Monday, July 9, 2007

Reb Yaakov Yosef - New York's First and Only Chief Rabbi

This Tuesday, 24 Tamuz, is the 105th yartzeit of R' Yaakov Yosef ben R' Dov, the first and only Chief Rabbi of New York. He was a talmid of the Volozhiner Yeshiva and was known as "Reb Yaakov Charif" because of his sharp mind. He is buried in Queens, NY at Union Field Cemetery. Large crowds go to daven there on the yartzeit. The Satmar Rebbe encouraged people to go to previously negleted kvarim such as this, therefore, along with all the Jews of various backgrounds that come to the kever, there are a high percentage of Chassidim. People also go there throughout the year to daven for yeshuos. See here for more on this great leader, who gave his life for Yiddishkeit in the late 19th century.

 

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