HISTORIC ROSHEI YESHIVA:
1970–
HaRav Hagaon R. Nisson Lippa Alpert zt”l
1928-1986
Rabbi Alpert, one of the most prominent and celebrated students of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt”l, was counted among the most distinguished rabbonim in this country. He was the son of Rabbi Shabbtai Alpert zt”l, the rabbi of Plonk in Lithuania, who was the nephew of the Chofetz Chaim zt”l.
Upon his arrival in America, Rabbi Alpert immediately entered Yeshivat Tiferet Yerushalayim. He had the privilege of developing a close relationship with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. After receiving semikhah from Rabbi Feinstein, Rabbi Alpert accepted a position as rebbe at Yeshivat Tiferet Yerushalayim and then, in 1967, was appointed a rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He was the first rosh kollel of the Kollel L’Horaah Yadin-Yadin established by RIETS to prepare poskim.
In his later years, Rabbi Alpert also served as the spiritual leader of Agudath Yisroel of Far Rockaway. He was previously rabbi of Kehillat Chevrat Bochurim on the East Side for many years.
abbi Alpert was a renowned talmudic scholar and left behind many distinct novellae in Torah and halakhah. He published the Beit Habechirah of the Meiri on Bava Metzia, along with his own scholarly notes. In addition, he compiled a commentary of the Raavad on Bava Metzia. Other published writings of his include Limmudei Nissan on the Torah, as well as on Tractate Beitzah.
Rabbi Alpert was also known as an extraordinary darshan—a preacher who was able to excite his audience. Only a short while before his own passing, he delivered an emotional eulogy at the funeral of his rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt”l, and his audience was able to sense that this premier talmid would soon, tragically, join his great teacher. Rabbi Alpert passed away at the age of 58 and was laid to rest on Har Hazaitim in Jerusalem.
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HaRav Hagaon R. Yoseph Leib Arnest zt”l
1906-1982
Rabbi Arnest was born in Aniksht near Telshe, Lithuania. He was one of the youngest students of Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l (still in Krementzog during World War I). Afterwards, he studied at the yeshiva in Telshe together with Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch zt”l.
On the recommendation of Rabbi Avraham Shapiro zt”l, rabbi of Kovno, he was brought by Rabbi Bernard Revel zt”l to give shiurim at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1938. Rabbi Arnest served as a rosh yeshiva there and taught hundreds of students until his passing.
A gaon in Torah, Rabbi Arnest authored two seforim, Lev Yosefand Torat Eretz Zvi. He also authored a commentary called Chiddushim ViHearot At Teshuvot HaRambam, which was published in the Shulzinger edition of the Rambarn. In addition, he published widely in various Torah journals.
HaRav Hagaon R. Shmuel Belkin zt”l
1911-1976
Rabbi Belkin was born in Soslovitz, Poland. He studied at the yeshiva in Mir and in Radin. He received semikhah from the Chofetz Chaim zt”l at age 17. In 1929, he came to America and while serving as rosh yeshiva in New Haven, Connnecticut (which eventually became Ner Yisrael in Baltimore), he studied ancient Semitic languages at Brown University and received a doctorate for his work on Philo.
He was appointed rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1935 when he was only 24, probably the youngest rosh yeshiva in the history of RIETS, and was appointed its president in 1943. He taught Torah and led the Yeshiva through a period of enormous growth until his passing.
In addition to his scholarly work on Philo and Philonic literature, Rabbi Belkin left many shiurim in their original form and published articles in various Torah journals.
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HaRav Hagaon R. Yitzchok Noah Borenstein zt”l
1909-1983
Rabbi Borenstein was born in Lithuania and studied in the Mir and Lomza yeshivot, and with Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l, rabbi of Brisk.
After many wanderings during World War II, he escaped by way of Russia-Japan Shanghai to Canada, where he established a yeshiva. Afterwards, he came to America and taught Torah at Tiferet Yerushalayim until 1943.
Rabbi Borenstein was then appointed a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He was an outstanding scholar, an extraordinary gaon, and an extremely humble and modest person. Some of his writings are published in various Torah journals, while many others remain in their original form.
HaRav Hagaon R. Avigdor Cyperstein zt”l
1903-1975
Rabbi Cyperstein studied at the yeshiva in Slobodka, where he was greatly inspired by the Sabah of Slobodka. He was among the students there who established the yeshiva in Hebron. After several years in Israel, he returned to Poland to study at the Mir yeshiva. He married the granddaughter of Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Reines zt”l and upon Rabbi Reines' death, succeeded him as the Lida Rav. He escaped to Shanghai during World War II and learned there bechavrusa with Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l.
