“.lhrun ,t ,utur lhbhg uhvu…” (f:k) ’ hgah “… And your eyes shall see your Teachers.” ISAIAH 30: 20 vfrck oburufz ,vchahv hatr ,usku,k The Gemara (Eruvin 13b) relates: “Rebbe said that I am better than my contemporaries because I saw Rabbi Meir from the back. Had I seen him from the front, I’ d be better yet.” The simple understanding of this passage relates to the position of a student’s seat in the classroom vis-a-vis his teacher, and this is indeed the interpretation assumed by Rashi, Rambam and others. However, the reader may understand the Gemara metaphorically as referring to the advantage of being exposed to a teacher during their elderly years of physical decline, and of meditating on their legacy after they are gone from this world. Surely, we hope to gain from our mentors in their moments of vigor and glory; and yet often we must rely on hindsight to truly and fully appreciate their wisdom, insight and clarity of thought. In this way, their Torah lives on and is strengthened for perpetuity. Our Yeshiva, Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, has been graced by a formidable and truly incomparable cadre of Torah scholars and visionaries. Future generations must recognize the faces and the stories of our beloved rebbeim of old, and grasp the storied mesorah that serves as their inheritance. This wonderful book, a fitting tribute to our esteemed roshei yeshiva of blessed memory, situates the present glory of our venerated Yeshiva in its proper context: We stand today on the lofty shoulders of those who came before us, and we humbly aspire to build on their legacy of learning and service as we partner with the Almighty in charting our course toward tomorrow. Richard M. Joel President, Yeshiva University TABLE OF CONTENTS HaRav Hagaon R. Dov Ber Abramowitz zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 HaRav Hagaon R. Avraham Eliezer Alperstein zt’ l . . . . . . . 1 HaRav Hagaon R. Nisson Lippa Alpert zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 HaRav Hagaon R. Yoseph Leib Arnest zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 HaRav Hagaon R. Binyomin Aronowitz zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . 16 HaRav Hagaon R. Shmuel Belkin zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 HaRav Hagaon R. Yehuda Dovid Bernstein zt’ l. . . . . . . . . . 5 HaRav Hagaon R. Noah Borenstein zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 HaRav Hagaon R. Dovid Burack zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 HaRav Hagaon R. Avigdor Cyperstein zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 HaRav Hagaon R. Shlomo Elimelech Drillman zt’ l . . . . . 43 HaRav Hagaon R. Chanoch Henoch Fishman zt’ l . . . . . . 24 HaRav Hagaon R. Shmuel Gerstenfeld zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 HaRav Hagaon R. Yeruchim Gorelik zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 HaRav Hagaon R. Chaim Heller zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 HaRav Hagaon R. Yechiel Michel Hacohen Katz zt’ l . . . . 45 HaRav Hagaon R. Shlomo Nosson Kotler zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . 2 HaRav Hagaon R. Yaakov Moshe Hacohen Lessin zt’ l . . . 29 HaRav Hagaon R. Yosef Dov Halevi Levine zt’ l . . . . . . . . . 6 HaRav Hagaon R. Zvulun Lieberman zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 HaRav Hagaon R. Dovid Lifshitz zt’ l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 HaRav Hagaon R. Moshe Zevulun Margolies zt’ l . . . . . . . 10 HaRav Hagaon R. Shmuel Aryeh Olishevsky zt’ l . . . . . . . 14 HaRav Hagaon R. Shraga Feivel Paretzky zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . 41 HaRav Hagaon R. Shlomo Polacheck zt’ l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 HaRav Hagaon R. Moshe Aaron Poleyeff zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . 25 HaRav Hagaon R. Elazar Meir Preil zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 HaRav Hagaon R. David Rackman zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 HaRav Hagaon R. Dov Revel zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 HaRav Hagaon R. Simon Romm zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 HaRav Hagaon R. Yisroel Rosenberg zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 HaRav Hagaon R. Melech Schachter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 HaRav Hagaon R. Zerubavel Schussheim zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . 37 HaRav Hagaon R. Avraham Aharon Shatzkes zt’ l . . . . . . . 