Karlin-Stolin (Hasidic dynasty)


Karlin-Stolin is a Hasidic dynasty originating with Rebbe Aaron the Great of Karlin in present-day Belarus. Karlin was one of the first centres of Hasidim to be set up in Lithuania.
Today, the Karlin-Stolin dynasty is thriving once again after being decimated by the Holocaust. Karlin-Stolin Hasidim can be found all over the world: Israel, America, Russia, England, Mexico, and Ukraine.
The Karliner Hasidim are especially known for their custom to cry out in a strong and loud voice to God when praying. They are also known for their hospitality.
Karlin-Stolin Hasidim established themselves in Eretz Yisrael in the mid-19th century, settling in Tiberias, Hebron and Safed. In 1869, they redeemed the site of a former synagogue in Tiberias which had been built in 1786 by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, but was destroyed in the Galilee earthquake of 1837. Construction of the new synagogue started in 1870, and was possible by collection of funds from the diaspora. This synagogue, still in use today, stands in the cluster of ancient synagogues of Tiberias. It was during this time that Karlin-Stolin Hasidim settled in Jerusalem. By 1874, they had established the Beth Aaron Synagogue in the old city.
Today, the Karlin-Stoliner Rebbe, Boruch Meir Yaakov Shochet, resides in Givat Ze'ev, a Jerusalem-affiliated Israeli settlement northwest of Jerusalem. Most of the Karlin-Stolin Hasidim reside in and near Jerusalem; there are also synagogues in Beitar Illit, Bnei Brak, Kiryat Sefer, Brachfeld, Safed, and Tiberias — as well as in the United States, in Borough Park, Monsey, New York, Lakewood, New Jersey, New Jersey, in Los Angeles, California, and in London, England, and in Ukraine.
The Rebbe's younger brother, Yochanan Shochet, also lives in Jerusalem, and is known as the Loitzker Rebbe. The Loitzker Rebbe established a Hasidic court, with the permission of his brother, the Karlin-Stoliner Rebbe.
In 2014, the Rebbe's oldest son, Reb Dovid Yehoshua Shochet, moved to Los Angeles, California, and established a shteibel, , with the blessing of his father.
In Jerusalem, some of the Karliner Hasidim wear the traditional garb of Jerusalem Haredim on Shabbat, the golden caftan.

Outline of Lineage of Karliner Dynasty

The founder of the dynasty, Rebbe Aharon the Great, was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, who was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.
The main Hasidic book of the Karliner Hasidim is Beis Aharon, composed by the Hasidim of the Rebbe Aharon II of Karlin from his talks.
The current version of the prayer-book used by Karliner Hasidim is called Beis Aharon V'Yisrael. It is the second published prayer-book ever produced by Karliner Hasidim; the first was published in New York City by the Rebbe Reb Yochanan Perlow of Karlin-Stolin.