Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky

Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky (December 14, 1925 - November 30, 2000)[1] was an American-born rabbi and teacher.[2] He served as both dean and rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel for decades, until the last year of his life.[3][2]

Early life

His parents, Raphael Nisan Shlomo (Nathan) and Rachel (Rose), had a business in Chicago, where he was born. The family moved to St. Louis for a better opportunity.[1] This "opportunity" did not include a better Jewish education, and at age 15 he was sent to study in Chicago's Beis Medrash L'Torah, specifically to learn from Dovid Lifshitz. Three years later he transferred to Mesivta Torah V'Daas. Despite his yeshiva rabbinical student status, he was drafted into the United States Army August 1944.[1]

While on leave during his training period mid-week, he spent time in a Jewish book store frequented by his future father-in-law. He was discharged in early 1946. He married Sarah Gartenhouse on June 18, 1947. Through 1954, he studied at Bais Medrash Elyon, in Monsey, at which time, with the help of a cousin already at Yeshiva Ner Yisroel, he accepted a teaching position.[1]

Teacher

A student, asking his teacher, Kulefsky, how he remembered so many details connected with so many topics he taught, was told: "Do you remember how many children you have? Do you remember their names?"[4]: p.185  His teaching role began while in the U.S. Army; when given a Shabbos off, he'd walk miles from his training base to Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and lecture.: p.56 

Dean, Ner Yisroel

He also was involved with the testing process for rabbinical ordination at Ner Yisroel.[1]

When the school was able to accept students permitted to leave Iran,[4]: pp.291–294  he "became almost like a surrogate parent to them." Kulefsky served as the rosh yeshiva from Rabbi Weinberg's death in 1999 until his own death on November 30, 2000.[5]

Yissocher Frand compared how his personality was able to "transmit to literally thousands of talmidim" because his method was like giving "a baby its first lollypop" leading to many a life-long connection.

An example of his being gentle was when a student asked for permission to skip part of a day in yeshiva to attend an out-of-town wedding. When Rabbi Kulefsky delayed a direct yes or no, the student asked, "So is it OK?" and was told, "I can't tell you whether it's OK for you to go. I have enough problems worrying about my bittul Torah;[6] I can't speak for yours."[2]

Some of his teachings were encapsulated in "Chidushei Rav Kulefsky."[7][8]

Personal

Rabbi Kulefsky was a first born only son; he had 3 sisters.[1] He was survived by his wife of 53 years and their "two sons, three daughters, 40 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren,[3] and buried in Baltimore County's Agudath Israel Congregation Cemetery a day after he "delivered his last class November 29.[9]

References
  1. Rabbi Sholom Tendler (November 13, 2015). "Rav Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky, zt'l, on the Occasion of His 15th Yahrzeit: 3 Kislev". Baltimore Jewish Life.
  2. Yissocher Frand (January 2001). "Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky" (PDF). The Jewish Observer.
  3. "Rabbi Yaakov Kulefsky, 74, dean of students at Ner Israel". Baltimore Sun. December 4, 2000.
  4. Rabbi Yechiel Spero (2020). Rav Kulefsky. Artscroll. ISBN 978-1-4226-2751-8.
  5. "Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky". kevarim.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  6. Americanism: wasting time
  7. Chidushei Rav Kulefsky, Sukkah (Hebrew Only). from the teachings of Harav Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky zt"l .. Compiled after his passing by .. based on recordings of his world-famous lectures and notes of his close students.
  8. Chidushei R' Kulefsky Kiddushin.
  9. "Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky". Find a Grave.
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