Yaakov Kamenetsky

Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky
Personal
Born	February 28, 1891 Kalushkove,Lithuania
Died	March 10, 1986 Baltimore, Maryland
Religion	Judaism

Yaakov Kamenetsky(February 28, 1891 – March 10, 1986), was a prominentrabbi,rosh yeshiva,posekandTalmudistin the post-World War IIAmerican Jewish community.

Biography

Yaakov Kamenetsky was born at afolwarkcalledKalyskovkaowned by his grandfather Samuel-Hirsh Kamenetsky,Russia,in 1891.Shortly afterwards his family moved to the village ofDolhinovwhere he grew up. He studied inMinskand then for 21 years inSlabodka yeshivaunder RabbiNosson Tzvi Finkel.It was there that he met his lifelong friend RabbiAharon Kotler,who later founded theLakewood yeshiva.His younger cousin, RabbiYaakov Yitzchak Ruderman,also grew up in Dolhinov.

Kamenetsky was appointed rabbi ofTzitavyanin 1926 and moved to North America in 1937, where he initially took rabbinical positions inSeattleand then (from 1938 to 1945)Toronto.From 1948 to 1968 he headedMesivta Torah VodaathinBrooklyn,New York.After leaving the yeshiva he moved toMonsey, New York,where he focused on publishing his books. Along with RabbiMoshe Feinstein,Reb Yaakov(as he was affectionately called)led American Jewry in issues of halachic and spiritual guidance until 1986, when both men died.

He was renowned as "Chakima D'Yehudai",the wise man of the Jews. Aside from his extensiveTorahscholarship, he was known for his ever-present warm smile and his expertise in Hebrew grammar. He was an advocate for English-languagesefarim,even commenting that quality English-language sefarim will be used by Jews in the Messianic era as, like Yiddish in its time, "today English has become a language of Torah."

Family

Kamenetsky's first wife was Itta Ettil (Heller) Kamenetsky,who died on July 9, 1954. In 1958, Kamenetsky married Chana Urman of Toronto.The officiator at Kamenetsky's marriage to Chana was his close friend and colleague, RabbiZelik Epstein.Chana died shortly after her husband in 1986.

Kamenetsky's son, RabbiShmuel Kamenetsky,heads theTalmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphiaand chairs theMoetzes Gedolei HaTorah.His other sons are: Rabbis Binyamin (1923–2017), founder of the Yeshiva ofSouth Shorein Long Island, NY, Nathan (1930-2019), viceRosh yeshivaatYeshivas Itri,and author ofMaking of a Godolon his father, and Avraham (1930–2013). His oldest daughter, Malka (1921–2013), was married to Rabbi Yisrael Shurin (d. 2007).A second daughter, Rivka, was married to Rabbi Hirsch Diskind (1922–2013), the long-time Dean ofBais YaakovofBaltimore.

Dozens of his descendants serve in key leadership positions across North America in other countries. They include: Rabbis Mordechai Kamenetzky, Dean of the Yeshiva of South Shore, Shalom Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshivas Philadelphia, Avraham Kamenetsky, R "M in Yeshivas Beis Yisrael in Jerusalem, Yosef Kamenetsky, Rosh Kollel in Moscow, Zvi Kamenetzky, Dean of the Dwek Ohr HaEmet Sephardic Academy of Toronto, and Yitzchak Shurin, Dean of Midreshet Rachel-Shapell's. His grandsonDov Shurinis a singer-songwriter and musician.

Works

• Emes leYaakov al HaShas( "Truth to Jacob" ) – a five-volume work with in depth commentary on the Talmud.
• Emes leYaakov al Shulchan Aruch– a volume with commentary and rulings on Shulchan Aruch, The Jewish Code of Law
• Emes leYaakov(Formerly known as Iyunim BaMikra) – a two volume commentary on Torah and Prophets, which includes grammatical observations on the Hebrew of the Bible (dikduk).

See also

• Reb Yaakov: The Life and Times of HaGaon Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky

References

Rosenblum, Yonason(1993).Reb Yaakov.Brooklyn, NY:Mesorah Publications.ISBN0-89906-413-2.

Kamenetsky, Noson (Nathan) (2005).Making of a Godol—Improved Edition.ISBN965-90379-2-9.

Dor-Shav (Dershowitz), Zecharia (2022). "Personal Experiences with Great Rabbis of My Generation".Dershowitz Family Saga.ISBN9781510770232.

External links

• Biography Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky
• Intellectual profile of R' Yaakov