Sholom Klass
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Sholom Klass was the co-founder, publisher and editor of The Jewish Press
, a large Jewish circulation newspaper.
He also authored Tales from our Gaonim and the Halachic work Responsa of Modern Judaism (3 volumes).
Rabbi Klass received Smicha
(Rabbinical Ordination) from Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
.
Prior to starting The Jewish Press, he was a co-publisher of The Brooklyn Daily (now defunct).
and a range of causes that were not getting much publicity, from the Igud Harabbonim (Rabbinical Alliance of America)
to matters dealing with honoring the power of Bais Din .
, contains examples of one of Rabbi Klass' major accomplishments: the popularization of the use of a dash in writing G-d's name, in English, as the normative form by Orthodox Jews. .
He and Rabbi Meir Kahane
, whom he hired, broke this barrier, the latter also expanding upon this in the books he authored.
Although Rabbi Shalom Klass turned over his (Halachic) Questions & Answers column to his nephew Rabbi Yaakov Klass well before his passing, one way in which the column affected worldwide Jewry was as the inspiration of the acronym AYLOR - Ask Your Local Orthodox Rabbi
.
Interestingly, some have attempted to even extend AYLOR by having "O" stand for "Ordained." .
The point made by Rabbi Klass is that information in the column is to educate, not to provide an
absolute ruling.
The Jewish Press
The Jewish Press is an American weekly newspaper, geared toward the Modern Orthodox Jewish community. It describes itself as "America's Largest Independent Jewish Weekly." The newspaper has a politically conservative viewpoint and editorial policy....
, a large Jewish circulation newspaper.
He also authored Tales from our Gaonim and the Halachic work Responsa of Modern Judaism (3 volumes).
Rabbi Klass received Smicha
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...
(Rabbinical Ordination) from Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas is a yeshiva located in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.- History :...
.
Prior to starting The Jewish Press, he was a co-publisher of The Brooklyn Daily (now defunct).
Causes
He used his newspaper to support both what should seem obvious (Torah, Israel, Jewish Civil Rights)and a range of causes that were not getting much publicity, from the Igud Harabbonim (Rabbinical Alliance of America)
Iggud HaRabbonim
Igud HaRabonim is a beth din in the greater New York City metropolitan area. Founded in 1942, it counts many prominent rabbis as its dayanim and has for years received publicity from Rabbi Sholom Klass and The Jewish Press...
to matters dealing with honoring the power of Bais Din .
Legacy
His daughter's "Dear Dad" , written for the 9th YartzeitBereavement in Judaism
Bereavement in Judaism is a combination of minhag and mitzvah derived from Judaism's classical Torah and rabbinic texts...
, contains examples of one of Rabbi Klass' major accomplishments: the popularization of the use of a dash in writing G-d's name, in English, as the normative form by Orthodox Jews. .
He and Rabbi Meir Kahane
Meir Kahane
Martin David Kahane , also known as Meir Kahane , was an American-Israeli rabbi and ultra-nationalist writer and political figure. He was an ordained Orthodox rabbi and later served as a member of the Israeli Knesset...
, whom he hired, broke this barrier, the latter also expanding upon this in the books he authored.
Although Rabbi Shalom Klass turned over his (Halachic) Questions & Answers column to his nephew Rabbi Yaakov Klass well before his passing, one way in which the column affected worldwide Jewry was as the inspiration of the acronym AYLOR - Ask Your Local Orthodox Rabbi
.
Interestingly, some have attempted to even extend AYLOR by having "O" stand for "Ordained." .
The point made by Rabbi Klass is that information in the column is to educate, not to provide an
absolute ruling.