Nisson Alpert
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Nisson Alpert was one of the most outstanding and prominent students of Rabbi
Moshe Feinstein
.
, a small shtetl
in Poland. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Rabbi Nisson Lipa Joselowitz, rosh yeshiva in Lazday, Poland, and later the rabbi of Polanka. His father Rabbi Shabsai Alpert was a student of the Mir Yeshiva and cousin of the Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
, the Chofetz Chaim. His mother was Guta Yachne Joselowitz. Nisson had three sisters: Rita, Sarah, and Freida.
Rabbi Alpert's father decided to move his family to the United States, and traveled there ahead of his family. However, World War II broke out before everyone could come. In December 1939, his mother and family crossed the border to Lithuania. Rebbetzin Alpert obtained one of the first transit visas from Chiune Sugihara
, and crossed Russia with the family to Japan. From there they traveled to San Francisco, and finally to the Lower East Side
of New York City
.
Although Nisson arrived in America at the age of 12 with no knowledge of English, he graduated Washington Irving High School
as valedictorian of his class. He learned at Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem, where he became a very close disciple of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
. Rebbetzin Shima Feinstein arranged the match between Rav Nisson and Zeldi Scheinberg, the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg
.
Rabbi Alpert was one of the founders of Peylim.
He first was rabbi of the East Third Street Shul in the Lower East Side. He later became the Rav of Agudath Israel of Long Island.
In 1967, he was appointed as a Rosh Yeshiva
at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
, and later became the first Rosh Kollel
of its Kollel L’Horaah— Yadin-Yadin. He was a great torah scholar.
In 1983, Rabbi and Rebbitzen Alpert suffered the sudden tragic loss of their 19 year old son Yishaya Mendel.
Rabbi Alpert died at the age of 58 on Sunday evening, 17 Iyar, 5746 (May 25, 1986)
, about two months after the passing of his mentor, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. He is buried on Har Hazeisim
in Jerusalem.
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...
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...
.
Biography
Rabbi Nisson Lipa Alpert was born in 1927 in PolankaPolanka
Polanka may refer to the following places in Poland:*Polanka, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Polanka, Lesser Poland Voivodeship *Polanka, Masovian Voivodeship...
, a small shtetl
Shtetl
A shtetl was typically a small town with a large Jewish population in Central and Eastern Europe until The Holocaust. Shtetls were mainly found in the areas which constituted the 19th century Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire, the Congress Kingdom of Poland, Galicia and Romania...
in Poland. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Rabbi Nisson Lipa Joselowitz, rosh yeshiva in Lazday, Poland, and later the rabbi of Polanka. His father Rabbi Shabsai Alpert was a student of the Mir Yeshiva and cousin of the Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Poupko , known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakhist, posek, and ethicist whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life...
, the Chofetz Chaim. His mother was Guta Yachne Joselowitz. Nisson had three sisters: Rita, Sarah, and Freida.
Rabbi Alpert's father decided to move his family to the United States, and traveled there ahead of his family. However, World War II broke out before everyone could come. In December 1939, his mother and family crossed the border to Lithuania. Rebbetzin Alpert obtained one of the first transit visas from Chiune Sugihara
Chiune Sugihara
was a Japanese diplomat who served as Vice-Consul for the Japanese Empire in Lithuania. During World War II, he helped several thousand Jews leave the country by issuing transit visas to Jewish refugees so that they could travel to Japan. Most of the Jews who escaped were refugees from...
, and crossed Russia with the family to Japan. From there they traveled to San Francisco, and finally to 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 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...
.
Although Nisson arrived in America at the age of 12 with no knowledge of English, he graduated Washington Irving High School
Washington Irving High School (New York City)
Washington Irving High School is located at 40 Irving Place between East 16th and 17th Streets the lower part of the New York City borough of Manhattan...
as valedictorian of his class. He learned at Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem, where he became a very close disciple 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...
. Rebbetzin Shima Feinstein arranged the match between Rav Nisson and Zeldi Scheinberg, the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg
Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg
Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg is a Polish-born, American-raised Haredi rabbi and rosh yeshiva who, since 1965, makes his home in the Kiryat Mattersdorf neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel. He is the rosh yeshiva of the Torah Ore yeshiva in Kiryat Mattersdorf and Yeshivas Derech Chaim in Brooklyn...
.
Rabbi Alpert was one of the founders of Peylim.
He first was rabbi of the East Third Street Shul in the Lower East Side. He later became the Rav of Agudath Israel of Long Island.
In 1967, he was appointed as a Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary , or Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University, located in Washington Heights, New York. It is named after Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who died the year it was founded, 1896...
, and later became the first Rosh Kollel
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
of its Kollel L’Horaah— Yadin-Yadin. He was a great torah scholar.
In 1983, Rabbi and Rebbitzen Alpert suffered the sudden tragic loss of their 19 year old son Yishaya Mendel.
Rabbi Alpert died at the age of 58 on Sunday evening, 17 Iyar, 5746 (May 25, 1986)
, about two months after the passing of his mentor, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. He is buried on Har Hazeisim
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
in Jerusalem.
Writings
- Beit Habechirah of the Meiri on Bava Metzia.
- Commentary of the Raavad on Bava Metzia
- Limmudei Nissan on the Torah and on Tractate Beitzah