Rabbi Chaim Heller
חיים ב"ר ישראל פינסקער
Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon (RIETS)Date of Death:
Mon. April 11, 1960 -
Nissan 14 5720
Erev Pesach
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Directions to Kever: Mount Judah Cemetery in Queens maintains computerized records and will provide a detailed location map upon request. Location: Society: TIF ISR OF N Y, Section: 1, Block: T, Gate: 5, along side Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky
Name Listed on Cemetery Database: HELLER, CHAIM
Biographical Notes:
Photo caption: Rav Chaim Heller, Credit: RIETS
Photo Caption: With Rav Soloveitchik outside Bernard Revel Graduate School, Credit: Needed
Photo Caption: Rav Chaim Heller’s passport picture, Credit: MCA
Photo Caption: 1. Rav Dovid Lifschitz, Suwalker Rav, 2. Rav Moshe Shatzkes, Lomza Rav, 3. Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, R”Y RIETS, 4. Rav Chaim Heller, R”Y RIETS, 5. Rabbi Dr. Shmuel Belkin, President Yeshiva University
Photo Credit: Rabbi Scranton Miller, c. 1922
Credit: Yeshiva University
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He was the editor of the famous “Reb Chaim Heler’s Sefer Hamitzvos l’haRambam”. The Chofetz Chaim said, that after his sefer hamitzvos the old one is a ספר שאינו מוגה.
R’ Chaim Heller was born in Bialystock in 1878. While still in Eastern Europe he was a Rav in Lomza. He published Sefer Hamitzvot in 1914.
In 1917 he moved to Berlin and five years later opened a yeshiva where most of the students also attended the University if Berlin.
He left Berlin for New York in 1929. He moved to Israel and Chicago before ending up in New York for good.
A bio of R’ Heller can be found in “Chochmas Yisroel B’Maariv Europa” and there is a published hesped by R’ Yosef Dov Solovetchik.
there’s a beautiful biography on Rabbi Heller in Toldos Anshei Sheim available on hebrewbooks.org
Baruch:
In addition your grandfather wrote a moving eulogy in the Hamaor (the first addition that came out after his passing.)
i just read a few weeks ago that my grandfather reb chaim of blessed memory won the tel aviv prize in bible in 1949
What is the tel aviv prize in bible?
Was he related to the prestigious Heller family of the “Amudei Ohr” and his brothers?
Two of his grandchildren reside in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY. Alexander T. Singer (Girard Street and Vivian Singer (Amherst Street) They are the children of the late Rabbi Dr. Joseph I. Singer (Rabbi Manhattan Beach Jewish Center for 50 years) and the late Rebecca Heller Singer
Do you know if he is related to the Hellers from Sighet, Romania?
Do you know about the Heller that had a kosher hamburger resturant in NYC?
Thank you
I think he was from Lithuania.
Can anyone confirm that Nachman Heller , wrote many books in hebrew and english, a rabbi in many American communities was his older brother?
That’s what it says here: http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A0%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%9F_%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%A8.
Here you have it clear:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=3379&st=&pgnum=6
This is the Tehilim which Rev. Dr. Nachmen heller wrote in lyrics, where in the begining it tells a story that reads as follows:
“A couple of days ago, in a Shul in New York Rev. Dr, Nachmen Heller of Charlston, West Verginia spoke and delivered a Pilpul in English about Real estate in Talmud (?), Since Dr. Heller is a true Lamdun and the brother of the new rav of Lomza, Poland rabbi Chaim Heller he even stated the Pilpul with the traditional Gemure Nigun….
Prof. Getzel Zalikowits for Taggen-Blatt Sept. 8 1912”
Here is the Sefer Daniel with a Pirush from Reb Nachmen Heller brother of Reb Chaim:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=39779&st=&pgnum=1&hilite=
RABBI NACHMEN IS NOT THE BROTHER OF MY GRANDFATHER REB CHAIM HAGAON
for VSINGER
Can you please clarify how you know that. Both have the same name for their father, born in the same place and as you can see from the comments quoted in #13 above it is so stated. Was there another R. Chaim Heller?
Rav Heller is 3rd from right.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nJSgTBO6poI/TsmQuvDLpbI/AAAAAAAAAKk/RYDpKX3kLCk/s1600/Twersky_wedding_Page_1.jpg
Dear ASher Lowy,
Thats a great picture! Can you tell us who is in the picture? I recognise Rabbi Soloveitchik and Rav Lezer Silver. Who are the others?
