Leib Tropper
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Leib Tropper is a founder of the Kol Yaakov Yeshiva and Torah Center
in Monsey
, New York
. He is a grandson of the late Rabbi Leib Forer, the "Valbolneker Iluy".
, the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
, the Telshe Yeshiva
in Cleveland, and then at Yeshivas Torah Ore in Jerusalem, under the leadership of Rabbi Chaim Pinchus Scheinberg. He received four semicha
s: from Rabbi Serayah Deblitzky, a student of the Chazon Ish; Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
, former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel
; Rabbi Betzalel Zolty, Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Jerusalem; and Rabbi Elazar Shach
, a rosh yeshiva
at the Ponevezh Yeshiva
in Israel.
, and became its rosh yeshivah.
In 1995, Tropper founded a new outreach program called Horizons, focusing on educating and inspiring the unaffiliated to experience a Torah lifestyle. As its director, Tropper traveled the world lecturing and teaching. He has also written three books: a halachic work based on the decisions of his mentor Rabbi Scheinberg, a guide to the laws of yichud
, a discussion of the prohibition of seclusion between men and women.
, and assists intermarried families with conversion issues. Until 2009 he was the director and chairman of EJF's Rabbinic Committee. The organization was funded by billionaire Thomas Kaplan
and Kaplan's nephew, Guma Aguiar, who donated at least $8 million to the project, according to IRS documents.
In 2006, The Jewish Week reported allegations that Tropper revoked a woman's conversion after learning that the woman "occasionally wore pants". Tropper denied this accusation, claiming the woman had in fact been breaking the Shabbat
after her conversion, and that his role was confined to relaying this information to the appropriate authorities.
On December 14, 2009, the EJF announced that Tropper had resigned two days earlier, that he had been replaced as chairman of the Rabbinic Committee by Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel, that Rabbi Chaim Blum would be taking over as interim director, and that Rabbi Reuven Feinstein
, the chairman of the Halachic Committee, would take a more active role in overseeing the organization's activities. No reason was given for these changes. On December 18, 2009 Wachtfogel issued a letter denying that EJF is under his direction. The press release was then deleted from EJF's website. On December 20, EJF put out a new press release omitting all mention of Wachtfogel or the chairmanship of the Rabbinic Committee.
's books (which explored the relationship between traditional Judaism and modern science.)
In October 2009, Tropper was sued by philanthropist Guma Aguiar
for allegedly misappropriating funds given to him by Guma for charitable purposes. The lawsuit followed an altercation between Guma and Tropper in a Jerusalem hotel. Tropper claims that Aguiar threatened to throw him out a window. Aguiar's attorney denied any threat was made.
In early December 2009, recordings circulated on the internet that contained conversations between a man alleged to be Tropper and a woman whose conversion he was alleged to have been supervising, and which appeared to show that the two were involved in a sexual affair and in encouraging the woman to engage in sexual activities with others. Tropper released a statement through his attorney that admitted no wrongdoing and expressed regret for “what has appeared to be conduct not within our significant laws of modesty.”
On 14 February 2010 Tropper was to be summoned to a meeting in the Yeshiva Beis Mikreh of Monsey
where the Rabbonim
were to demand that Tropper resign all his posts and leave Monsey. Prior to the meeting, Tropper signed an agreement which stated “In not fulfilling the requirement of Shulchan Aruch
that a leader be 'Pirko No’eh' (פרקו נאה), the undersigned is relinquishing his position.” Tropper also stated that he "released all rights and severs any connection he has to his former Yeshiva in Monsey and withdraws forthwith as a trustee of the organization." Tropper also stated his agreement to move out of Monsey within a few months.
Kol Yaakov Torah Center
Kol Yaakov Torah Center is an orthodox yeshiva in Monsey, New York that is accredited by The Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools and has received recognition from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and United States Department of Education ....
in Monsey
Monsey, New York
Monsey is a hamlet , in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the state of New Jersey; east of Suffern; south of Airmont and west of Nanuet...
, 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...
. He is a grandson of the late Rabbi Leib Forer, the "Valbolneker Iluy".
Education
He was educated at the Rabbi Jacob Joseph SchoolRabbi Jacob Joseph School
The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School is an Orthodox Jewish day school located in Staten Island, New York that serves students from nursery through twelfth grade. The school was founded in 1903 and named in honor of Rabbi Jacob Joseph, chief rabbi of New York City's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew...
, the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
The Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, known as "Philly", is a Haredi Litvish yeshiva. Its roshei yeshiva are Rabbi Elya Svei, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Yehudah Svei and Rabbi Sholom Kaminetsky...
, the Telshe Yeshiva
Telshe yeshiva
Telshe yeshiva was a famous Eastern European yeshiva founded in the Lithuanian town of Telšiai. After World War II the yeshiva relocated to Wickliffe, Ohio, in the United States and is currently known as the Rabbinical College of Telshe, It is one of the most prominent Haredi institutions of Torah...
in Cleveland, and then at Yeshivas Torah Ore in Jerusalem, under the leadership of Rabbi Chaim Pinchus Scheinberg. He received four 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...
s: from Rabbi Serayah Deblitzky, a student of the Chazon Ish; Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Ovadia Yosef
Ovadia Yosef is the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a recognised Talmudic scholar and foremost halakhic authority.He currently serves as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party in the Israeli parliament...
, former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel
Chief Rabbinate of Israel
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel is recognized by law as the supreme halakhic and spiritual authority for the Jewish people in Israel. The Chief Rabbinate Council assists the two chief rabbis, who alternate in its presidency. It has legal and administrative authority to organize religious...