34 HaRav Hagaon R. Moshe Shatzkes zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 HaRav Hagaon R. Shimon Yehudah Hacohen Shkop zt’l . 11 HaRav Hagaon R. Chaim Shufenthal zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 HaRav Hagaon R. Ahron Halevi Soloveichik zt’ l . . . . . . . 44 HaRav Hagaon R. Moshe Halevi Soloveitchik zt’ l . . . . . . . 13 HaRav Hagaon R. Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik zt’ l . . . . 38 HaRav Hagaon R. Ephraim Mordechai Steinberg zt’ l . . . . 26 HaRav Hagaon R. Yehuda Weil zt’ l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 HaRav Hagaon R. Shalom Elchanan Halevi Yaffe zt’ l. . . . . 3 HaRav Hagaon R. Avraham Aharon Yudelowitz zt’ l . . . . . . 8 HaRav Hagaon R. Menachem Mendel Yosef Zaks zt’ l. . . . 28 HaRav Hagaon R. Avraham Yitzchik Zalmanowitz zt’ l . . 17 vfrck oburufz ,vchahv hatr ,usku,k HaRav Hagaon R. Shlomo Elimelech Drillman zt’l vnka ’r d”vrv k”mz inkhrs lknhkt (1921–2000) Born in Germany, Rabbi Drillman began studying with Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman Hy’d in Baronovich at the age of 12 and then learned with Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibovitz in Kaminetz before fleeing to Siberia with his family during WWII. Rabbi Drillman came to America in 1946, where entered RIETS and became a talmid of Rabbi Yoseph Dov Soloveitchik. Rabbi Drillman was a rebbe at Yeshiva University’s High School for Boys in Brooklyn and became a rosh yeshiva at RIETS in 1982 when the high school closed. In addition to his shiur, Rabbi Drillman coordinated the Halakha L’Maaseh program at the yeshiva, thereby interacting with every semikha student in the yeshiva. Rabbi Drillman also gave a popular weekly shiur on Parshat HaShavua, and many of these shiurim were compiled by talmidim into a volume entitled The Wisdom of Solomon. Rabbi Drillman was a powerful orator, and he would excite audiences in Yeshiva with stories about life in Europe, his experiences during the Holocaust and his relationship with Rabbi Wasserman. In addition to the many hours Rabbi Drillman spent delivering shiurim and interacting with his talmidim at the Yeshiva, he also served as rabbi of the Glenwood Jewish Center for almost 40 years, helping turn Flatbush into the community it is today. 43 vfrck oburufz ,vchahv hatr ,usku,k HaRav Hagaon R. Ahron Halevi Soloveichik zt’l irvt ’r d”vrv k”mz ehayhhuutktx hukv (1917–2001) Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik was the son of Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik zt’l, grandson of Rabbi Chaim HaLevi zt’l and brother of Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt’l. Rabbi Soloveichik was born in 1917 in Khislavichi, Russia, where Rav Moshe served as rabbi, moved to Poland with his family in 1920 and immigrated to the United States in 1930. Rabbi Soloveichik was a graduate of Yeshiva College, a musmakh of RIETS, and held a law degree as well. Rabbi Soloveichik was a talmid of both his father, Rabbi Moshe, and later his brother, Rabbi Yosef Dov. Before joining the RIETS faculty, Rabbi Soloveichik taught at Mesivtah Tifereth Jerusalem and Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. Upon moving to Chicago, he taught at the Hebrew Theological College and then founded the Brisk Yeshiva, where he served as dean until his death. Rabbi Soloveichik continued to teach at RIETS as well, traveling weekly from Chicago to New York after his brother, R’ Yosef Dov, became ill. He also served as a pulpit rabbi in New York and Chicago. For many years, Rabbi Soloveichik delivered a popular Parshat HaShavua Hashkafa shiur at RIETS. Well known for his strong, unwavering opinions on many issues, Rabbi Soloveichik often spoke about issues confronting the community, including his strong views on the Vietnam War. His clear, unyielding views in halakha, as well, led to the establishment of North America’s first yashan-only bakery, in Chicago. Rabbi Soloveichik’s tenacity was also evident in his continuing to commute weekly from his home and yeshiva in Chicago to RIETS in New York, even after a debilitating stroke made it difficult for him to walk. Rabbi Soloveichik had many talmidim in Yeshiva and throughout the world, and he wrote sefarim both in Hebrew and English. 44 vfrck oburufz ,vchahv hatr ,usku,k HaRav Hagaon R. Yechiel Michel HaCohen Katz zt’l kthjh ’r d”vrv k”mz .”f ivfv kfhn (19??