Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain

Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain (; died 23 September 1965), also spelled Borenstein or Bernstein, was the fourth Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He acceded to the position of Rebbe following the death of his older brother, Rabbi Dovid Bornsztain, the third Sochatchover Rebbe, who died in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. Rabbi Dovid's children were also killed during the Holocaust, leaving no survivors. As Rabbi Chanoch Henoch had moved to Mandatory Palestine and established a beth midrash in Jerusalem during the 1920s, his assumption of the title of Admor relocated the Sochatchover dynasty from its home in Poland to the new state of Israel, where it flourishes to this day.

Biography Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain was the second son of Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain, the Shem MiShmuel, the second Sochatchover Rebbe, and his wife, Yuta Leah. He grew up in the presence of his illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Avrohom Bornsztain, also known as the Avnei Nezer, who founded the Sochatchover dynasty.

In 1924, Bornsztain accompanied his brother Rabbi Dovid Bornsztain to Palestine for the purpose of acquiring land to establish a Hasidic settlement. His brother put a down payment on a plot of land south of Ramle. When he returned to Poland to raise the rest of the money, however, his plan was thwarted by an economic depression that hit Poland shortly after his return.

Meanwhile, Bornsztain stayed in Jerusalem, living first in the Bucharim neighborhood and then settling in the new Bayit VeGan neighborhood, where he established a beth midrash (study hall).

Bornsztain led the Hasidut until his death on 23 September 1965 (26 Elul 5725). He is buried on Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.

His son, Rabbi Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain, succeeded him as Rebbe.

Rebbes of Sochatchov Avrohom Bornsztain, the Avnei Nezer (1838–1910) Shmuel Bornsztain, the Shem Mishmuel (1856–1926) Dovid Bornsztain (1876–1942) Chanoch Henoch Bornsztain (d. 1965) Menachem Shlomo Bornsztain (1934–1969) Shmuel Bornsztain (b. 1961)