Simcha Zissel Halevi Levovitz
Encyclopedia
Simcha Zissel Halevi Levovitz (1908–2001) was a rabbi and founder of a yeshiva in Boro Park, Brooklyn.
He was born in 1908 in Ozovnet, Lithuania
. His father, Musar movement leader Rabbi Yeruchom Levovitz, was then the spiritual director of the Kelm Talmud Torah
in Kelme
, Lithuania
.
Simcha Zissel studied in the yeshivas of Grodno, Telz
and Brisk
. At the start of World War II
, he was able to flee to the United States
due to the efforts of Rabbi Elimelech Gavriel (Mike) Tress.
Simcha Zissel settled in Brooklyn, New York where he married the daughter of Rabbi Naftali Carlebach and sister of the famous musician Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach
After his marriage, Simcha Zissel founded a yeshiva
in Boro Park. In addition to studying and teaching, he dedicated himself to publishing the writings of his father, Yeruchom Levovitz and of the rabbi after whom he was named, Simcha Zissel Ziv
.
Simcha Zissel and his wife had three sons and one daughter. His sons are all rabbis: Yeruchom, Yisroel, and Osher Michoel. His son-in-law is Rabbi Avrohom Moshe Faivelson.
He was born in 1908 in Ozovnet, 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...
. His father, Musar movement leader Rabbi Yeruchom Levovitz, was then the spiritual director of the Kelm Talmud Torah
Kelm Talmud Torah
The Kelm Talmud Torah was a famous yeshiva in pre-holocaust Kelmė, Lithuania. Unlike other yeshivas, the Talmud Torah focused primarily on the study of Musar and self-improvement.-Under the Leadership of Simcha Zissel Ziv:...
in Kelme
Kelme
Kelmė is a city in central Lithuania. It has a population of around 11,000 and is the administrative center of the Kelmė district municipality.-History:Prior to World War II, Kelmė was home to a famous Rabbinical College, the Kelm Talmud Torah....
, 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...
.
Simcha Zissel studied in the yeshivas of Grodno, Telz
Telz
*Telz can refer to the town of Telšiai, in Lithuania.*Telz is also used as the abbreviated name for:**Telshe yeshiva originally in Lithuania that was transplanted to Cleveland, Ohio....
and Brisk
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
. At the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was able to flee to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
due to the efforts of Rabbi Elimelech Gavriel (Mike) Tress.
Simcha Zissel settled in Brooklyn, New York where he married the daughter of Rabbi Naftali Carlebach and sister of the famous musician Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach
After his marriage, Simcha Zissel founded a 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...
in Boro Park. In addition to studying and teaching, he dedicated himself to publishing the writings of his father, Yeruchom Levovitz and of the rabbi after whom he was named, Simcha Zissel Ziv
Simcha Zissel Ziv
Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv Broida , also known as the Alter of Kelm , was one of the foremost students of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and one of the early leaders of the Musar movement...
.
Simcha Zissel and his wife had three sons and one daughter. His sons are all rabbis: Yeruchom, Yisroel, and Osher Michoel. His son-in-law is Rabbi Avrohom Moshe Faivelson.