Dov Koppelman

Yitzchok Dov Koppelman (May[1] 1905 – June 17, 2011) was born in Vasilishki, Belarus. He was the head of the 1915-founded Lucerne Yeshiva in Switzerland for nearly 50 years.

A year before he died, a report about his visit from Switzerland to Melbourne, Australia was titled "World's oldest rabbi visits Oz".[2] While the main purpose of his trip was to raise additional funds for his yeshiva, he gave a number of public lectures: at an elementary school, a high school, a Kollel, and a major shul.

Career

Koppelman was "a leading disciple of Rabbi Shimon Shkop,"[2] having been at the latter's yeshiva for 18 years.[1]

Prior to World War II he ran a yeshiva; after the war he established two more: one in Europe, another in Brooklyn,[3] the latter "named after the well known sefer by the same name written by R' Shimon Shkop."[4]

His work in Switzerland began in 1963. The Yeshiva was based in Obernau in the canton of Lucerne (municipality of Kriens), where Koppelman worked for 48 years and taught and inspired thousands of students from all over the world, including "Western Europe.. the United Kingdom, .. the United States of America, Canada, Eretz Yisroel and even Australia."[1] as well as from Central and South America.

End of life

He was referred to as Zekan Roshei HaYeshivos (the world’s senior Rosh HaYeshiva), and lived to the age of 106.[5]

Koppelman's health permitted a trip from Switzerland to Australia the prior June. After being "hospitalized for" the prior "few weeks"[6] he passed away. His body was transferred to Jerusalem and solemnly buried there in the presence of thousands of people.[5]

It was noted[7] that Koppelman's passing was within the same two weeks that included those of Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz[8] and Rabbi Chaim Stein.[9]

References
  1. "BORUCH DAYAN EMMES: Petira Of Hagon Rav Yitzchok Dov Koppelman". Yeshiva World News. June 17, 2011.
  2. Dalia Sable (June 16, 2010). "World's oldest rabbi visits Oz". The Australian Jewish News (AJN).
  3. "Torah Torah Chigri Sak: Rav Yitzchok Dov Koppelman zt"l". June 17, 2011.
  4. "Switzerland – Loss To Klal Yisroel: HaGaon Rav Kopelman Zt'l Passes Away at 106". June 17, 2011.
  5. Bottom third of Front Page photo/two line caption: "Thousands of mourners in Jerusalem take part in funeral of Rabbi Yitzchok Dov Koppelman, who passed away at age 106 in Switzerland. See My Machberes". The Jewish Press. June 24, 2011.
  6. Gershon Tannenbaum (June 24, 2011). "My Machberes: Rabbi Yitzchok Dov Koppelman". The Jewish Press. p. 63. hospitalized last month .. released .. returned shortly thereafter, and soon passed from this world.
  7. "BORUCH DAYAN EMMES: Hagon Rav Chaim Stein ZATZAL". Yeshiva World News. June 29, 2011. just four days after the Petira of Hagon Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, and less than two weeks after the Petira of Hagon Rav Yitzchok Dov Koppelman
  8. June 27
  9. died June 29, age 98: "Telshe Yeshiva to pay tribute to Rabbi Chaim Stein". Cleveland Jewish News. May 3, 2012.
  • This work began as a machine translation of a German-language wiki article. Initial editing was to incorporate material from a 2/3 page detailed obituary (he lived to 106). Subsequent touching up was to incorporate information (and citations) found via google.


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