David Hollander (rabbi)
| Rabbi David B. Hollander | |
|---|---|
| Position | Rabbi |
| Synagogue | Hebrew Alliance of Brighton Beach |
| Ended | 2009 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hungary |
| Died |
2009 Brooklyn, New York |
| Denomination | Orthodox Judaism |
| Father | Jonathan Benjamin Hollander |
| Mother | Rachel |
| Spouse | Fay |
| Alma mater | Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary |
David B. Hollander (1913–2009) was an American Orthodox rabbi, and president of The Rabbinical Council of America from 1954 to 1956. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving active pulpit rabbi in the United States.[1]
Early life
David Hollander was born in Hungary to Rabbi Jonathan Benjamin Hollander, and his mother Rachel.[2] When Hollander was 9 years-old, he immigrated with his family to New York City.
Hollander received his semikha and law degree from Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon at Yeshiva University.[2]
Rabbinate
In 1943, Hollander was elected Rabbi of Mount Eden Jewish Center in The Bronx, New York, and remained its rabbi until the synagogue disbanded in 1980. At the time, Hollander had forfeited months of back-pay so that the building would not be sold to a church. In 2005, the building was demolished, and in the following year, a new apartment building was constructed in its place.[3]
Hollander served as Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America, a national assembly of Orthodox rabbis. In 1954, he was elected its president.[2]
Hollander considered retiring when the Mount Eden Jewish Center closed. However, he was persuaded to continue in the rabbinate by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who said to him, "I am older than you are, and I am taking on additional burdens. By what right do you retire?"[4] With the help of Rabbi Paul M. Fleischman, he became the rabbi of the Hebrew Alliance of Brighton Beach synagogue at 2915 Brighton 6th Street, in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.[5]
In 2003, Hollander became the oldest active pulpit rabbi in the United States, and continued in that capacity until his death six years later.[4][6]
Hollander was a columnist for many decades, writing both in Yiddish in the Algemeiner Journal, and in English In The Jewish Press. He was an oft-quoted speaker, and could be sometimes controversial.[7]
Soviet Jewry
In 1956, Hollander made his first visit to the Soviet Union.[2] He brought along hundreds of prayer books, and encouraged the Jews living under Soviet persecution to keep their faith. He subsequently made five more visits to Russia.[6]
He was a regular speaker at Soviet Jewry rallies. Following a merger in the 1990s of the Hebrew Alliance of Brighton Beach with Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (F.R.E.E), the majority of his congregants were from FSU (Former Soviet Union) countries.[1][4]
Family
Hollander did not leave behind any children. His wife of 61 years, Mrs. Fay Hollander,[8] died a little over a year after him. He was survived by a brother in Israel.
See also
References
- 1 2 Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, "Oldest Active Pulpit Rabbi Tells All"
- 1 2 3 4 Hamodia, obituary.
- ↑ "Remembrance Of Synagogues Past"
- 1 2 3 Chabad News, obituary.
- ↑ Shalom New York Photo: "Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Rabbi David Hollander (OBM), Rabbi Hershel Okonov"
- 1 2 Lubavitch.com obituary.
- ↑ New York Times, "Rabbi Group is Preparing to Denounce Non-Orthodox" by Gustav Niebuhr
- ↑ http://matzav.com/rebbetzin-faige-fay-hollander-ah