Rabbi Dovid Yitzchok Kalowitz
דוד יצחק ב"ר ישעיה ליב
Rav, New Yok CityDate of Death:
Fri. June 17, 1960 -
Sivan 22 5720
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Directions to Kever: Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, NY maintains computerized records and will provide a detailed location map upon request. Location: Needed
Name Listed on Cemetery Database: Name listed on marker: Rabbi David Kalowitz
Biographical Notes:
Credit: David Wieder, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
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Rabbi Kalowitz was born in Lutsk Gubernia, in the Russian Empire. He was visiting the shtetel where one of his friends lived when a pogrom broke out. He hid in a barrel of freezing water and lost two toes to frostbite. This experience convinced him to leave Russia.
He emigrated to Ottoman-controlled Palestine, but was forced to leave due to the draft there. Before leaving, he got a semichah in shechitah from his Rebbi, Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, at that time the chief rabbi of Yafo.
Upon arrival in America, Dovid Yitzchok got a job as a shochet, but, when his employer tried to get him to certify treif meat as kosher he quit. He then started a school to teach shochetim, but closed it because some of the graduates were revealed to be unscrupulous. He did not want to have his name associated with such people.
He ultimately became an elementary school rebbi at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin where he served for many years.
Once he was returning from a yeshiva dinner late at night, when he fell into an open manhole. He was on the brink of drowning, when his rebbetzin, who was sleeping at home, dreamt that her husband was in danger. She woke up and began reciting tehillim. At the last moment Rav Kalowitz was rescued by a passing street cleaner.