; Rabbi Betzalel Zolty, Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Jerusalem; and Rabbi Elazar Shach
Elazar Shach
Elazar Menachem Man Shach also spelt Eliezer Schach, was a leading Lithuanian-born and educated Haredi rabbi in Bnei Brak, Israel. He also served as one of three co-deans of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak along with Rabbis Shmuel Rozovsky and Dovid Povarsky...
, a 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...
at the Ponevezh Yeshiva
Ponevezh yeshiva
Ponevezh Yeshiva, often pronounced Ponevitch Yeshiva, is a world renowned yeshiva located in Bnei Brak, Israel. Donated by Henry Krausher, it was originally established in the town of Panevėžys, Lithuania...
in Israel.
Career
After leaving Torah Ore, Tropper accepted a position at the nascent Ohr Somayach institutions. After five years in Jerusalem teaching baalei teshuva, Tropper returned to the United States to become the educational director of Ohr Sameach, New York located in Yonkers and Monsey. In 1981, Tropper joined Rabbi Avrohom Gershon Tress zt"l in founding a new yeshiva for baalei teshuva, the Kol Yaakov Torah CenterKol Yaakov Torah Center
Kol Yaakov Torah Center is an orthodox yeshiva in Monsey, New York that is accredited by The Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools and has received recognition from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and United States Department of Education ....
, and became its rosh yeshivah.
In 1995, Tropper founded a new outreach program called Horizons, focusing on educating and inspiring the unaffiliated to experience a Torah lifestyle. As its director, Tropper traveled the world lecturing and teaching. He has also written three books: a halachic work based on the decisions of his mentor Rabbi Scheinberg, a guide to the laws of yichud
Yichud
The prohibition of yichud , in Halakha is the impermissibility of seclusion of a man and a woman who are not married to each other in a private area. Such seclusion is prohibited in order to prevent the two from being tempted or having the opportunity to commit adulterous or promiscuous acts.The...
, a discussion of the prohibition of seclusion between men and women.
Eternal Jewish Family
Tropper founded the Eternal Jewish Family (EJF) project, which advocates more rigorous standards for conversion to JudaismConversion to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
, and assists intermarried families with conversion issues. Until 2009 he was the director and chairman of EJF's Rabbinic Committee. The organization was funded by billionaire Thomas Kaplan
Thomas Kaplan
Thomas S. Kaplan is an American entrepreneur, natural resources investor, philanthropist and art collector. He is the Founder and Principal of Tigris Group and the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of The Electrum Group LLC, a New York City-based investment, advisory and asset management firm...
and Kaplan's nephew, Guma Aguiar, who donated at least $8 million to the project, according to IRS documents.
In 2006, The Jewish Week reported allegations that Tropper revoked a woman's conversion after learning that the woman "occasionally wore pants". Tropper denied this accusation, claiming the woman had in fact been breaking the Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
after her conversion, and that his role was confined to relaying this information to the appropriate authorities.
On December 14, 2009, the EJF announced that Tropper had resigned two days earlier, that he had been replaced as chairman of the Rabbinic Committee by Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel, that Rabbi Chaim Blum would be taking over as interim director, and that Rabbi Reuven Feinstein
Reuven Feinstein
Reuven Feinstein is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Staten Island, New York. He is the son of Moshe Feinstein, the leading posek of post-war America.-Biography:...
, the chairman of the Halachic Committee, would take a more active role in overseeing the organization's activities. No reason was given for these changes. On December 18, 2009 Wachtfogel issued a letter denying that EJF is under his direction. The press release was then deleted from EJF's website. On December 20, EJF put out a new press release omitting all mention of Wachtfogel or the chairmanship of the Rabbinic Committee.
Controversies
In 2004, Tropper had a role in the discussions that led to the banning of Rabbi Natan SlifkinNatan Slifkin
Natan Slifkin , also popularly known as the "Zoo Rabbi", is an ordained but non-pulpit serving Orthodox rabbi best known for his interest in zoology, science and for his books on these topics, which are controversial in the Haredi world.-Biography:Natan Slifkin was born and raised in Manchester,...
's books (which explored the relationship between traditional Judaism and modern science.)
In October 2009, Tropper was sued by philanthropist Guma Aguiar
Guma Aguiar
Guma L. Aguiar is a Brazilian-born energy industrialist and millionaire businessperson who splits his time living between the United States and Israel. Guma Aguiar is recognized as a leading philanthropist who has supported a variety of Jewish causes including Nefesh B'Nefesh and the March of the...
for allegedly misappropriating funds given to him by Guma for charitable purposes. The lawsuit followed an altercation between Guma and Tropper in a Jerusalem hotel. Tropper claims that Aguiar threatened to throw him out a window. Aguiar's attorney denied any threat was made.
In early December 2009, recordings circulated on the internet that contained conversations between a man alleged to be Tropper and a woman whose conversion he was alleged to have been supervising, and which appeared to show that the two were involved in a sexual affair and in encouraging the woman to engage in sexual activities with others. Tropper released a statement through his attorney that admitted no wrongdoing and expressed regret for “what has appeared to be conduct not within our significant laws of modesty.”
On 14 February 2010 Tropper was to be summoned to a meeting in the Yeshiva Beis Mikreh of Monsey
Monsey, New York
Monsey is a hamlet , in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the state of New Jersey; east of Suffern; south of Airmont and west of Nanuet...
where the Rabbonim
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...
were to demand that Tropper resign all his posts and leave Monsey. Prior to the meeting, Tropper signed an agreement which stated “In not fulfilling the requirement of Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
that a leader be 'Pirko No’eh' (פרקו נאה), the undersigned is relinquishing his position.” Tropper also stated that he "released all rights and severs any connection he has to his former Yeshiva in Monsey and withdraws forthwith as a trustee of the organization." Tropper also stated his agreement to move out of Monsey within a few months.