Rabbi Meir Peretz Levitz
מאיר פרץ ב"ר חיים ירוחם פישל הלוי
Chief Rabbi, Hazelton, PennsylvaniaDate of Death:
Wed. July 28, 1965 -
Tammuz 28 5725
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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: Section: H5
Biographical Notes:
Photo Caption: Rabbi Meir Peretz Levitz, Credit: Dr. Yisrael Levitz
Photo Caption: Rabbi Meir Peretz Levitz, Credit: Dr. Yisrael Levitz
Photo Caption: Rabbi Meir Peretz Levitz, Credit: Lisa Krain
Source: Dr. Yisrael Levitz
Credit: JM
Credit: IFJCAH
Credit: IFJCAH
Credit: IFJCAH
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הרב מאיר פרץ לעוויץ נולד בעיר זעמבראווא, פלך לומזה, תלמיד ישיבות לומזה, ביאליסטוק, סלאבודקא, נאוואהרדיק וכולל קאוונא, נסמך להוראה ע”י הגאונים ר’ יחיאל מיכל עפשטיין בעל ערוה”ש, ר’ צבי יעקב אפפענהיים מקעלם, ר’ ישראל ניסן קארק ראב”ד ומנהל כולל קאוונא, ומהגאון ר’ יצחק ראבינאוויץ מפאניעוויזש.
כיהן ברבנות בעיר זאטיש פלך יעקאטעריניסלאוו. בשנת תרפ”ח היגר לארה”ב ושמש ברבנות בהייזלטאון, פענסעלוועניע.
היה חבר ועד ההנהלה של אגודת הרבנים וחבר ועד הרבנים דעיר נוא יארק רבתי.
This is my paternal uncle. Any relatives invited to get in touch with me.
can someone translate the Hebrew reply for me
thanks
Stan Levitz
thank you to Ben Bee Zee for a reply….however, I need it in English. thank you very much
Free Translation:
Rabbi Mier Peretz Levitz was born in the town called Zembrow a province of Lomze. he was a student and graduate the Lomze Yeshiva (Rabbinical College) and was ordianed as Rabbi by the prominent Lithuanian Rabbis; RYM Epstien of Navogrodek author of Aruch Hashilchan, RZY Oppenhiem of Kelm, RYN Kark of the Kovne Kollel and RY Rabinowitz of Ponevizh.
Served as rabbi in the town Zetish (?) and in 1928 emigrated to the US to serve the Jewish comunity in Hazelton, PA.
Was a member of the Agudas Harabonim and of the Rabbinical Counsil of NY.
Born in Zembrove near the city of Lumzhe, learned in the Yeshivos of Lumzhe, Bialistok, Slabodka and Kolel Kovna.
Got Smicha from Reb Yechiel Mechel Epstein author of the famous Aruch Hashilchon, Reb Tzvi Yakov Oppenheim from Klelem, Reb Yisroel Nissin Kark chief rabbi of Kovna and from Reb Yitzchok Rabinowitz of Ponevizh.
He served as the Rabbi of a city named Zatitch which is near Yakatarinislov and in 1928 he came to the US and served as a Rabbi in Hazeltown, Pennsylvania.
He was one of the leading rabbis of the Agudas Harabonim and the Vaad Harabonim of Greater New York.
I knew my uncle Peretz (zt”l) well. When he was older, in his 80s, he lost his sight and we used to learn on the phone together. He was an amazing talmid chacham (scholar). When he passed away, I remember crying at his funeral for all the torah that was lost to the world with his passing.
I don’t know if I am related to a Stan Levitz. However, given the size of the Levitz clan, it is altogether possible. Feel free to email me for any further discussion.
Yisrael Levitz
Nof Ayalon, Israel
My husband Stanley Levitz passed away last year.
Rabbi Levitz was his oldest uncle. He spoke of how wise his uncle was.
To Yisrael Levitz:
if you could give me the name of your Levitz grandparents maybe we can find a connection.
sclevitz@gmail.com
Rav Meyer (Meir) Peretz was one of 10 surviving children of Chaim (Yerucham) Fischel Danielowicz (shortened to Levitz in the U.S.) and Zysla (Zissel) born Sidorowski.
Dr. Yisrael Levitz and Stanley Levitz are first cousins; they are the children of Meyer Peretz’ brothers Benny (Benzion) and Jack (Jankel), respectively.
More information, photos, and documents about Rav Meyer Peretz Levitz and other members of the family can be found here: https://www.geni.com/people/Rabbi-Meyer-Peretz-Levitz/6000000009076453809
– Lisa, granddaughter-in-law of yet another brother of Meyer Peretz, and family historian.
Correction: Meyer Peretz was one of at least 11 surviving siblings; at least 3 additional siblings are believed or documented to have died in infancy in Poland.
Meir Peretz was the first of eighteen children born to Zissel and Reb Fishel Danielevitch in 1886. Six of their 18 died in childhood and were buried in the town cemetery of Zamrow Poland.
Even as a child, Peretz stood out as having a brilliant mind. When old enough to be on his own, he was sent to learn in the famous Lomze yeshiva in Bialystok. He later attended Slabodka, Nevardik, and Kollel Kovneh, which were among the most prestigious yeshivot of Europe. Meir Peretz Danielowicz became known in the yeshiva world of Eastern Europe as a gaon. At the age of eighteen, he received his first Smicha from the Gadol [great Torah scholar] Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein, the famous Aruch Hashulchan. He went on to receive Smicha from Rav Tzvi Yaakov Oppenheim of Kelm, Rav Yisrael Kark, the Rosh Yeshiva of Kollel Kovneh, Reb Itzeleh of Ponovich, and in the year 1913 from the Gaon Harav Avraham Dov Kahana Shapira.
Meir Peretz married Basha bas Reb Eliezer of Pinsk, a Musmach [ordained rabbi] of Volozhin. Rav Peretz then went on to serve as a rabbi in a small Polish town (Zatishi) until the Bolshevik Revolution.
In 1928, he arrived in the United States and became the rabbi of Hazelton, Pennsylvania for the next seven years. When he left Hazelton, he became the Rav of the 5th Street Shul in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He could now be close to his family who had already arrived from Europe several years earlier. He remained in that position for several decades.
In his later years, he developed diabetes and ultimately became blind. When I visited him at his home I suggested that we learn Gemara together on the phone each week. He agreed, and we established a weekly seder. I would learn from an open Gemara, while he, unable to see, was able to quote the Gemara verbatim, and explain Rashi, Tosfos, and other commentaries from memory. It was an awesome experience to be in the shadow of such a Torah giant each week.