Iconic Williamsburg: Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Zalmanowitz zt”l

In the lore of talmidim of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon, the tradition is repeated about Rav Moshe Soloveitchik walking the halls, engrossed in Torah discourse, together with a true Polish Ga’on—a genius who was taught, and greatly influenced by the greatest Gedolim of both the Chassidic and Lithuanian worlds in Poland. 

Rav Zelmanowitz, in addition to his years of teaching at RIETS, had an outsized influence in Williamsburg of yore—and on New York Jewry in general. He simultaneously served as the rov of two important shuls in Williamsburg, as he straddled the worlds of Gerer chassidus and the RIETS Yeshiva, both of which he served in leadership roles.  

Tomashov

Born in 1877 in the Polish town of Tomaszow (centered between the cities of Warsaw, Lodz, and Lublin), his family were ardent Gerer chassidim, and in later years Avrohom Yitzchok assist this court greatly. He learned under the great Sochazower Rov, the Avnei Nezer—whose talmidim were known for their unique caliber— and later under Rav Eliyahu Chaim Meisel, the Lodzer Rav, from whom he received semicha at the age of 17(!).  

He married Chana Fuchs, whose father Reb Yitzchok was extremely wealthy. He appreciated the caliber his new son-in-law, and supported him so he could dedicate himself to the toil of Torah. With time, Rav Zelmanowitz was appointed Rav of nearby Radom, and his reputation began to spread. In the meantime, the Sfas Emes of Gur had left the world, and he accepted his successor, the Imrei Emes, as his Rebbe.   

Rav Avrohom Yitzchok had grown up alongside the Rebbe, and befriended him when they were bachurim. In time, he would become Imrei Emes’ point man in America, and lead the miraculous effort to rescue his beloved Rebbe. 

Williamsburg

In 1920, his father Reb Avigdor who was a shochet in Lodz accepted an offer to come work in Patterson, New Jersey. He took along a number of his children. In the aftermath of WWI, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok joined them along with his large family.

A year after their arrival, the family could be found on W. 115th Street in Harlem—then an upscale Jewish community (the home of philanthropists like Harry Fischel, and able to afford Chazzan Yossele Rosenblatt). From there they moved to 214 Rodney Street—where an era of leading and teaching lasting a quarter-century was opened before him. 

Rav of Beis Haknesses Anshei Emes Anshei Austria and Hungary at 236 Keap Street. This was his official pulpit, where he received a meager salary. But near his home, at 259 Division, was the legendary “poilishe Shtiebel” where chassidim of Polish origin found their place. He was practically appointed by the Gerer Rebbe to serve as the leader of the Gerer chassidim who were dominant in the shtiebel—and for them it was in turn an honor to be led by a landsman of such character. The mikvah located in its basement—supervised by Rav Zelmanowitz, --was the only one in all of Williamsburg where chassidim could immerse each morning before Shachris. He davened there during the weekdays and said regular shiurim there, and would make his way there for Ne’ilah at the close of Yom Kippur. 

In addition to these positions, he served as the president of Vaad Harabanim of Williamsburg—in addition to his great prominence in Agudas Harabanim. He was active in the field of Kashrus, launching and supporting initiatives in this area. In his teshuvos—which demonstrate his depth and breadth in Torah—we can see his deep disappointment at the state of kashrus in America. He was also a renowned posek in Williamsburg for common household sheilos. 

Teaching the Next Generation 

Way back in Warsaw, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok was drawn close to Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, zt”l, who served as the head of a yeshiva there. Over in America, Rav Moshe urged Dr. Bernard Revel to bring him aboard the faculty of RIETS.

During his tenure there, he taught hundreds of talmidim. Recognizing his Torah prowess which was equaled by his yiras Shomayim, Rav Soloveichik appointed him both a Rosh Yeshiva and mashgiach, tending to the Torah as well as the character of the bachurim. The talmidim took to him, and his polish-accented Yiddish was a point of humor among the students who were mostly exposed to Russian dialect. Rav Zelmanowitz would easily join their conversations. 

When Rav Moshe Soloveitchik passed away suddenly in 1941, it was Rav Avrohom Yitzchok who lobbied for the appointment of his son, Rav Yosef Dov, to succeed him—something for which the latter remained grateful to him for all his days. As with the father, the friendship between them—a scion of the house of Brisk, and a graduate of the poilishe derech¬ –blossomed. 

During the war years, Rav Zelmanowitz was extremely active in rescue efforts, especially for the family of his Rebbe, the Imrei Emes, who ultimately made it to Eretz Yisroel. This took no small amount of effort and funds. At the march on Washington, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok is seen—appropriately—in the front row, among the most distinguished Rabbonim. 

For twenty-five years, he taught Torah to hundreds, numerous Rabbonim among them. His derashos in the shuls that he served were legendary, and the impact that he had on the chassidim of the Poilishe shtiebel was long-lasting. 

On Erev Yom Kippur of 1947, he left this world suddenly, at the young age of 60. Rav Yosef Dov Soloveichik made his way from Boston to decry this deep loss, and family members relate that he barely made it home in time to eat the seuda hamafsekes upon his return—all to mourn this deep loss. 

Rav Avrohom Yitzchok was interred among the Gerer chassidim in the Beth David Cemetery. His eldest daughter published a volume called Zecher Avrohom Yitzchok—teshuvos that he sent to some of the greatest Torah leaders of America, who revered the Torah and the brilliance that lived among them in Old Williamsburg.