Dovid Leibowitz
Encyclopedia
Dovid Leibowitz was a leading rabbi
and disciple
of prewar Europe
's Slabodka Yeshiva
in Lithuania
who went on to found the Rabbinical Seminary of America (which is also known as "Yeshiva Rabeinu Yisroel Meir Hakohen" or Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen) as its first Rosh yeshiva
(dean) in the Williamsburg
area of Brooklyn
, New York
. The Rabbinical Seminary of America was named after his great-uncle rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
who was also well known as the "Chofetz Chaim". His son, rabbi Henoch Leibowitz
, led the yeshiva
until his death in 2008.
In his youth he was known as "Reb Dovid Warshawer". As a teenager, he studied in the Radin Yeshiva
, where he held private study sessions with his great-uncle - the founder of the Radin Yeshiva, the Chofetz Chaim for 12 hours a day, and helped write the last volume of the Mishnah Berurah
; he also learned there under Rabbi Naftoli Trop
.
In 1908, Rabbi Leibowitz transferred to the Slabodka yeshiva, where he learned under the Alter of Slabodka, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In 1915, Rabbi Leibowitz succeeded his father-in-law as rabbi of Šalčininkai
. After six years, however, he returned to Slobodka as a founding member of the Slabodka Kollel.
In 1926, Rabbi Leibowitz came to the United States as a fund-raiser for the kollel and was invited to become the first rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Torah Vodaath. Among his students were Rabbi Gedalia Schorr
and Rabbi Avrohom Pam
. In 1933, Rabbi Leibowitz founded Yeshivas Rabbenu Yisrael Meir Hacohen, named after his great uncle. (The Yeshiva is better known today as the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva or the Rabbinical Seminary of America now located in Kew Gardens Hills
, New York.) There he transplanted to the United States his unique style of Talmud study as well as the Slabodka school of Musar.
On Friday December 5, 1941 Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz died of a massive heart attack. Because his death was on a Friday, the funeral was held on Sunday December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day) as to provide proper respect for the deceased. The yeshiva was headed for the following sixty-seven years by his only son, Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz
who died on April 15, 2008 due to natural causes.
The yeshiva is now headed by two of Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz's disciples, Rabbi Dovid Harris
and Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt
.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and disciple
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
of prewar Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's Slabodka Yeshiva
Slabodka yeshiva
Hebron Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Hevron, or Knesses Yisroel, and originally as Slabodka Yeshiva, is known colloquially as the "mother of yeshivas" and was devoted to high=level study of the Talmud. The yeshiva was located in the Lithuanian town of Slabodka, adjacent to Kovno , now...
in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
who went on to found the Rabbinical Seminary of America (which is also known as "Yeshiva Rabeinu Yisroel Meir Hakohen" or Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen) as its first 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...
(dean) in the Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
area of 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...
. The Rabbinical Seminary of America was named after his great-uncle rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Poupko , known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakhist, posek, and ethicist whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life...
who was also well known as the "Chofetz Chaim". His son, rabbi Henoch Leibowitz
Henoch Leibowitz
Alter Chanoch Henoch Leibowitz was an Orthodox rabbi who was rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen, which was founded by his father Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz in 1933.- Life :...
, led the 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...
until his death in 2008.
In his youth he was known as "Reb Dovid Warshawer". As a teenager, he studied in the Radin Yeshiva
Radun Yeshiva
Raduń Yeshiva, originally located in Raduń, Poland , was established by the Chofetz Chaim in 1869.-Origins:In 1869 when the Chofetz Chaim returned from Vashilyshok to Raduń his first action was to establish a group to whom he could spread the knowledge of Torah...
, where he held private study sessions with his great-uncle - the founder of the Radin Yeshiva, the Chofetz Chaim for 12 hours a day, and helped write the last volume of the Mishnah Berurah
Mishnah Berurah
The Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan , also colloquially known by the name of another of his books, Chofetz Chaim "Desirer of Life."...
; he also learned there under Rabbi Naftoli Trop
Naftoli Trop
Rabbi Naftoli Trop was the Rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Raduń, Poland. He was a renowned Talmudist and Talmid Chacham.-Early years:...
.
In 1908, Rabbi Leibowitz transferred to the Slabodka yeshiva, where he learned under the Alter of Slabodka, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In 1915, Rabbi Leibowitz succeeded his father-in-law as rabbi of Šalčininkai
Šalcininkai
Šalčininkai is a city in Vilnius County, Lithuania, situated south-east of Vilnius, near the border with Belarus.Šalčininkai received its city rights in 1956 and is now a capital of the Šalčininkai district municipality. Šalčininkai features a multi-ethnic population of Poles , Lithuanians ,...
. After six years, however, he returned to Slobodka as a founding member of the Slabodka Kollel.
In 1926, Rabbi Leibowitz came to the United States as a fund-raiser for the kollel and was invited to become the first rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Torah Vodaath. Among his students were Rabbi Gedalia Schorr
Gedalia Schorr
Rabbi Gedalyahu Schorr , also known as Gedalia Schorr, was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva. He was regarded as the "first American Gadol" , an expression coined by Rabbi Aharon Kotler...
and Rabbi Avrohom Pam
Avraham Yaakov Pam
Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Hakohen Pam was the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, New York.-Biography:...
. In 1933, Rabbi Leibowitz founded Yeshivas Rabbenu Yisrael Meir Hacohen, named after his great uncle. (The Yeshiva is better known today as the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva or the Rabbinical Seminary of America now located in Kew Gardens Hills
Kew Gardens Hills, Queens
Kew Gardens Hills, also sometimes incorrectly referred to as Kew Garden Hills, is a one-square mile sub-neighborhood of Flushing in the New York City borough of Queens. The western border is Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, on the north is Jewel Avenue, on the south is Union Turnpike and to the east...
, New York.) There he transplanted to the United States his unique style of Talmud study as well as the Slabodka school of Musar.
On Friday December 5, 1941 Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz died of a massive heart attack. Because his death was on a Friday, the funeral was held on Sunday December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day) as to provide proper respect for the deceased. The yeshiva was headed for the following sixty-seven years by his only son, Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz
Henoch Leibowitz
Alter Chanoch Henoch Leibowitz was an Orthodox rabbi who was rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen, which was founded by his father Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz in 1933.- Life :...
who died on April 15, 2008 due to natural causes.
The yeshiva is now headed by two of Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz's disciples, Rabbi Dovid Harris
David Harris (rabbi)
Dovid Harris is an Orthodox rabbi who as co-rosh yeshiva heads the Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen. He is a prominent figure in the yeshiva world and speaks annually at the Torah Umesorah - National Society for Hebrew Day Schools convention...
and Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt
Akiva Grunblatt
Akiva Grunblatt is an Orthodox rabbi who as co-rosh yeshiva heads the Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen. in Flushing, New York. Before being appointed to his current position in 2000, he was a rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Miami, Florida.-References:...
.