The genealogy of the Horowitz rabbinical family has been extensively researched over the years. Dr. Edward Gelles has kindly allowed us to post: (1) the Horowitz rabbinical family's claimed line of descent to the year 1000 in Gerona, Spain; (2) a tree showing the believed relationships of the ancestral line of the Horowitz rabbinical family to other prominent Jewish families in Spain and France from the 11th through 14th centuries; and (3) a tree showing branches of the Horowitz rabbinical family after that family's move to Horovice, near Prague, in the 1470s. For further information, see E. Gelles, Meeting my Ancestors (Shaker Publishing, Maastricht, 2011), E. Gelles, Family Connections: Gelles-Horowitz-Chajes (Shaker Publishing, Maastricht, 2008), and Dr. Gelles’ forthcoming volume of essays, to be entitled A Millennial Journey of European Jews. The late Michael Honey prepared a very detailed family tree for the Horowitz rabbinical family starting in 1400 and including some branches through the present day. In his book Gurevich, Gurovich, Gurvich, Gorvich, Gurvitz, Horowitz and Others: History of A Great Family (Haifa, 1999, ISBN 965-222-971-7), Shlomo Gurevich of Hoshaya, Israel provides a detailed history of the family. On the Jews of Frankfurt DNA Project page, Janet Billstein Akaha has posted a "condensed" Horowitz lineage going back to the 12th century in Barcelona. However, a 2016 article by Avrohom Marmorsteinquestions the contention that the Horowitz rabbinical family has Iberian roots, asserting that it was not until the late 19th century that a Spanish connection was asserted for members of the Horowitz rabbinical family. In this regard, it should be noted that a related Horowitz tradition -- that a Horowitz ancestor was the brother of a Benveniste ancestor and an Epstein ancestor -- is not supported by the Y-DNA evidence to date (currently, no Benvenistes, and only one of many Epsteins to have done Y-DNA testing, are known to be members of the R1a-Y2619 Ashkenazi Levite cluster to which known descendants of the Horowitz rabbinical family belong).  Tomb of Shmuel Shmelke Segal Ish Horowicz, Jewish Cemetery of Tarnow, Poland Woe to us, we have lost the crown over our head, our beloved elder Rabbi who acquired wisdom, Shmuel Shmelke Segal [staff of Levites], son of the great light Rabbi Yehoshua the tall Halevi Ish-Horowicz, blessed be the memory of the Tzadik, went to a better world on Wednesday, The 1st of the month of Elul. [19 August] Shmuel may he rest in peace, today 40 days [after his death] the year of תנו'ה 5456. [1696]. May His Soul Rest With The Living Translation courtesy of Meir G. Gover |  Tomb of Isaiah Halevi Horowitz (the Shelah), Tiberias Ancient Cemetery
Here Lies Photograph and translation courtesy of Meir G. Gover |
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