Rabbi Shlomo Polachek | |
|---|---|
 The Meitscheter Illui | |
| Rosh yeshiva atRIETS | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1877 (1877) Sinichinitz, near Meitchet, Grodno |
| Died | July 9, 1928(1928-07-09) (aged 50–51) |
| Known for | Rosh yeshiva atRIETS, Yeshiva University |
| Occupation | Talmudic scholar, Rosh yeshiva |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
| Senior posting | |
Shlomo Polachek (Hebrew:שלמה פוליצ'ק; 1877 – July 9, 1928) known as "the Meitscheter Illui" was born in Sinichinitz, near Meitchet,Grodna. He was an importantTalmudic scholar and one of the earliestroshei yeshiva in America.
He entered theVolozhin yeshiva when he was only twelve years old, and remained there until its close in the winter of 1892. He then went to learn with his mentor, RabbiChaim Soloveitchik, inBrisk for the next four years. RabbiElchonon Wasserman attested that he personally heard from RabbiChaim Soloveitchik, regarding Polachek in 1896, “Aza meshunediger illui vi der Meitsheter hob ich in leben nit gezen — I’ve never met a genius like the Meitscheter in my entire life.”[1]
Polachek went on to become therosh yeshiva inyeshivos inLida andBiałystok. At the invitation of Rabbi Dr.Dov Revel, Polachek arrived in America in 1922 to become arosh yeshiva at theRabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) the rabbinical school ofYeshiva University and itsYeshiva College, America's firstyeshiva. He taught at RIETS for six years until his sudden passing in 1928.[2][3]
Polachek held some broad-minded views relative to some of his contemporaries. For example,Jeffrey S. Gurock writes inJudaism's Encounter with American Sports (Indiana University Press):[4]
...Polachek was silent on the importance of gyms and teams within the school [Yeshiva University]. But reportedly he did harbor a positive view of yeshivas encouraging students physical fitness. It was a Maimonidean-style point of view that [Bernard] Revel could have counted upon if he were ever challenged about what was going on in his Torah school...
— Jeffrey S. Gurock (2005). Judaism's Encounter with American Sports. Indiana University Press.ISBN 0-253-34700-9.
Following the sudden passing of Polachek in 1928, more than 15,000 people at gathered at his funeral outside the Yeshiva on the Lower East Side.[1] Among those who eulogized him were RabbiBoruch Ber Lebowitz.
Rabbi Shimon Shkop was persuaded to replace him for a short period of time.[5]
His children were notable in their own right, including daughterRebbetzin Libby Mowshowitz (married to Rabbi Dr. Israel Mowshowitz), a son who received a PhD, and another son who became a doctor .[6]
Some of Polachek's prominent students included:
Each year on the 21st of Tammuz, there is a pilgrimage to his grave at the Mount Judah Cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens.
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