After the war, Rabbi Cyperstein came to New York and founded the Kollel Sridei Hacherev for outstanding refugee scholars at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He was a rosh yeshiva there for 25 years, with a two-year hiatus from 1957-59 when he served as chief rabbi of Argentina.
At the end of his life, he moved to Israel where he died. He taught many students and published many chiddushim collected in his sefer Imrei Avigdor.
HaRav Hagaon R. Yeruchim Gorelik zt”l
1922-1984
Rabbi Gorelik was born in Telechin near Pinsk and then settled in Rutka. He studied at yeshivot in Lomza and Radin and, afterwards, traveled to study with Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l, rabbi of Brisk. He remained in Brisk for five years.
During World War II, he moved with his family to Vilna. He escaped from there and ultimately reached America by way of Japan just before America entered the war. Upon coming to America, he served as ram at Yeshivat Tiferet Yerushalayim and involved himself in relief efforts.
In 1943, Rabbi Gorelik was appointed a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary where he taught Torah to thousands of students until his death. He served as rabbi in the Bronx, established Yeshivas Zichron Moshe and the Beis Yaakov-Beis Miriam in the Bronx, and Yeshiva Gedolah L’Mitzuyanim of South Fallsburg, New York.
He left behind many writings in their original form, as well as a family of Torah scholars and roshei yeshiva.
HaRav Hagaon R. Yaakov Moshe Hacohen Lessin zt”l
1889-1975
Rabbi Lessin was born in Kapoli, Minsk. He received his rabbinical training in Yeshivat Knesset Yisroel from 1905 until 1912, and was a prominent talmid of the Sabab, the famed Rabbi Finkel of Slobodka. He attended to the personal needs of the Sabah and absorbed his teachings. He received semikhah from Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt”l, the noted Slobodka rosh yeshiva, and Rabbi Boruch Dov Leibowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Kaminetz.
He served as a rabbi in Lithuania, specifically in the cities of Gertigoli and Neishtat-Sugind. In 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, he came to America and served for three years as a rabbi in Boston. He founded yeshivot in Chelsea and Dorchester.
In 1942, he was appointed mashgiach ruchani of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary by its president, Rabbi Samuel Belkin zt”l.
Rabbi Lessin had great impact upon the lives of many students who acquired an appreciation of the fear and service of Heaven from him. He authored three works of mussar: Derech Chaim; Orach Chaim; and Hamaor Shebatorah.
HaRav Hagaon R. Dovid Lifschitz zt”l
1907-1993
Born in Minsk, Rabbi Lifschitz was a foremost student of Rabbi Shimon Shkop zt”l in Grodna. After leaving Grodna, he continued his learning in Yeshivat Mir, where he became well known as an outstanding scholar. In 1933, he married Tzipporah Chava, the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Yoselowitz, rabbi of Suwalk. Two years after his marriage, Rabbi Yoselowitz passed away and Rabbi Lifschitz succeeded him as rabbi of that city, then one of the most important centers of Jewish life.
He remained there until the Nazis captured Suwalk in 1940. In 1941, he reached America along with his wife and daughter, and was appointed a rosh yeshiva of Beit Midrash LeTorah in Chicago. Rabbi Lifschitz developed a strong connection with his fellow rabbanim, his students and the rest of the Chicago community. His reputation as an outstanding rosh yeshiva spread throughout America and he received offers for several positions. He accepted the invitation of Rabbi Samuel Belkin zt”l and, in 1944, was appointed a rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac ElchananTheological Seminary.
There he taught Torah for almost 50 years to thousands of students, many of whom came to be known as “Reb Dovid’s students.” His efforts on behalf of the community were numerous. He served as a member of the presidium of the Agudath HaRabbonim of America and Canada for many years. During the final 17 years of his life, he served as president of Ezras Torah.
His discourses in chochma and mussar were compiled and published by his students and given the title Tehillah LeDovid. His shiurim on the Talmud were also published as Shiurei Rav Dovid Lifschitz.
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HaRav Hagaon R. Shraga Feivel Paretzky zt”l
1915-1993
Rabbi Paretzky was born in Brozhnik, Lithuania. At age ten, he studied at the yeshiva in Bialystok and continued his learning in Kobrin. He developed a close relationship with Rabbi Shlomo Mattis zt”l, who was a rebbe in the yeshiva there.
Although he was still young when he left to learn at the Yeshiva in Radin, Rabbi Paretzky was already known as an extraordinary scholar, as well as an innovator, and had developed a close relationship with the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Mendel Zaks zt”l, the son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim zt”l.
Before coming to America in 1939, Rabbi Paretzky spent a short time at Yeshivat Beit Yosef, Navardok, Bialystok. There, he was inspired by the unique personality of his cousin Rabbi Nisson Posochinsky zt”l, one of the heads of the yeshiva. He received semikhah from Rabbi Shimon Yehudah Hacohen Shkop zt”l, the rosh yeshiva in Grodna, as well as other distinguished rabbanim.
