation of the Amshinov dynasty into the next generation:

• Rabbi Menachem Kalish: Succeeded his father as the Amshinover Rebbe in Boro Park, New York, leading the main American synagogue.

• Rabbi Osher Chaim Kalish: Established a branch of the dynasty as the Amshinover Rebbe in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel.