Kopul Rosen
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Dr. Yaacov Kopul Rosen was born in London in 1913. He trained for the rabbinate in Etz Chaim Yeshiva
in London, and in Mir Yeshiva
in Lithuania. He was the rabbi of the Higher Crumpsall Synagogue in Manchester
from 1938 until 1942. He became the Communal Rabbi of Glasgow
in 1942 and in 1944 he was appointed the Principal Rabbi of the Federation of Synagogues in London.
In 1948, Kopul Rosen decided to leave the rabbinate to devote himself to the promotion of Jewish education. He and his wife, Bella, founded Carmel College.
Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Rosen, Kopul Rosen's firstborn, writes of his father:
Kopul Rosen was in the process of setting up a Carmel College in Israel, when he was diagnosed with leukemia
. He died of the illness in early 1962, at the age of 48, leaving behind his wife, three sons, and a baby daughter (Angela Fay (Ayelet) Gillis (née Rosen), born January 1959).
In 1979, Rabbi Rosen's second son, Rabbi Dr. Michael (Mickey) Rosen, founded the Jewish educational organization, Yakar, in memory of his father. (YaKaR is an acronym for Yaacov Kopul Rosen.) The stated goal of Yakar is to continue Kopul Rosen's ideals "of a Judaism based on knowledge of Torah, learning and vibrant spirituality that would at the same time be universal, non-denominational, tolerant and open to ideas and intellectual curiosity."
The first Yakar center was founded in Stanmore and moved to Hendon in North-West London. Michael Rosen and his wife, Gilla, later established the main center in Jerusalem, with another branch recently created in Tel Aviv
. Rabbi Michael Rosen died on December 8, 2008 in Jerusalem.
Kopul Rosen's youngest son, Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Rabbi of the largest Jewish congregation in South Africa, lives in Jerusalem and is currently President of the International Jewish Committee that represents World Jewry to other world religions and is International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee.
Etz Chaim Yeshiva (London)
Etz Chaim Yeshiva is an Ashkenazi Orthodox yeshiva in Golders Green, London, England. It is associated with the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.- History :...
in London, and in Mir Yeshiva
Mir yeshiva
Mir Yeshiva or Mirrer Yeshiva may refer to:* Mir yeshiva * Mir yeshiva * Mir yeshiva...
in Lithuania. He was the rabbi of the Higher Crumpsall Synagogue in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
from 1938 until 1942. He became the Communal Rabbi of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1942 and in 1944 he was appointed the Principal Rabbi of the Federation of Synagogues in London.
In 1948, Kopul Rosen decided to leave the rabbinate to devote himself to the promotion of Jewish education. He and his wife, Bella, founded Carmel College.
Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Rosen, Kopul Rosen's firstborn, writes of his father:
Kopul Rosen was in the process of setting up a Carmel College in Israel, when he was diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. He died of the illness in early 1962, at the age of 48, leaving behind his wife, three sons, and a baby daughter (Angela Fay (Ayelet) Gillis (née Rosen), born January 1959).
In 1979, Rabbi Rosen's second son, Rabbi Dr. Michael (Mickey) Rosen, founded the Jewish educational organization, Yakar, in memory of his father. (YaKaR is an acronym for Yaacov Kopul Rosen.) The stated goal of Yakar is to continue Kopul Rosen's ideals "of a Judaism based on knowledge of Torah, learning and vibrant spirituality that would at the same time be universal, non-denominational, tolerant and open to ideas and intellectual curiosity."
The first Yakar center was founded in Stanmore and moved to Hendon in North-West London. Michael Rosen and his wife, Gilla, later established the main center in Jerusalem, with another branch recently created in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. Rabbi Michael Rosen died on December 8, 2008 in Jerusalem.
Kopul Rosen's youngest son, Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Rabbi of the largest Jewish congregation in South Africa, lives in Jerusalem and is currently President of the International Jewish Committee that represents World Jewry to other world religions and is International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee.
Works by Kopul Rosen
- Dear David
- Rabbi Israel Salanter and the Musar movement
- The future of the Federation of Synagogues
- An open letter to a perplexed parent