–2005) Rabbi Katz was born in Grodno, Poland to a renowned family of geonim. His father and first teacher, Rabbi Reuven Katz, authored Degel Reuven. Rabbi Katz and his family emigrated from Poland to the United States when he was 12 and then moved to Israel two years later, when his father was appointed chief rabbi of Petach Tikva. As a young boy, Rabbi Katz studied with Rabbi Shimon Shkop zt’l and later in the Chevron Yeshiva with Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, among others. He received his semikha from Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Herzog, Rabbi Meltzer and the chief rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rabbi Avigdor Amiel. In 1940, Rabbi Katz accepted a scholarship offer from then-University President Rabbi Bernard Revel to attend Yeshiva College. There, Rabbi Katz became a talmid of Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik. Upon graduation in 1945, Rabbi Katz was appointed rosh yeshiva at RIETS and an instructor of Bible at Yeshiva College. He continued to teach at RIETS for almost 60 years, including more than 30 years as rebbe of the Hullin shiur. His doctoral thesis, written in 1963 and published in 1968, dealt with the commentary of Rabbeinu Meyuchas ben Eliyahu to Sefer Devarim. Rabbi Katz also served as rabbi of Congregation Petach Tikvah in the Bronx for 20 years. He subsequently published Ribbeinu Meyuchas ben Eliyahu to Sefer Vayikra. Rabbi Katz’s humility, derech eretz, courtesy and respect were legendary, as was his love for Torah, his talmidim, and his family. Rabbi Katz maintained a close relationship with many talmidim after they left his shiur, and he looked forward to keeping up with them, their wives and their children. 45 vfrck oburufz ,vchahv hatr ,usku,k HaRav Hagaon R. Melech Schachter zt’l k”mz ryfa lknhkt ’r d”vrv (1913–2007) Born in the town of Shatz, Romania in 1913, Rabbi Schachter learned in the Viznitz Yeshiva. He came to America at the age of 15. He then learned in RIETS under Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, where he earned semikha, while simultaneously earning his bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva College. He later received a PhD from Dropsie College in Philadelphia. His doctoral dissertation on the variant readings between the Bavli and the Yerushalmi was later published by Mossad Harav Kook. Rabbi Schachter served in the rabbinate first in Pennsylvania and several other communities, before finally serving as rabbi of a prominent shul in the Bronx. Reflecting his expertise in halacha, Rabbi Schachter served as coordinator of the RCA Beth Din for gittin and chalitzot. Rabbi Schachter joined YU’s faculty in 1951, and over the years taught in the semikah program, as well as Stern College for Women and the Wurzweiler Graduate School of Social Work. His son, Rabbi Hershel Schachter, has been a prominent member of the RIETS faculty since 1967. Rabbi Melech Schachter continued to teach at RIETS through 2005 and passed away in Adar 2007. 46 vfrck oburufz ,vchahv hatr ,usku,k HaRav Hagaon R. Zvulun Lieberman zt’l k”mz inrchk iukucz ’r d”vrv (1930–2012) The illustrious career of RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dr. Zvulun (Sidney Z.) Lieberman z’l (’51YC, ’54R, ’59F) came to an end on 2 Teves 5773. Rabbi Lieberman served as head of both the Syrian Community Bet Din and the Vaad Harabonim of Flatbush and was the revered senior rabbi (and later rabbi emeritus) of Congregation Beth Torah in Brooklyn for more than 52 years. An erudite historian, he arrived at Yeshivah of Flatbush in 1954 and served as high school administrator, assistant principal, acting principal and principal of general studies until he ended his tenure in 1966. He was an integral contributor to the development of the Joel Braverman High School from its founding days. He continued in the field of Jewish education as headmaster of the Ramaz School and principal of Hillel Day School. Most recently he held the Maxwell R. Maybaum Memorial Chair in Talmud and Sephardic Codes (Halacha) at RIETS for close to three decades, where he taught the Sephardic rabbinic students. He was revered by his congregants, students and colleagues alike for his chessed , his profound knowledge and his sincerity of purpose in all his endeavors. 47 For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to receive copies of this book, please contact: RABBI ISAAC ELCHANAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 500 WEST 185TH STREET, FH530 NEW YORK, NY 10033 212.960.0852
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