Shmuel Kamenetsky

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky (born November 1924) is an American Haredi rabbi.

Rabbi

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky in 2016
Personal
Born
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky

November 1924 (age 96)
Tytuvėnai (Tzetivyan), Lithuania
ReligionJudaism
NationalityAmerican
SpouseTemi Brooks
ParentsRabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky and Ettil Kamenetsky
DenominationOrthodox Judaism
Alma materBeth Medrash Govoha, Ner Israel Rabbinical College
OccupationRabbi
PositionRosh yeshiva
YeshivaTalmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
ResidencePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

Rabbi 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. He is also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages).[1][2]

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,[3] 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,[4] 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[5] 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,[6] child molestation,[7] obesity and dieting,[8] smoking,[9] and drinking alcohol to excess on Purim.[10] His approbation is also sought for Torah books in English.

Kamenetsky has expressed support 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".[11] Rabbi Kamenetsky has supported the idea that a child cannot be refused entry into a school for refusing to vaccinate.

In July 2020, Kamenetsky endorsed Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign. Stating, “Yes, I think people should vote for him. He’s done a good job. It’s ‘hakaras hatov”.[12]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a letter was forged[13] purporting to be from Rabbi Kamenetsky, that disencouraged parents from taking the new coronavirus vaccines[14]. Rabbi Kamenetsky quickly acted against this misinformation[15], and declared as he had previously, that one should ask his doctor as to whether he should get the vaccine[16].

Personal

Rabbi 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.[17]

References
  1. "Six Gedolim Added To Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Of Agudas Yisroel". TheYeshivaWorld.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. By: The “Hamodia Staff” (September 14, 2020). "Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Call on Community to Achieve Improvements; New Chavrei HaMoetzes Welcomed". Hamodia. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. Klein, Devorah (24 May 2017). "Eitz Chaim Schools to Celebrate 100th anniversary". Community. Hamodia. p. 13. Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita, an alumnus...
  4. Birnbaum, Rabbi Avraham (2011). "Rav Dov Schwartzman, zt"l". Yated Ne'eman. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  5. 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.
  6. Goldberg, Arthur. "A Discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky on 'SSA'" (PDF). Hakira, the Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  7. Berger, Paul (2 August 2011). "Leiby Kletzky Murder Reignites Fight Over Reporting Abuse". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  8. "'We Have To Control Ourselves': SOVEYA Interview With Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky" (PDF). Switchh. 4 (3). 2010.
  9. "Rabbi Shmuel against smoking". Retrieved 20 May 2013. (video)
  10. "New York – Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky: 'It is an Aveira to Get Drunk on Purim'". Vos Iz Neias?. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  11. 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/
  12. "Leading Orthodox rabbi endorses Donald Trump for reelection".
  13. "Baltimore Jewish Life | Rav Kamenetsky: My Signature On Anti-Covid Vaccine Propaganda is a Forgery". www.baltimorejewishlife.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  14. Editor, Y. W. (2020-12-14). "FORGERY: Hagaon HaRav Shmuel Kaminetzky Never Signed Any Letter About COVID Vaccine". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 2021-02-07.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  15. "FORGERY: Harav Shmuel Kamenetzky Disputes Individuals Who Falsely Claimed His Endorsement Against COVID Vaccine » The Lakewood Scoop » The heartbeat of the lakewood community". www.thelakewoodscoop.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  16. Team, 5TC (2020-12-14). "Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky Responds to a False Letter Regarding Covid Vaccine, In His Name". 5 Towns Central. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  17. Gebber, Leah. "The Rebbetzin's Perspective: A schmooze with Rebbetzin Temi Kamenetsky". Mishpacha Family First, 27 September 2012, pp. 26–32.
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