Elyakim Rosenblatt

Rosenblatt was born in 1933 in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.[1] His maternal grandfather was Rabbi Yaakov Aizer Dubrow, the rav of Kesher Israel in Washington D.C..[2] He attended Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin for elementary and high school, before going to learn in the Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland and the Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim in Williamsburg.[1] Due to a his wanting to dorm, in 1951, at the age of 18, he went to learn in Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ and became a student of Rabbi Aharon Kotler, whom he served tea to every day. While there, he was appointed the "veker" of the yeshiva, or someone who wakes everyone up for shacharis. Among the people who he woke every day was Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, a leading rabbi of today's generation.[3] Shlomo Carlebach was his study-partner there for some time.[4] In 1958, he married his wife, Mrs. Trani Rosenblatt, who would remain with him for the rest of his life and would one day be referred to by Rabbi Rosenblatt as "my partner in Torah".[4] Rabbi Rosenblatt returned to Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim, then located in Queens, NY at the age of 27, and became a student of Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz. Both Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz and Rabbi Aharon Kotler are both known to be the teachers of Rabbi Rosenblatt.[5][6][3]

Yeshiva Kesser Torah in Kew Gardens Hills

Rosenblatt remained in Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim where he became a ninth grade mussar rebbi. Among his students from Chafetz Chaim are Rabbi Dovid Harris. He eventually went on to become a rabbi in Corona, Queens where he and his wife inspired non-religious Jews, teaching Torah and hosting them for Shabbos meals.[3] His students in Corona urged him to open a yeshiva.[1]

In the 1970s, Rosenblatt opened Yeshiva Kesser Torah in the Briarwood section of Queens. Interestingly, the yeshiva was named after a sefer. 1980, a dorm was built. The yeshiva remained in Briarwood for several year. In 1994, a rebbi in the yeshiva suggested that they relocate to Kew Gardens Hills, where they would be able to attract more people.[4] Rosenblatt agreed and a plot was purchased in the center of Kew Gardens Hills' Jewish community.

Many stressed Rosenblatt's love for all Jews.[1][5] His classes in Yeshiva Kesser Torah were geared toward Jews of all backgrounds and professions.[3] Over 500 of his classes are available for free online.[7]

On March 27, 2019, Rosenblatt passed away.[8] His funeral was held at Yeshiva Kesser Torah that same day and he was buried at the Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, NY.[6]

Rabbi Rosenblatt authored four sefarim on the Torah, under the name Ohr Lensivisi.[9] Rabbi Rosenblatt was also known to be very musical, and it's said Rabbi Aharon Kotler would ask him and two other students in the Beth Medrash Govoha to sing at shalosh seudos of Shabbos.[1] He composed many songs which are available on his Shaar Haneginah CDs.