Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman (1901, Daŭhinava
- July 11, 1987) was a prominent Talmud
ic scholar and Rabbi who founded and served as Rosh Yeshiva
of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel in Baltimore.
He was born in Daŭhinava
, Russia
(now in Belarus
), where his father Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ruderman was the rabbi. He studied in Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael in Slobodka, under the "Alter", Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, and the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein
, receiving Semicha
from the latter in 1926.
Among Rabbi Ruderman's distinguished colleagues in Slobodka were his second cousin Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky
, Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky, Rabbi Aharon Kotler
, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner.
. In 1933, he moved to Baltimore, where he was he immediately offered a rabbinical post. Rabbi Ruderman accepted the position on the condition that he be permitted to open a yeshiva using the synagogue facilities; he named the new yeshiva Ner Yisroel, or "Ner Israel".
The yeshiva grew quickly, and Rabbi Ruderman approached the renowned Rabbi Shimon Schwab
, at the time rabbi of another Baltimore congregation, and invited him to join the faculty. Rabbi Schwab taught the first-year shiur (class) in Ner Israel for several years, until he moved to Washington Heights
.
Rabbi Ruderman led the yeshiva for 54 years until his passing when Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg
, his son in law, took over. Rabbi Ruderman was Rosh Yeshiva, while his brother-in-law, Rabbi Naftoli (Herman) Neuberger
took care of the financial side. Together, they built it into one of the largest yeshivas in America
, producing thousands of rabbis, educators and learned laymen.
Rabbi Ruderman was also involved in many aspects of Jewish communal life outside of the Yeshiva. He was a member of the Council of Torah Sages
of Agudath Israel
and the chairman of the Rabbinic Advisory Board of Torah Umesorah.
. Rabbi Ruderman was one of the last surviving Roshei Yeshiva (yeshiva heads) who came to America from Lithuania
early in the 20th century.
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 :...
- July 11, 1987) was a prominent Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic scholar and Rabbi who founded and served as 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...
of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel in Baltimore.
He was born in Daŭhinava
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 :...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(now in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
), where his father Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ruderman was the rabbi. He studied in Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael in Slobodka, under the "Alter", Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, and the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein
Moshe Mordechai Epstein
Moshe Mordechai Epstein was Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Knesseth Yisrael in Slabodka, Lithuania and is recognized as having been one of the leading Talmudists of the twentieth century.-Childhood:...
, receiving Semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
from the latter in 1926.
Among Rabbi Ruderman's distinguished colleagues in Slobodka were his second cousin Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky
Yaakov Kamenetsky
Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky , was a prominent rosh yeshiva, posek and Talmudist in the post-World War II American Jewish community....
, Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky, 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 :...
, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner.
Building Torah in America
In 1930, Rabbi Ruderman joined his father-in-law Rabbi Sheftel Kramer at the latter's yeshiva in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. In 1933, he moved to Baltimore, where he was he immediately offered a rabbinical post. Rabbi Ruderman accepted the position on the condition that he be permitted to open a yeshiva using the synagogue facilities; he named the new yeshiva Ner Yisroel, or "Ner Israel".
The yeshiva grew quickly, and Rabbi Ruderman approached the renowned Rabbi Shimon Schwab
Shimon Schwab
Shimon Schwab was an Orthodox rabbi and communal leader in Germany and the United States. Educated in Frankfurt am Main and in the yeshivot of Lithuania, he was rabbi in Ichenhausen, Bavaria, after immigration to the United States in Baltimore, and from 1958 until his death at Khal Adath Jeshurun...
, at the time rabbi of another Baltimore congregation, and invited him to join the faculty. Rabbi Schwab taught the first-year shiur (class) in Ner Israel for several years, until he moved to Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
.
Rabbi Ruderman led the yeshiva for 54 years until his passing when Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg
Yaakov Weinberg
Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, known as Yaakov Weinberg was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Talmudist, and rosh yeshiva of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland one of the major American non-Hasidic yeshivas...
, his son in law, took over. Rabbi Ruderman was Rosh Yeshiva, while his brother-in-law, Rabbi Naftoli (Herman) Neuberger
Herman N. Neuberger
Hermann Naftali Neuberger was an Orthodox rabbi and leader. He was the brother of Albert Neuberger CBE FRS FRCP.- Younger years :...
took care of the financial side. Together, they built it into one of the largest yeshivas in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, producing thousands of rabbis, educators and learned laymen.
Rabbi Ruderman was also involved in many aspects of Jewish communal life outside of the Yeshiva. He was a member of the Council of Torah Sages
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah refers to the supreme rabbinical policy-making council of any of several related Haredi Jewish organizations....
of Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of America , is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel.-Functions:...
and the chairman of the Rabbinic Advisory Board of Torah Umesorah.
Death
Rabbi Ruderman's death on July 11, 1987, the 14th of Tammuz, followed less than 18 months after the passing of Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky and Rabbi Moshe FeinsteinMoshe 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...
. Rabbi Ruderman was one of the last surviving Roshei Yeshiva (yeshiva heads) who came to America from 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...
early in the 20th century.