Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky (1891-1986), 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 Kaminetsky 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. [1]
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 one of the leading Orthodox rabbis in America.
Dozens of his descendants serve in key leadership positions across North
America and in Israel.
This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 02 March, 2008.
