Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht (September 1924 - February 7, 1995) was the founding Rosh yeshiva of the major Israeli Hesder yeshiva Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, commonly known as KBY. Rabbi Goldvicht's thousands of students have gone on to hold prominent posts in the Jewish and secular world.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Rav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht was born in Jerusalem and educated from childhood in the Etz Chaim Yeshiva under the spiritual leadership of the revered sage Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer.
Rav Goldvicht married Miriam Berkowitz, the daughter of Rabbi Joseph Berkowitz, a Rosh Yeshiva in Poland before World War II. They moved to Bnei Brak, where Rav Goldvicht studied under the Chazon Ish and was also close to Rabbi Isaac Sher, Rosh Yeshiva of Slobodka.
[edit] Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh
In 1953, Rav Goldvicht established Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, and from its inception he served as its Rosh Yeshiva.
Rav Goldvicht originally conceived and implemented the Hesder program for yeshivas, which integrates Torah study with active service in the Israel Defense Forces. In 1990, in recognition of this, he accepted the Israel Prize, the highest award given by the State of Israel for a major contribution to Israeli society. This acceptance was on behalf of the entire Yeshivat Hesder movement.
Rav Goldvicht introduced the Overseas Students Program at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, allowing thousands of Diaspora Jews to attend the yeshiva for a year or more after finishing high school.
[edit] Works
During his last years, Rav Goldvicht wrote several works on Halakha and Aggadah relating to the Jewish Holidays, and was preparing other works on Pirkei Avot, Parshat Hashavua and Masechet Sanhedrin.
[edit] Death
Rav Goldvicht died due to cardiac arrest in his apartment in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Arzei Habira, on February 7, 1995, at the age of 69. Rav Goldvicht is survived by his wife Miriam and two children: Rav Yosef, a Ram in Yeshivat Ohr Yisrael in Petach Tikvah, and Leah, married to Rav Moshe Meyernick, a Rosh Kollel in Jerusalem.
