Yaakov Kamenetsky
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky (February 28, 1891-March 10, 1986), was a prominent rosh yeshiva
, posek
and Talmudist in the post-World War II
American Jewish community.
He was born in the hamlet of Kalushkove, Lithuania
, in 1891. Shortly afterwards his family moved to the village of Dolhinov
where he grew up. He studied in Minsk
and then for 21 years in Slabodka yeshiva
under Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel. It was there that he met his lifelong friend Rabbi Aharon Kotler
, who would go on to found the Lakewood yeshiva. His younger cousin, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
, also grew up in Dolhinov.
While studying in Slabodka, Rabbi Kamenetsky decided he wanted to spend a period in the Kelm Talmud Torah, famous for its focus on task and ability to avoid distraction. However, he knew that if he asked Rabbi Finkel directly he would be refused. Therefore, one day he took a round-about path to the outhouse instead of the direct one he always used. Rabbi Finkel called him over and sent him to Kelm to learn discipline.
Rabbi Kamenetsky was appointed rabbi of Tzitavyan
in 1926 and moved to North America in 1937, where he initially took rabbinical positions in Seattle
and then Toronto
. From 1948 to 1968 he headed Mesivta Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn
, New York
. Along with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
, he led American Jewry in issues of halachic and spiritual guidance until 1986, when both men died.
Rabbi Kamenetsky was renowned as "Chakima D'Yehudai", the wise man of the Jews. Aside from his extensive Torah
scholarship, he was known for his ever-present warm smile and his expertise in Hebrew grammar. Today, his son Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky
is considered by many to be the Gadol HaDor, the greatest rabbi in America. His other sons are: Rabbis Binyamin (1923-), Avraham, and Nathan Kamenetsky. His oldest daughter, Malka (1921-), was married to the late Rabbi Yisrael Shurin (d. 2007). A second daughter, Rivka, is married to Rabbi Hirsch Diskind, the Dean Emeritus of Bais Yaakov of Baltimore. Dozens of his descendants serve in key leadership positions across North America and in Israel.
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...
, posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
and Talmudist in the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
American Jewish community.
He was born in the hamlet of Kalushkove, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, in 1891. Shortly afterwards his family moved to the village of Dolhinov
Dauhinava
Daŭhinava is a village in the Vileyka Raion, Minsk Voblast, Belarus. It is located 51 miles north of Minsk, 25 miles ENE of Vilejka. Between the two World Wars it was part of Poland.- Jewish life in Daŭhinava :...
where he grew up. He studied in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
and then for 21 years in Slabodka yeshiva
Slabodka yeshiva
Hebron Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Hevron, or Knesses Yisroel, and originally as Slabodka Yeshiva, is known colloquially as the "mother of yeshivas" and was devoted to high=level study of the Talmud. The yeshiva was located in the Lithuanian town of Slabodka, adjacent to Kovno , now...
under Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel. It was there that he met his lifelong friend Rabbi Aharon Kotler
Aharon Kotler
Aharon Kotler was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania, and later the United States, where he built Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.- Early life :...
, who would go on to found the Lakewood yeshiva. His younger cousin, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman was a prominent Talmudic scholar and Rabbi who founded and served as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel in Baltimore....
, also grew up in Dolhinov.
While studying in Slabodka, Rabbi Kamenetsky decided he wanted to spend a period in the Kelm Talmud Torah, famous for its focus on task and ability to avoid distraction. However, he knew that if he asked Rabbi Finkel directly he would be refused. Therefore, one day he took a round-about path to the outhouse instead of the direct one he always used. Rabbi Finkel called him over and sent him to Kelm to learn discipline.
Rabbi Kamenetsky was appointed rabbi of Tzitavyan
Tytuvenai
Tytuvėnai is a city in the Kelmė district municipality, Lithuania. It is located east of Kelmė. It is known for its Bernardine monastery.The first church in the town was built in 1555. The construction of the monastery was initiated by Andrius Valavicius and his family, who returned to the...
in 1926 and moved to North America in 1937, where he initially took rabbinical positions in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and then Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. From 1948 to 1968 he headed Mesivta Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
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...
. Along with 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...
, he led American Jewry in issues of halachic and spiritual guidance until 1986, when both men died.
Rabbi Kamenetsky was renowned as "Chakima D'Yehudai", the wise man of the Jews. Aside from his extensive 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...
scholarship, he was known for his ever-present warm smile and his expertise in Hebrew grammar. Today, his son Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky
Shmuel Kamenetsky
Shmuel Kamenetsky is a Haredi rabbi and co-founder and rosh yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. He is one of the best-known living Haredi Litvish Jewish gedolim outside Israel and the best-known son of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky , one of America's greatest Torah...
is considered by many to be the Gadol HaDor, the greatest rabbi in America. His other sons are: Rabbis Binyamin (1923-), Avraham, and Nathan Kamenetsky. His oldest daughter, Malka (1921-), was married to the late Rabbi Yisrael Shurin (d. 2007). A second daughter, Rivka, is married to Rabbi Hirsch Diskind, the Dean Emeritus of Bais Yaakov of Baltimore. Dozens of his descendants serve in key leadership positions across North America and in Israel.
Works
- Emes leYaakov ("Truth to Jacob") - a multi-volume work with insightful commentary on the Torah and Talmud, including grammatical observations on the Hebrew of the Bible (dikduk).
- Iyunim BaMikra - a commentary on ChumashHumashThe Hebrew term Chumash is one of the Hebrew names for the Five Books of Moses, also known by the Latinised Greek term Pentateuch or as one of the uses of the Hebrew term Torah, "Law." The word comes from the Hebrew word for five, ḥamesh...