Fishel Hershkowitz

Rabbi Ephraim Fishel Hershkowitz
Klausenburger Dayan
Personal details
Birth name Ephraim Fishel Hershkowitz
Born (1922-10-02) October 2, 1922
Mukačevo, Czechoslovakia
Residence Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York

Ephraim Fishel Hershkowitz (Hebrew: אפרים פישל הערשקאוויטש‎) (born 2 October 1922 in Mukačevo, Czechoslovakia (present-day Ukraine)[1]), the Haleiner Rav,[1] is the senior Klausenburger dayan in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.[2] He is a respected elder in the American Orthodox community.[3]

Early life

Ephraim Fishel was born on Yom Kippur 1922 (10 Tishrei 5683) in the city of Mukačevo, Czechoslovakia (present-day Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine). His father, Rabbi Shlomo Hershkowitz, and his grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Hershkowitz (author of Birkas Avraham al HaTorah) were loyal Spinka Hasidim. When he was older, Ephraim Fishel would accompany them to visit the Spinka Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Isaac Weiss (1875–1944) on every Yom Tov.[1]

As a boy, Ephraim Fishel learned in the local Talmud Torah in Munkacs. When he was ready to attend yeshiva, his father did not want to send him to one of the large, Ashkenazi yeshivas of the time for fear that he would lose his Hasidic fervor. Thus, he remained in Munkacs, learning with other bachurim in the Spinka kloiz (synagogue) without a Rav or rosh yeshiva. Occasionally he would ask questions of his uncle, Rabbi Dovid Schlussel, who was a dayan in the rabbinical court of Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira in Munkacs.[1]

Leadership

Rabbi Hershkowitz played an active role in judging cases of agunahs after the September 11 attacks.[1]

He has also given his approbation to hundreds of sefarim[1] and many organizations benefiting the Jewish world.[4][5][6]

He was one of the leading American rabbis honored at the Eleventh Annual Siyum HaShas in Madison Square Garden in 2005, where he read the beginning of Masekhet Berakhot.[3][7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cohen, Yitzchok. "Reb Fishele Speaks". Hamodia. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  2. ↑ Tannenbaum, Rabbi Gershon (11 August 2010). "Petter Chamor – Redeeming A Donkey". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Jews Around the Globe Celebrate Completion of Shas". Dei'ah VeDibur. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Rabbinic Endorsements". life-renewal.org. 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Rabbinical Endorsements". Masei L'Melech Veitzen. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Ezras Yisroel". Ezras Yisroel. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  7. ↑ Frankel, Rabbi Pinchas (2005). "Conventions of Israel". ou.org. Retrieved 6 January 2011.

External links


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