Funeral Of Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Ztz’L, To Be Broadcast Live By Telephone At 10 AM

NEW YORK (VINnews) — American Jewry was deeply saddened by the death Tuesday morning of the Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Ztz’L, the head of the American Agudath Yisrael and of the Moetzez Gedolei Hatorah of America.

Rabbi Perlow, who was suffering from the coronavirus, collapsed in his home in Boro Park. Hatzolah paramedics who arrived at the scene tried to resuscitate him, but unfortunately he passed away at the scene.

Rabbi Perlow was born in America to his father, Rabbi Nachum Mordechai Perlow, the Admor of Novominsk-New York and was named for his grandfather who established the Novominsk dynasty. His mother was the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern, the Kotzk-Sokolover Rebbe. In his youth he studied in Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin and was a close disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, the author of Pachad Yitzchak.

After his marriage to his wife Yehudis A’H, the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Eichenstein of Ziditchov-Chicago, he studied in the Gur Aryeh Kollel as well as in the Beis Midrash Govohah adjacent to Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin. He was appointed by Rabbi Shimon Schwab as Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshurun Yeshiva in Washington Heights, Manhattan, where he served for 11 years.

After his father passed away he filled his father’s position as Rebbe, establishing a shul which was the center of the Novominsk Chasidus as well as a Yeshiva named Kol Yehuda in Boro Park, Brooklyn.

The Rebbe was one of the leaders of American Jewry. He was famous for his rhetorical abilities and for his deep Torah erudition. He was the author of Adas Yaakov, a set of six volumes on Shas.

The Rebbe also held close relationships with all the Israeli Gedolim, including Rav Shach, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Rav Steinman, as well as with the Belzer Rebbe with whom he had a special relationship.

The Levayah (funeral) of the Novominsker Rebbe will take place privately at 10:00 A.M. due to the coronavirus epidemic. Tehillim and Hespedim will be available live by telephone. The family has requested that there should be no gathering at the Levayah.