When he arrived in America, Rabbi Paretzky studied in the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and became close with Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik zt”l. At the end of 1939 he was appointed rabbi of the Young Israel of Tremont in the Bronx, where he served for nearly 30 years and where he struggled to influence the practices of the new generation who were distanced from Torah and authentic Judaism.
Rabbi Paretzky assisted and supported many yeshivot, as well as other organizations of Torah and chesed. In 1964, he returned to the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary as a rosh yeshiva and assistant boehen. After the passing of Rabbi Mendel Zaks zt”l, he was appointed boehen for the yeshiva.
He was greatly influential in the lives of his students. Many of his writings remain in their original form and, G-d willing, will be published in the future.
HaRav Hagaon R. David Rackman zt”l
1884-1974
Rabbi David Rackman was born in Halosk. He received his rabbinical training from his father and, afterwards, from Rabbi Boruch Dov Leibowitz zt”l, when his yeshiva was in Halosk. From there he traveled to Slobodka to learn with Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l. He received semikhah from Rabbi Meltzer as well as from the Ridbaz zt”l.
In 1905, he arrived in America and, in 1907, was appointed a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminar. He taught there for two years and then settled in Albany, New York, where he entered the business world.
Rabbi Rackman did not wish to use the rabbinate as the means of his support. He was very successful in his business but he remained no less diligent in his Torah study and wrote chiddushei Torah which he published in various Torah journals.
HaRav Hagaon R. Simon Romm zt”l
1906-1997
Born in Vysock, Rabbi Romm--orphaned of his father while yet an infant--nonetheless became known as an illui while still a young boy. From Vysock he traveled to Slonim to learn under Rabbis Shabsai Yogel and Fain zt 'l. There he met another illui, a young boy named Samuel Belkin who was also bereft of his father, and, for a time, they literally shared a bed and a pair of shoes.
After Slonim, Rabbi Romm studied under Rabbi Horowitz zt”l, founder of the Navardok Mussar movement, and then under Rabbi Aharon Kotler zt'l in Kletzk. Subsequently he attended the yeshiva in Mir where he received semikhah from Rabbi Kamai zt”l and where he established a close friendship with the famed mashgiach, Rabbi Yeruchem Lebowitz zt”l.
His reputation at Mir led to a shidduch with Kala Eisenbod, the daughter of the Rabbi of Vasilishik. Rabbi Romm traveled with the Mir Yeshiva during its remarkable journey to Shanghai, but left the yeshiva and went to Israel in 1942. He lived there until 1948, when he was invited to teach at Yeshiva University.
Rabbi Romm gave shiurim at the highest level there until his passing. During this time healso served as the rabbi of Congregation Noda B'Yehuda in Washington Heights, NY, and was a leading Torah adornment of Mizrachi
Renowned for his sweeping knowledge of Torah and no less recognized for his great ethical character, Rabbi Romm represented to his students the ideal of rebbe. To others he was known as an orator par excellence and gomel chesed. Acquaintance, talmid, and friend of many of the century's leading talmidei chachamim, he incorporated within him the wisdom and ideology of each of the gdolei Yisrael with whom he learned into a comprehensive whole.
HaRav Hagaon R. Zerubavel Schussheim zt”l
1927-1989
Rabbi Schussheim, son of Rabbi Moshe Schussheim zt”l, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Although he passed away at a young age, he was able to amass thousands of students over the 40 years he served as a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
Rav Schussheim was among the first American-born students to receive semikhah from RIETS, and ultimately become a rosh yeshiva at the Yeshiva. At 20 he was appointed as a ram in the Yeshiva University High School, and at age 42 was a rosh yeshiva in the Yeshiva itself. In his latter years he helped introduce and direct the RIETS Halakhah L”Maaseh programfor students about to receive semikhah.
He was a student of Rabbi Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik zt”l, whose shiurim he attended for 30 years. Even after he began giving shiurim himself he did not leave his great rebbe. Rabbi Schussheim was humble, at once both simple and profound, and all of his aspirations were directed at attaining the truth. He desired neither honor nor greatness. He loved all and glorified the name of G-d in all of his ways and actions
HaRav Hagaon R. Avraham Aharon Shatzkes zt”l
1915-1983
Rabbi Shatzkes was born in Evia, Vilna. His father was Rabbi Moshe Shatzkes zt”l. The younger Rabbi Shatkes studied at the yeshiva in Grodna with Rabbi Shimon Shkop zt”l, and then at the yeshiva in Mir. He received semikhah from Rabbi Tavil Meltzer zt”l, Rabbi Chanoch Henoch Agus zt”l of Vilna, author of the Marcheshet, and Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Mir. In 1941, he came to America and was accepted as rabbi of Kehillat Chochmat Adam-Anshei Lomza in New York. In 1944, Rabbi Shatzkes was appointed a rosh yes hiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he taught for 40 years. His writings were published in various Torah journals. He left a seferen titled Tifferet Aharon, which is still in manuscript form.
