Yisroel Moshe Olewski

Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Olewski was the rabbi of Radziejów Poland prior to the holocaust. After the holocaust, he was one of the rabbis of Bergen-Belsen and the Chief Rabbi of Celle. Later, after emigrating to the United States he was the founder of the Gerrer yeshiva in Brooklyn.

Rabbi

Yisroel Moshe Olewski
Hebrew: הרב ישראל משה אולבסקי‎
Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Olewski
TitleChief Rabbi of Celle
Personal
BornSeptember 26 1916
Osięciny Poland
DiedMay 26 1966
New York City United States
ReligionJudaism
DenominationOrthodox
OtherRabbi of Radziejów, Rabbi of Bergen-Belsen
BuriedJerusalem, Israel
SemichaRabbi Menachem Ziemba

Biography

Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Olewski was born in Osięciny Poland on September 26 1916. His father was Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh and his mother was Henna Rivka, the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Zalman Neiman who was the Rabbi of Osięciny. Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Olewski's father died when he was 6 years old and he was sent to study in a yeshiva in Włocławek. Thereafter, he studied in a yeshiva in Warsaw and then in Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin. When he became of age, Rabbi Olewski married and settled in his father-in-law's hometown of Izbica Kujawska.[1][2]

Rabbi of Radziejów

Rabbi Olewski received his rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Menachem Ziemba. Thereafter he became the rabbi of Radziejów Poland.[1]

Leadership roles in Germany

Rabbi in Bergen-Belsen
Rabbis in Bergen-Belsen: (Left-Right) Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Olewski, Rabbi Yoel Halpern, Rabbi Chaim Meisels

Rabbi Olewski survived the Holocaust and was liberated in Bergen-Belsen on April 11, 1945. He was appointed to be one of member rabbis of the bais din in Bergen-Belsen and together with the other rabbis was instrumental in permitting numerous agunot to remarry.[1]

Chief Rabbi of Celle

In late 1945, Rabbi Olewski was appointed by the British Chief Rabbi's Religious Council to be the Chief Rabbi of Celle which was located in the British Zone of Germany.In 1949, the British occupation of North-West Germany ended and the British Chief Rabbi's Religious Emergency Council and it's appointees were required to wrap up their operations in Germany. However, the local Jewish community asked Rabbi Olewski to continue as their Rabbi and Rabbi Olewski remained in his position. Ultimately in 1950, he decided to emigrate to the United States.[1]

Rabbi Olewski was also appointed to be one of the member Rabbis of the Vaad Harabonim of The British Zone, which was established and led by Rabbi Yoel Halpern.[3]

Leader of Agudas Yisroel of the British Zone

Rabbi Olewski, together with Rabbi Shlomo Zev Zweigenhaft and Efraim Londoner[4] were the leaders of Agudas Yisroel of the British Zone. Rabbi Olewski very much engaged in advocating for both the spiritual and physical needs to the Jews in the zone.[3]

In the United States

After emigrating to the United States, Rabbi Olewski was appointed to be the principal of the bostoner yeshiva. Later, Rabbi Olewski was appointed as Rabbi of one of the Gerrer synagogues in Brooklyn and was the founder of the Gerrer Yeshiva in the United States.[2]

Death

Rabbi Olewski died from cancer in New York City on May 26 1966[5] and was buried in Jerusalem Israel.[2]

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gollark: means to sum 1 + 4 + 9 + 16.
gollark: https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/424397590214344704/936984716354125874/graph.png
gollark: means to sum 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 (substitute x=1,2,3,4 into the x on the right and sum the results).
gollark: https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/424397590214344704/936984560355385375/graph.png

References
  1. Albert Shmuel, Hamodia Vol. XXII No.1059 May 8 2019.
  2. Bais Yaakov Journal No. 89 Tishrei 5727.
  3. Migdal Dovid (lelov) 2019 Edition, Toldos Hamo"l,.
  4. Albert, Rabbi Shmuel, "Bridge To A Bygone World"
  5. https://www.geni.com/people/Rav-Yisroel-Moshe-Olewski/6000000013093600391
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