Dovid Leibowitz (May 15, 1887 – December 4, 1941) was a Russian-born American rabbi. A disciple of Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania, he went on to found Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in the United States, where he served as rosh yeshiva (dean).
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Hakohen Leibowitz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | May 15, 1887 |
| Died | December 4, 1941 (aged 54) |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Nationality | American |
| Children | Henoch Leibowitz |
| Alma mater | Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael (Slabodka) |
| Jewish leader | |
| Successor | Henoch Leibowitz |
| Position | Rosh yeshiva (dean) |
| Organisation | Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim |
| Began | 1933 |
| Ended | December 4, 1941 |
Early life
editAs a teenager Leibowitz studied in the Radin Yeshiva, where he held private study sessions with his great-uncle and founder of the yeshiva—Yisrael Meir Kagan—helping him to write the last volume of his Mishnah Berurah.[1] He also studied there under Naftoli Trop. In 1908 Leibowitz transferred to the Slabodka yeshiva, where he studied under Nosson Tzvi Finkel. In 1915 Leibowitz succeeded his father-in-law as rabbi of Šalčininkai. After six years he returned to Slabodka as a founding member of the Slabodka kollel.
Career
editIn January 1927, Leibowitz went to the United States as a fund-raiser for the kollel, and was invited to become the first rosh yeshiva (dean) of Mesivta Torah Vodaath.[1] Among his students were Gedalia Schorr and Avraham Yaakov Pam. In 1933, Leibowitz founded the Rabbinical Seminary of America (RSA) in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. He did so after a dispute arose with Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz—head of Torah Vodaath—over the goals of Torah Vodaath, and consequent legal proceedings before a rabbinical court.[2] Leibowitz served as RSA's first rosh yeshiva. The school, which later moved to Kew Gardens Hills, Queens is better known today as Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, so named for Leibowitz's great-uncle, who was known as the "Chofetz Chaim".
Death
editLeibowitz died of a heart attack on Thursday December 4, 1941. His funeral was held on Sunday December 7, 1941. The yeshiva was headed for the following sixty-seven years by his only son, Henoch Leibowitz.
References
edit- ^ a b Ginzberg, R. Aryeh Zev (April 2009). "A Builder of Torah". Chazaq. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ Dor-Shav, Zecharia (2022). Dershowitz Family Saga. Skyhorse. pp. 29–30.