Nisson Wolpin was anOrthodoxrabbi and (1932-2017),[1][2] renowned for being the editor ofThe Jewish Observer.[3][1] He also served as the learning director of Camp Munk for many summers.[4]
Rabbi Wolpin was born in 1932[2] inSeattle, Washington to Bentzion and Kaila Wolpin. His parents, immigrants from Europe, lost 13 of their 15 children to childhood diseases prior to their coming to the United States.[5]
During his formative years, Seattle didn't have any fit Jewish schools for him to attend, and he therefore had no other option other than attending a local public school.[4] Like his three[5] brothers, he attended aTalmud Torah in the afternoon. At age 15 he was sent toYeshiva Torah Vodaath.[2][6]
Wolpin was one of "a small cadre of talmidim" selected byGedaliah Schorr to be students at aLos Angeles-based yeshiva founded in 1952 bySimcha Wasserman.[7]
During his adult years as a married man, Rabbi Wolpin served as arebbi (teacher of Torah) at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael in Queens, anelementary yeshiva for Orthodox Jewish boys. In 1970, he was offered the position of editor ofThe Jewish Observer, a newspaper published byAgudath Israel of America.[8] Before accepting the position, he approached RabbiYaakov Kamenetzky, who told him: "Until now you were amechanech (educator) of children. From now on you will be amechanech for adults."[4] For several years he had a role inOlomeinu, the children's periodical, as well.[5][9]
In 2010, Rabbi Wolpin and his wife moved to Israel,[2] where he learned in akollel.[4]
On April 24, 2017, he died in Jerusalem, survived by his wife, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. One obituary referred to him as "father of the flourishingchareidi press in the English language today."[10]
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