Joseph Kaminetsky
Encyclopedia
Joseph Kaminetsky was an American
Orthodox
rabbi
who became the pioneering first director of Torah Umesorah - National Society for Hebrew Day Schools
of North America, based in New York City
. He was directly responsible for the establishment of literally hundreds of yeshiva
day schools across the United States outside of the New York Metropolitan Area
.
in 1911. At first, he attended public school for a year, but his father wanted him to attend a yeshiva
, and sold the family home in order to afford the tuition; they moved from East New York
to Brownsville
. Kaminetsky attended Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin
for elementary school, and later Talmudical Academy High School on East Broadway on the Lower East Side
of Manhattan
.
Kaminetsky then became a member of the first class at Yeshiva University
, graduating magna cum laude in 1932. He immediately sought to immerse himself in the area of Jewish education, becoming the principal of the afternoon school of Manhattan's prestigious Jewish Center synagogue and later its assistant rabbi under Rabbi Leo Jung
, serving this post in the 1930s and '40's. After receiving his doctorate
in education from Columbia Teachers College
, he became the executive director of Manhattan Day School
. It was at this post that he was tapped to be a leader at Torah Umesorah. He served as educational director for two years before rising to director of the entire organization, replacing Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
upon the latter's death in 1948.
Kaminetsky was seen as a true visionary by the leaders of the American Jewish community. At Kaminetsky's funeral
in 1999, Rabbi Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi told a story of how, upon his first visit to America in 1973, he was in the presence of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
when Kaminetsky entered the room. He did not know who Kaminetsky was and was astonished to see Feinstein rising in respect for this unknown man. Afterward, Feinstein explained that "this man has established Torah
in America."
For the next 35 years, Kaminetsky traveled throughout the United States with a mission to establish a Jewish day school in every town and city across America with a Jewish population of at least 5,000. Upon retiring in 1980 at the age of 69, he moved to Jerusalem with his wife Selma.
Kaminetsky published his memoirs in March 1995, entitled Memorable Encounters: A Torah pioneer's glimpses of great men and years of challenge.
His daughter Nechama is married to Meir Steinhardt, both of whom are involved in Jewish education. He is also survived by his son Judah and daughter Phyllis, married to Gedalya Riess. His daughter Symie is married to Rabbi Eliezer Liff, who live in Jerusalem and are similarly involved in Jewish education. His wife, Selma, died in July 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
who became the pioneering first director of Torah Umesorah - National Society for Hebrew Day Schools
Torah Umesorah - National Society for Hebrew Day Schools
Torah Umesorah – National Society for Hebrew Day Schools is an Orthodox Jewish organization that fosters and promotes Torah-based Jewish religious education in North America by supporting and developing a loosely affiliated network of 760 independent private Jewish day schools catering to more...
of North America, based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was directly responsible for the establishment of literally hundreds of yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
day schools across the United States outside of the New York Metropolitan Area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
.
Education and mission
Kaminetsky was born in Brooklyn, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1911. At first, he attended public school for a year, but his father wanted him to attend a yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, and sold the family home in order to afford the tuition; they moved from East New York
East New York, Brooklyn
East New York is a residential neighborhood located in the Eastern section of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City, United States. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 5...
to Brownsville
Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
. Kaminetsky attended Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin
Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin
Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin or Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, is a Haredi Lithuanian-type yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1904 as Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim, it is the oldest yeshiva in Kings County...
for elementary school, and later Talmudical Academy High School on East Broadway on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Kaminetsky then became a member of the first class at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
, graduating magna cum laude in 1932. He immediately sought to immerse himself in the area of Jewish education, becoming the principal of the afternoon school of Manhattan's prestigious Jewish Center synagogue and later its assistant rabbi under Rabbi Leo Jung
Leo Jung
Rabbi Leo Jung was one of the major architects of American Orthodox Judaism.-Background and education:...
, serving this post in the 1930s and '40's. After receiving his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in education from Columbia Teachers College
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, he became the executive director of Manhattan Day School
Manhattan Day School
Manhattan Day School, often called MDS, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish yeshiva elementary school located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was founded in 1943. The school has an early childhood department in addition to serving students grades K-8...
. It was at this post that he was tapped to be a leader at Torah Umesorah. He served as educational director for two years before rising to director of the entire organization, replacing Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz was an early leader of American Orthodoxy and founder of key institutions such as Torah Vodaath, a Yeshiva in Brooklyn, and Torah U'Mesorah, an outreach and educational organization. He is credited by many to have pioneered authentic Jewish education in the United...
upon the latter's death in 1948.
Kaminetsky was seen as a true visionary by the leaders of the American Jewish community. At Kaminetsky's funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
in 1999, Rabbi Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi told a story of how, upon his first visit to America in 1973, he was in the presence of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
when Kaminetsky entered the room. He did not know who Kaminetsky was and was astonished to see Feinstein rising in respect for this unknown man. Afterward, Feinstein explained that "this man has established Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
in America."
For the next 35 years, Kaminetsky traveled throughout the United States with a mission to establish a Jewish day school in every town and city across America with a Jewish population of at least 5,000. Upon retiring in 1980 at the age of 69, he moved to Jerusalem with his wife Selma.
Kaminetsky published his memoirs in March 1995, entitled Memorable Encounters: A Torah pioneer's glimpses of great men and years of challenge.
Family
His son, Rabbi David Kaminetsky, was principal of Manhattan Day School for a decade but left to become the national director of NCSY, a post he left in 2002.His daughter Nechama is married to Meir Steinhardt, both of whom are involved in Jewish education. He is also survived by his son Judah and daughter Phyllis, married to Gedalya Riess. His daughter Symie is married to Rabbi Eliezer Liff, who live in Jerusalem and are similarly involved in Jewish education. His wife, Selma, died in July 2010.