Kotzk

Kotzk is a Hasidic dynasty originating from the city of Kock, Poland, where it was founded by Menachem Mendel Morgenstern (1787-1859). Kotzk is a branch of Peshischa Hasidism, as Morgenstern was the leading disciple of Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, whose divided community he eventually incorporated into his own dynasty after Bunim's death. Kotzk follows a Hasidic philosophy known for its critical and rationalistic approach and its intense emphasis on personal improvement through harsh constructive criticism and total transparency of self, and it remains closely connected to other branches of Peshischa Hasidism such as Ger and Aleksander, now based out of Jerusalem.