Shmuel Kamenetsky
Shmuel Kamenetsky (born November 1924) is an American Haredi rabbi.
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky | |
---|---|
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky in 2016 | |
Personal | |
Born | Shmuel Kamenetsky November 1924 (age 95) Tytuvėnai (Tzetivyan), Lithuania |
Religion | Judaism |
Nationality | American |
Spouse | Temi Brooks |
Children | Sholom Avrohom Dov Zev Aaron Eliyahu Dovid Shoshana Ettil Miriam Malka |
Parents | Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky and Ettil Kamenetsky |
Denomination | Orthodox Judaism |
Alma mater | Beth Medrash Govoha, Ner Israel Rabbinical College |
Occupation | Rabbi |
Position | Rosh yeshiva |
Yeshiva | Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia |
Residence | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Kamenetsky is the co-founder and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. He is one of the most widely known living Haredi Litvish Jewish gedolim outside of Israel.
Biography
Shmuel Kamenetsky was born in Tytuvėnai, Lithuania to Yaakov Kamenetsky, one of America's great Torah leaders. He attended Eitz Chaim Day Schools in Toronto,[1] then studied at Ner Israel Rabbinical College under the tutelage of his father's cousin, Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman. He went on to study at Lakewood Yeshiva, becoming a primary student of Aharon Kotler, from whom he received rabbinic ordination. In the mid-1950s,[2] as part of the Lakewood Yeshiva's effort to establish out-of-town yeshivas, Kamenetsky and Dov Schwartzman were sent to found the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. In 1955, Schwartzman departed to open his own yeshiva in Israel, and Kamenetsky called upon Elya Svei[3] to serve as co-rosh yeshiva. This arrangement continued until Svei's death in March 2009.
Kamenetsky is a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of America and serves on the rabbinical board of many organizations, including Chinuch Atzmai (Torah Schools for Israel), Torah Umesorah, the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, and the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals (AJOP). His opinion is frequently sought and quoted on current issues such as same-sex attraction,[4] child molestation,[5] obesity and dieting,[6] smoking,[7] and drinking alcohol to excess on Purim.[8] His approbation is also sought for Torah books in English.
Kamenetsky is a supporter of the anti-vaccination movement, stating: "I see vaccinations as the problem... It's a hoax. Even the Salk vaccine is a hoax. It is just big business".[9]
Personal
Kamenetsky's wife, Temi, is the daughter of Modche Brooks, a hazzan. She grew up in the Boro Park and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn, New York.[10] Their sons are Sholom Kamenetsky, a rosh yeshiva at Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia; Avrohom Kamenetsky, an instructor of Talmud at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel in Jerusalem; Dov Kamenetsky, a well-known philanthropist and real estate magnate in Toronto; Zev Kamenetsky of Lakewood, New Jersey, an instructor of Talmud at Belmar Yeshiva; Dovid Kamenetsky, an author/editor for the Schottenstein Talmud (published by ArtScroll/Mesorah) in both the English edition and Hebrew edition and a Talmud instructor at Yeshivat Darche Noam in Jerusalem; Aaron Kamenetsky; and Eliyahu Kamenetsky. His daughters are married to rabbis: Yechiel Moskowitz, Shaya Shechter, and Shalom Kelemer. Another son-in-law is Tzvi Berkowitz, a senior instructor of Talmud at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore.
References
- Klein, Devorah (24 May 2017). "Eitz Chaim Schools to Celebrate 100th anniversary". Community. Hamodia. p. 13.
Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita, an alumnus...
- Birnbaum, Rabbi Avraham (2011). "Rav Dov Schwartzman, zt"l". Yated Ne'eman. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- Tannenbaum, Rabbi Gershon (1 April 2009). "Rabbi Elya Svei (1924–2009) Rosh Yeshiva Philadelphia". The Jewish Press. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- Goldberg, Arthur. "A Discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky on 'SSA'" (PDF). Hakira, the Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- Berger, Paul (2 August 2011). "Leiby Kletzky Murder Reignites Fight Over Reporting Abuse". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- "'We Have To Control Ourselves': SOVEYA Interview With Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky" (PDF). SWITCHH. 4 (3). 2010.
- "Rabbi Shmuel against smoking". Retrieved 20 May 2013. (video)
- "New York – Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky: 'It is an Aveira to Get Drunk on Purim'". Vos Iz Neias?. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- Simone Ellen, A Healthy Dose? Baltimore Jewish Times, August 28, 2014. Available at https://jewishtimes.com/27549/a-healthy-dose/arts_life/food-feature/2/
- Gebber, Leah. "The Rebbetzin's Perspective: A schmooze with Rebbetzin Temi Kamenetsky". Mishpacha Family First, 27 September 2012, pp. 26–32.