The Novominsker Rebbe, Harav Yaakov Perlow, zy”a.

Toras Chaim Alumnus - Class of 1944

The Rebbe, an early alumnus of Yeshiva Toras Chaim in its days in East New York (Class of 1944) was a towering figure in the leadership of American Jewry, and served as Rosh Agudath Yisrael of America since 1998. He was 89 at his petirah.

The Rebbe was born in New York in 5691/1931. He was the son of the previous Rebbe, Harav Nachum Mordechai Perlow, zt”l, and Rebbetzin Beila Ruchama, a”h. He was named for his great-grandfather, Harav Yaakov Perlow, zt”l, the first Novominsker Rebbe. His maternal grandfather was Harav Yitzchak Zelig Morgenstern, zt”l, the Sokolover Rebbe, a descendant of the Kotzker Rebbe, zy”a.

When he came of age, he married Rebbetzin Yehudis, a”h, the daughter of Harav Avraham Eichenstein, zt”l, the Ziditchover Rebbe of Chicago.

After his father’s petirah in Elul of 5736/1976, he was appointed Rebbe and later, and in 1998, after the petirah of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, z”l, the Rebbe was named Rosh Agudath Israel of America.

The Rebbe spoke for our talmidim on numerous occasions (see picture) and had tremendous nachas from their growth in Torah and Yiras Shamayim. He often graced Yeshiva functions with words of chizuk and support and was maspid (eulogized) our Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Binyamin Kamenetzky at the funeral.

The Rebbe was a mainstay and keynote speaker at events related to Torah Umesorah and Agudath Israel. He was the head of Agudah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.m.