Avraham Yaakov Pam
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Hakohen
Pam (1913 - August 16, 2001) was the rosh yeshiva
of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
in Brooklyn
, New York
.
Pam began his career at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in 1938, when was appointed maggid shiur
(Talmudic lecturer) there, at a time when secularism was on the rise in the United States
, even amongst Orthodox Jews. In 1943 he married Sarah Balmuth.
During Rav Pam's sixty-plus years at Torah Vodaas he held many positions. He even taught mathematics in the Yeshiva, utilizing his degree from City College. For many years in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s he delivered the semicha
class to students studying toward rabbinic ordination.
Rav Pam's dress was unassuming; he preferred modern short jackets and Fedora hats to the more traditional long frock coat
and Homburg hat generally worn by heads of Yeshivas. While Pam was respected as a great talmudic scholar within Yeshiva
circles, he was widely admired for his humility and soft-spoken style.
Rav Pam was a vocal supporter of yeshiva
education for non-religious Russia
n immigrants to Israel
through the work of his organization called Shuvu. At the keynote session of the annual 1990 Agudath Israel
convention Rav Pam spoke impassionedly about the flood of new Jewish emigrants from the Soviet Union
, and his concern that their children were growing up oblivious to their religious heritage. He argued that a network of schools should be set up in Israel for those emigrants, and organized a meeting of wealthy and influential participants at the convention to facilitate that vision, appointing Avraham Biderman as the chair of Shuvu, the organization founded at that meeting.
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
Pam (1913 - August 16, 2001) was the rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas is a yeshiva located in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.- History :...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Biography
RavRav
Rav is the Hebrew word for rabbi. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi....
Pam began his career at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in 1938, when was appointed maggid shiur
Maggid shiur
The term Maggid Shiur literarly translates from Hebrew to mean "sayer of Shiur".This term is used to refer to the Rabbi that lectures in a Yeshiva or Kollel.A Maggid Shiur is generally a Rabbi who lectures on advanced and in-depth Talmudic studies....
(Talmudic lecturer) there, at a time when secularism was on the rise in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, even amongst Orthodox Jews. In 1943 he married Sarah Balmuth.
During Rav Pam's sixty-plus years at Torah Vodaas he held many positions. He even taught mathematics in the Yeshiva, utilizing his degree from City College. For many years in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s he delivered the semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
class to students studying toward rabbinic ordination.
Rav Pam's dress was unassuming; he preferred modern short jackets and Fedora hats to the more traditional long frock coat
Frock coat
A frock coat is a man's coat characterised by knee-length skirts all around the base, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The double-breasted style is sometimes called a Prince Albert . The frock coat is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at the back, and some features...
and Homburg hat generally worn by heads of Yeshivas. While Pam was respected as a great talmudic scholar within Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
circles, he was widely admired for his humility and soft-spoken style.
Rav Pam was a vocal supporter of yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
education for non-religious Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n immigrants to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
through the work of his organization called Shuvu. At the keynote session of the annual 1990 Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel can refer to any of several related organizations, including:*World Agudath Israel, an international movement*Agudath Israel of America, an American organization*Agudat Yisrael, an Israeli political party...
convention Rav Pam spoke impassionedly about the flood of new Jewish emigrants from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and his concern that their children were growing up oblivious to their religious heritage. He argued that a network of schools should be set up in Israel for those emigrants, and organized a meeting of wealthy and influential participants at the convention to facilitate that vision, appointing Avraham Biderman as the chair of Shuvu, the organization founded at that meeting.
Further reading
- Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon (2003). Rav Pam: The life and ideals of Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Hakohen Pam. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Mesorah Publications. ISBN 1-57819-384-2
External links
- Biography Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Pam
- A True Jewish Leader - obituary by Rabbi Avi ShafranAvi ShafranAbraham Shafran is a Haredi rabbi who serves as the Director of Public Affairs for Agudath Israel of America and who is Editor-at-Large of Ami . Agudath Israel was established to meet the needs and viewpoint of many Haredi Jews, while Ami, launched on November 24, 2010, promises to serve a broader...
.