, Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

) was an Orthodox

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 rabbi

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...

 who served as a pioneer of Torah

Torah

Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...

 Judaism in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and helped revolutionize Jewish life in the early 1900s in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

.

Biography

Herman's parents, Yitzchok Isaac and Minna Rivka, found it difficult to earn an income in Russia and, thinking that it would be easier to do so in America, emigrated in 1888 with their son Yaakov Yosef and their younger daughter, Molly. Faced with a new world in which he would seemingly be forced to lower his religious standards in order to provide for his family, Herman's parents decided to return to Russia after only five years. Herman's parents could not come up with enough travel fare for all four members of the family, so Yaakov Yosef, at 13 years of age, was left in America with cousins until enough money could be spared for his trip.

Herman earned money by working in the fur industry; he collected $1.25 a week and his cousins charged him $1 a week for room and board

Room and board

Room and board describes a situation where, in exchange for money, labor or other considerations, a person is provided with a place to live as well as meals on a comprehensive basis...

. He chose this job because it allowed him not to have to work on the Jewish Sabbath.

He was a pioneer with his wife Aidel in receiving guests at his house. All the great rabbis in Europe stayed at his house when visiting the United States. His children Esther, Bessie, Nochum Dovid, Frieda and Ruchoma Shain followed his ways. Bessie married Rav. Chaim Sheinberg, a great rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva Torah Or, and his daughter Ruchoma wrote a book of his life "All for the Boss".
He encouraged his students to follow Yeshiva studies in Mir and other Yeshivot.
He moved with his wife to Jerusalem, where she died, he remarried, and after some years passed away in Jerusalem, May his memory be blessed.