Yitzchok Kahn
The two on the far right are tolner rebbe brothers
Picture is from professor isadore twersky ‘s wedding to atara silovetchik
Sitting 3rd from left is Rav Dovid Lifshutz, Suvalker Rav.
Standing with the top hat I assume is the Chosson.
The picture mentioned above is discussed and detailed about 2/3 of the way down here:
http://seforim.blogspot.com/2011/11/comments-on-this-and-that-part-2.html.
All of the rabbis are identified except for the one on the far left.
A different scan of the same picture exists here:
http://www.cincinnatijudaicafund.com/index.php/Detail/objects/1222
Dear all,
I am searching info on Nachman Heller, my grandfather’s grandfather, I believe. They were from the somewhere around the city of Wolkosvky in Poland/Belasrus area. His wife, Hinda Heller, was originally Hinda Lipschtiz – which could have some connection to the Rav Dovid Lifschitz in the picture…
Any info highly would be appreciated!
best
Andre Heller
Rav Chaim David Regensberg of Chicago was the Rav’s, son-in-law:
http://www.crcweb.org/rabbis/Regensberg%20Chaim%20David%201895-1977.pdf
My great grandfather’s name was Chaim Heller, who died in Romania in 1891. My grandfather (his son) was born after he died and named for him. My grandfather came to the US in 1914, and by the time he enlisted in the US Army, began using the name Charles Heller.
My question: are there any known family connection of Rabbi Dr. Chaim Heller to Romania? I wonder if there is some family relationship? Thank you!
My grandmother is from Sighet Romania. Her father was Shalom Heller. They moved to Antwarp Belgium between WWI and WWII. I don’t have any more information about his family.
the hellers of sighet are descendents of the kezot
I am researching the well-established (non rabbinical) Nachum Heller family originating in Slonim / Vlokovysk area (lumber industry). Many moved to Moscow and Berlin and eventually Canada. If you have additional information it would be well received, t hanks.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rav Soloveitchik met for the first time in Berlin at Rav Heller’s apartment.
Very interesting ! I was wondering who was rav Heller zt”l ??
I am trying to get a copy of the hesped Rav Soloveitzik z`l said for Rav Heller. It was translated into english. If anyone has it I would be very grateful. abukspan@yahoo.com
it has to do with the following chazal.
The Medresh (Bereishis Rabba 91, as well as Talmud Yerushalmi berachos 20b) writes that after the death of Rebbe Simon, Rebbe Levi made mention this incident [the shevatim finding the money and then becoming mortified] in his eulogy for Rebbe Simon. He said, “The shevatim found something, [the money] and it says, ‘Their hearts left them” and we, who have lost Rebbi Simon – all the more so!”
Rebbe Levi was comparing the finding of the money -and the reaction of the shevatim- with our loss of Rebbe Simon –and the like reaction we should have. If they bemoaned their finding something valuable like the money, then we should certainly bemoan the loss of the chochom, Rebbe Simon.
The connection between the events is far from clear. The shevatim were not bemoaning the finding of money, a seemingly good thing, but the sudden appearance of the money that they had spent on the food. They now were rightly fearful of being accused of a crime. What does lamenting an impending criminal accusation have to do with the lamenting the loss of a Torah sage? What did Rebbe Levi see in the apprehension and concern of the shevatim that would be suitable to be said at a funeral or hesped of a gadol batorah?
The famous hesped is the lead article in the book entitled Shiurei Harav.
1974 Edited by Joseph Epstein
It is readily available in most Shul Libraries that have seforim from the Rav.
Here is a link to see the TOC
http://www.gbv.de/dms/bowker/toc/9780881254990.pdf
Looks like Amazon has it for 17 and change.
Good luck.
Shlomo
I am searching info on the parents (shoemaker in BIALYSTOCK) of Max Heller my father.Max Heller was born 1911 Bialystock and left poland in 1918 to join his uncle in USA.Francis Heller
The Chaim Heller that i am looking for moved to NYC from Romania before WWII. He had a kosher hamburger restaurant during the 50’s and 60’s.
I am looking for some information regarding Rabbi Heller’s daughter, Miriam. All I know is that in 1939 she was in Canada trying to gain entry to join her father in Chicago. Also, was Rav Heller also a PHD?
To Mordechai M.:
If you provide an email address, I can give you some info