Shmuel Kamenetsky
Shmuel Kamenetsky (born November 1924) is a Lithuanian–American ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) rabbi. He is the co-founder and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages).
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky | |
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![]() Shmuel Kamenetsky in 2016 | |
Personal | |
Born | November 12, 1924 Tytuvėnai (Tzetivyan), Lithuania |
Religion | Judaism |
Nationality | American |
Spouse | Temi Brooks |
Parent(s) | Yaakov Kamenetsky and Ettil Kamenetsky |
Denomination | Orthodox Judaism |
Alma mater | Beth Medrash Govoha, Ner Israel Rabbinical College |
Occupation | Rosh Yeshiva |
Position | Rosh yeshiva |
Yeshiva | Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia |
Residence | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |

Biography
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky was born in Tytuvėnai, Lithuania to Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, then that town's rabbi. After the family's emigration in 1937, he attended Eitz Chaim Day Schools in Toronto,[2] then studied at Ner Israel Rabbinical College under his father's cousin, Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman. He went on to study at Lakewood Yeshiva, becoming a primary student of Aharon Kotler, from whom he received rabbinic ordination. In the mid-1950s,[3] as part of the Lakewood Yeshiva's effort to establish out-of-town yeshivas, Kamenetsky and Dov Schwartzman were sent to found the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. In 1955, Schwartzman departed to open his own yeshiva in Israel, and Kamenetsky called upon Elya Svei[4] to serve as co-rosh yeshiva. This arrangement continued until Svei's death in March 2009.
Rabbi Kamenetsky is a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of America[5][6] and serves on the rabbinical board of organizations including Chinuch Atzmai (Torah Schools for Israel), Torah Umesorah, the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, and the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals (AJOP).
Personal
Kamenetsky's wife, Temi, was the daughter of Mordechai Brooks, a hazzan. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York,[7] and died on January 10, 2022.[8]
References
- "Gedolim Portraits".
- Klein, Devorah (24 May 2017). "Eitz Chaim Schools to Celebrate 100th anniversary". Community. Hamodia. p. 13.
Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita, an alumnus...
- Birnbaum, Rabbi Avraham (2011). "Rav Dov Schwartzman, zt"l". Yated Ne'eman. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- Tannenbaum, Rabbi Gershon (1 April 2009). "Rabbi Elya Svei (1924–2009) Rosh Yeshiva Philadelphia". The Jewish Press. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- "Six Gedolim Added To Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Of Agudas Yisroel". TheYeshivaWorld.com. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- By: The “Hamodia Staff” (September 14, 2020). "Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Call on Community to Achieve Improvements; New Chavrei HaMoetzes Welcomed". Hamodia. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- Gebber, Leah. "The Rebbetzin's Perspective: A schmooze with Rebbetzin Temi Kamenetsky". Mishpacha Family First, 27 September 2012, pp. 26–32.
- (January 10, 2022) "BDE: Petirah of Rebetzin Temi Kamenetsky, A'H, Wife of Maran HaGaon Shmuel Kamenetsky, Shlita", Baltimore Jewish Life. Retrieved January 11, 2022.