Iconic Williamsburg: Rav Yoel Fink, zt”l

One of the pioneers of establishing Torah Judaism in America— a ga’on b’Torah whose heart that burned with yearning for Hashem—Rav Yoel Fink was a pillar of the community of “old Williamsburg.” Firmly rooted in the tradition of Chortkiv of yore, he bridged the old world and the new with a holy fire—laying the infrastructure that continues to inspire and uplift American Jewry to this day.   

Galicia of Yore 

Rav Yoel was born in the year 1882 into a family of prominent Chortkiver chassidim, in the shtetl of Linsk (written Lesko), a hamlet located in Eastern Galicia, near the Ukrainian border. It was a center of Ruziner chassidim (of which Chortkiv is a branch), and Sanzer chassidim. 

His father was Reb Zev, and his mother was Ruchama, and they would raise the boy in a tradition that pulsed with the Torah of the Gedolim of Galicia, and the aura of Chortkiver chassidus that would form his core for all of his days. The young boy’s genius was apparent from a young age, and at an extremely young age he was sent to Buczacz to learn in the yeshiva of the famed Rav Meir Arik—one of the elite Torah institutions in Poland, which produced some of the greatest Gedolim of the postwar generations. It was not easy for him, being the youngest talmid in the yeshiva. But the Torah that he absorbed there formed him for life.

After his Bar Mitzvah, he became drawn to Rav Yosef Engel (1852-1920)—a Ga’on whose genius dazzled the Torah world in Poland and beyond—and the two learned b’chavrusa for many years. He received semicha from Rav Arik and from the Maharsham of Brezan, from whom he also learned much Torah.  He corresponded with the Rogachover iluy and with the Ohr Somei’ach. 

In 1903, he was at the passing of his Rebbe, Rav Dovid Moshe of Chortkiv—having crawled up to the window to take his leave—and later told of the way the Rebbe, weakened, recited the words of Nishmas in a crystal clear voice, after which his holy Neshomo ascended to the Upper Realms. Every time Rav Yoel repeated the story of these events… even fifty years later… he would descend into tears of yearning…   

In 1911, Rav Yoel married into the Seidman family (his wife Sarah Leah was the aunt of the legendary scribe, Reb Hillel Seidman). The Seidman’s were blessed with Torah Ugedulah, prominent Husyatiner chassidim (another Ruziner branch) who made their wealth in lumber and in flour mills. His father-in-law, Reb Yisroel, bequeathed him a flour mill with which to support himself… alas, his strength was more in Torah than in business, and this venture soon went bankrupt. 

WWI in 1914 upended the region, and many of the Yidden from Galicia fled to Vienna—the Finks among them. Also there was Rav Engil, with whom Rav Yoel continued learning. He was also exceptionally close with Rebbe Yisroel of Chortkiv who was in Vienna. 

Torah Vodaas

In 1927, Rav Yoel left the European continent for North America. He landed in Ottawa, Canada, and from there he made it to his relatives, the Finks of Scranton, of the famed David-Elliot Chicken processing. From there he proceeded to New York, settling at first on the Lower East Side, and later at 89 Hooper Street, where his family joined him in 1929. 

Rav Yoel joined Williamsburg’s Torah institution, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Here he was beloved by his fellow Roshei Yeshiva, as well as the talmidim who adored him and revered him. These American-born bachurim would cling to him as they walked together through the streets of Williamsburg of yore… speaking in learning. 

He had a warm relationship with Rav Shlomo Heiman, zt”l, and much Torah was shared between them, as evidenced by his correspondence to Rav Yoel featured in Chidushei Rav Shlomo. 

Rav Yoel published Chosen Yosef with Rav Engil’s chiddushim on Maharit and Avnei Milu’im, the manuscript of which miraculously made it through the terrible travails of his grandson Rav Dovid Morgenstern, who carried it with him through his years in Siberia, and gave it over to Rav Yoel. In the introduction he apologizes for any errors… the weight of his klal work prevented him from delving fully into the editing process. 

Founding Agudas Yisroel 

1940 in Cincinnati, Ohio, found America’s Gedolim gathered there for a conference at which a number of resolutions were made that would alter the course of Torah Judaism in America. Among them were the establishment of Agudas Yisroel in America, establishing a Beth Jacob for girls, an educational campaign for the observance of Shabbos and the support of yeshivos, among others. The secretary of the organization (a trusted voice, liaising with the Agudah leaders throughout the world) was Rav Yoel Fink, who is also seen on the letterhead. He threw himself into Klal work, and he is seen signed on numerous Agudah correspondence and appeals from that era—including relief work in the Holocaust era. His dedication to Agudas Yisroel consumed him for all of his days.   

The last decade of his life was spent in Eretz Yisroel, where the Fink’s made aliyah in 1955. He had an extremely close relationship with the Tchebiner Rov, who went way back with the Seidman family. There are many stories that transpired between the two of them during those years. At the moment of Rav Yoel’s passing, on 20 Shevat 1965, the Tchebiner Rov turned to a confidante and said, “Yoel is niftar gevoren.”… he sensed it instinctively. 

His son, the askan Reb Anshel Fink was with him during his final days. As Rav Yoel was streaming in and out consciousness, his son heard whispering constantly. When he leaned, he heard chidushei Torah emanating from his lips… spending his final hours just as he had lived.  

He left behind a beautiful Torah family of proud descendants who have continued his tradition in both Torah and askonus for the Klal —carrying on the extraordinary eighty-year legacy of this Gadol from Galicia who changed the face of American Jewry in Old Williamsburg.