HaRav Hagaon R. Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l
1903-1993
Rabbi Soloveitchik was born in Pruzhan, Poland, the son of Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik zt”l, and grandson of Rabbi Chaim HaLevi zt”l. At the time, Rabbi Moshe was living with his father-in-law, Rabbi Eliyahu Feinstein zt”l, rabbi of Pruzhan and author of Teshuvot Halichot Eliyahu.
Rabbi Yosef Dov studied with his father, whom he considered to be his foremost teacher, until the age of 23. In the final year of Rabbi Chaim’s life, he moved to Warsaw where his son, Rabbi Moshe, was living at the time. During that year, Rabbi Yosef Dov studied together with his vaunted grandfather. Several years later he began university studies in Berlin while continuing his immersion in Torah.
In Berlin, he met Rabbi Chaim Heller zt”l, with whom he developed a close and lasting relationship. He also encountered Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt”l, who was later appointed the rebbe of Chabad. During this period, Rabbi Yosef Dov made frequent visits to the city of Vilna where he became a favorite of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski and other leading Lithuanian gaonim.
In 1932, he moved to America and settled in Boston. He founded Yeshivat Rambam—the Maimonides School—and delivered weekly shiurim there for many years. In 1941, he succeeded his father, upon the latter's passing, as rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, commuting from Boston to New York each week.
His shiurim in halakhah and aggadah, which reached to the ends of the Jewish world, made a profound impact on Torah learning in our times. They continued for decades until he was compelled to stop due to an illness that overtook him several years before his demise.
In addition to the shiurim that he delivered at the yeshiva and in Boston, he delivered a shiur every Tuesday evening at the Moriah Synagogue in Manhattan to overflow audiences.
Rabbi Yosef Dov served as the Honorary President of the Agudath HaRabbonim of America, and became the rebbe and chief mentor of the Rabbinic Council of America (RCA), as well as the chief intellectual and spiritual force of Mizrachi, at whose gatherings he delivered lectures several times every year. After the passing of his wife z”l in 1967, he began giving additional shiurim during the summer months in Boston to his students and to the RCA.
Rabbi Yosef Dov was the most influential figure associated with the spread of Torah in America, and he was singularly known as “the Rav.”
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HaRav Hagaon R. Ephraim Mordechai Steinberg zt”l
1898-1971
Rabbi Steinberg was born in Ostrolenka, Poland. He studied at yeshivot in Lomza and Slobodka, and was among the outstanding students of Rabbi Dovid Tavil Meltcher zt”l and Rabbi Raphael Volozhiner zt”l. He received semikhah from Rabbi Shimon Shkop zt”l and again, in this country from Rabbi Yosef Rosen zt”l of Passaic, New Jersey.
He arrived in the United States in 1921 and was immediately appointed a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. There he taught Torah to hundreds of students until 1970.
He authored two seforim: Deget Machane Ephraim volume one and Deget Machane Ephraim volume two in 1970 (on the first yahrzeit of his wife z'l). The second volume was lost in the mail before it was published. The author rewrote the entire sefer from memory and it was posthumously published.
HaRav Hagaon R. Menachem Mendel Yosef Zaks zt”l
1898-1974
Rabbi Zaks was born in Shidlova near Keirn. He studied in Yeshivat Knesset Beit Yitzchok in Slobodka and then in Radin under the Chofetz Chaim zt”l. During World War I , he studied under the brother-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Ozer zt”l, Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler zt”l in Hemmil.
After the war, he returned to Radin to study with the Chofetz Chaim, where he gained most of his Torah knowledge. In 1922, the Chofetz Chaim chose him as his son-in-law. Rabbi Zaks had an extraordinary memory, a pure mind, and was an expert in the Talmud and its commentaries. In 1926, he was appointed rosh yeshiva in Radin and the president of the Kollel Kodshim of the yeshiva in Radin where he taught thousands of students until 1940.
During the Holocaust, he escaped with the yeshiva to Vilna. Miraculously, he was saved and he came to America in 1941 where he put all his efforts into rescue work. In 1943, he founded Yeshivat Chofetz Chaim of Radin in New York, and renewed the Kollel Kodshim there. In 1946, he was appointed a rosh yeshiva and bochen at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He passed away in Jerusalem in 1974.