Gershon Yankelewitz

Gershon Yankelewitz (November 23, 1909 – August 19, 2014) was a senior rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.[1] He served as an educator at that institution since the 1950s. He also gave a daily Torah lecture between Mincha and Maariv at the Young Israel of Pelham Parkway in Bronx Park East, New York.

Life

Yankelewitz was born in Lubcha,[2] present day Belarus. Prior to World War II Yankelewitz studied at the Mir Yeshiva (Belarus) and was considered a Talmid Muvhak (special student) of Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, the Mashgiach of Mir. Yankelewitz also studied in Raduń Yeshiva, where he developed a close relationship with Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (known as the Chofetz Chaim). He was one of the last remaining original Mirrer students, or "Alter Mirrers".[3][4][5][6] Eventually he immigrated to the United States. There he was appointed by Rabbi Norman Lamm's predecessor, President Samuel Belkin, as a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. This was an unusual exception to the established norm, which stipulated that only college graduates were to be Roshei Yeshiva in YU.[7]

A son of Yanklewitz married a daughter of Rabbi Gershon Wiesenfeld. In April 2010 Yankelewitz's wife, Bluma, died.[8] A notice about her death and condolence wishes from the administration of YU was published in the New York Times.[9]

Rabbi Yankelewitz was known for his strict personal discipline and commitment to Torah. Despite the murder of his parents and siblings during the Holocaust, as well as many personal tragedies, he remained steadfast to the traditions of the yeshivas of his youth. His personal self-control was such that he was able to engage in many hours of intense Talmudic study without distraction, and he measured all his words very carefully. At the same time, he was an extremely warm and beloved teacher and Rabbi. His care and concern for others, and his and his wife's inclusion and hosting of many marginalized individuals, were legendary.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-01-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "New York - Rabbi Gershon Yankelewitz: From Radin To The Mir To Yeshiva University". vosizneias.com. 2014-08-26.
  3. "Beard « YWN Coffee Room". Theyeshivaworld.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  4. "Rav Shamshon Brodsky to Spend Several Weeks in Toronto » Matzav.com - The Online Voice of Torah Jewry". Matzav.com. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  5. "Lawrence, NY - One The Last Talmidim Of Mirrer Yeshiva: Rav Yakov Nayman, Z"L Passes Away At 100". Vosizneias.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  6. "Rav Chaim Pruzansky z"l » Matzav.com - The Online Voice of Torah Jewry". Matzav.com. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  7. Archived July 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Rebbetzin Bluma Yankelowitz a"h » Matzav.com - The Online Voice of Torah Jewry". Matzav.com. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  9. "Paid Notice - Deaths YANKELEWITZ, REBBETZIN BLUMA". New York Times. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
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