Rabbi Shmuel Gerstenfeld
שמואל ב"ר ברוך
Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS)Date of Death:
Fri. June 6, 1958 -
Sivan 18 5718
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Directions to Kever: Har HaMenuchos Cemetery - Jerusalem, Israel, Location: Block (פרושים) ב, Plot 7, Row 2, Spot 12, Hevra Kadisha Klalit Jerusalem
Biographical Notes:
Source: ha-Tsofeh 8 June 1958
Photo Caption: Agudath Harabonim membership list, Credit: MCA
Source: New York Daily News, June, 1958
Source: New York Herold News, December 1950
Source: Brooklyn Eagle, April 1954
Photo Caption: Rav Gerstenfeld “sitting in the classroom” at the Bernard Revel Graduate School c.1950. Credit: Needed
Photo Caption: Location Needed, 1. Unknown, 2. Rav Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch, Telshe, Cleveland, 3. Rav Gerstenfeld, 4. Unknown, 5. Unknown, 6. Unknown, Credit: Needed
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Rabbi Gerstenfeld was born in Rava-Russkaya in Galicia. He studied in the yeshiva at Klausenberg where he received semikhah from Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Glazner zt”l. He served as rabbi in England for 12 years. After coming to the United States in 1916, Rabbi Gerstenfeld served as rabbi in Beit Haknesset Shomer Shabbat Nusach Ashkenaz in Brooklyn. In 1917, he was appointed a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he taught for 40 years. Rabbi Gerstenfeld, rare among his European peers of that time, also wrote in the English language with ease and style and published articles in various Torah journals as well as for the broader community.
Source: Yeshiva University
His kever at Har HaMenuchos
https://gravez.me/en/deceased/3293743F-7E5A-405D-815B-5AB5AD89AB05
He wrote many articles for HaPardes and Beis Yitzchak – these can be found on HebrewBooks.org
His listing in Ohalei Shem (1912) p491 from when he was still in the UK
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=36602&st=&pgnum=524
https://www.geni.com/people/Rabbi-Shmuel-Gerstenfeld/6000000003229323961
http://moreshesamerica.blogspot.com/2014/09/1.html
See p2 of Chavrusa from RIETS in Jan. 1957
http://download.yutorah.org/1958/1053/755509.pdf
Hashgacha om Messing Bakeries from 1933 in Forverts exactly 88 years ago today
https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/frw/1933/04/06/01/article/55.1
His signature on the incorporation papers of the Degel HaRabbonim (Federation of Orthodox Rabbis of America) October 7, 1926
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WHvglACYY5wel2cEdSWdjkdn-qlAsVC/view
So far I have not detected much activity by Rav Gerstenfeld with the DHR after this initial involvement.
Moshe Escott – great resources ! thank you. The last picture posted here in a Revel classroom – looks like the Rav standing don’t you think. I’ve never seen this pic.
Joshua, you are correct that it is Rav Soloveitchik – also see same picture here which includes a caption: https://books.google.com/books?id=sa06PAem-SgC&pg=PA27
His son was a rabbi (C) in Washington DC for many years.