2 Kislev - Yahrzeit of the Two Pillars of American Orthodoxy

by Rabbi Doniel Z. Kramer, Ph.D., BCC

Jewish Chaplain

VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System
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Given the widening discussion about how wide and broad is American Orthodoxy today—I am reminded of an observation shared with me by Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky, a"H, himself an amalgam—a member of Yeshiva College's first graduating class in 1932 and the long-time National Director of Torah Umesorah, the national day school organization under the guidance of Rav Aharon Kotler, zt"l.

Dr. Kaminetsky noted that 2 Kislev is the yahrzeit date for both Rav Kotler and Rav Dov Revel, zt"l, the founding President and Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon (RIETS) and Yeshiva College.

Dr. Kaminetsky observed that each gadol was a major builder of Torah and Orthodox Judaism in America—though with very different hashkafot and at different times. Together—the Torah that is the result of the pioneering efforts of both Rav Revel and Rav Kotler have built and strengthened and defined the breadth of American Orthodoxy.

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Shalom,
RRW