Casriel Dovid Kaplin
Encyclopedia
Casriel Dovid Kaplin, was a rabbi
and a dayan in the London Beth Din
. He lived for much of his life in London
, England
. He published three volumes of his responsa
as well as numerous scholarly articles, besides having many unpublished writings.
Sukkos 5632) to Jerusalem-born Noach Kaplin, a grandson of Reb Nochum Magid who formerly held lectures in the Hurva Synagogue
in the Old City of Jerusalem. During World War II
the family was evacuated to Letchworth
because of their dwelling's proximity to the London Docks
, a major target of German bombing. He became barmitzva while living at Letchworth; in later years he would bemoan the fact that he was not able to have his own personal tefilin at the ceremony. However, the pilpul (discourse) he delivered on the occasion of his barmitzva was heard by Rabbi Elya Lopian and Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky, two great Torah scholars who were living in Letchworth at the time.
. In 1952 he transferred to the Chevron Yeshiva for several years, after which he was accepted in Gateshead Kolel. He received semicha
from Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer
, Rabbi Zvi Pesach Frank the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and Rabbi Shlomo Dovid Kahana.
In 1960 Kaplin married the eldest daughter of Aharon Zucker (of Stamford Hill
). He continued his studies at Gateshead Kolel until 1965, when he was appointed as the rabbi of the Shomrei Hadath Synagogue, Hampstead
, London. He had not been long in this position when he received a call to join the London Beth Din.
of Rabbi Yitschok Myer Morgenstern's Yeshivas Toras Chochom. On a visit to his family in England for Pesach 2006, he fell ill with severe breathing problems. He did not recover and died in London on the 14 Iyar of that year.
A posthumous edition of novellae on tractate Mikva'ot
was published in 2007 under the name Keser Dovid.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and a dayan in the London Beth Din
London Beth Din
The London Beth Din is the Ashkenazi Beth Din of the United Synagogue, the largest Ashkenazi synagogal body in London, England. In its capacity as Court of the Chief Rabbi, it is historically the supreme halakhic Authority for Mitnagdim Ashkenazim several Commonwealth countries and additionally is...
. He lived for much of his life in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He published three volumes of his responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
as well as numerous scholarly articles, besides having many unpublished writings.
Early years
Casriel Dovid Kaplin was born in the East End of London in 1931 (Chol HamoedChol HaMoed
Chol HaMoed, a Hebrew phrase meaning "weekdays [of] the festival" , refers to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot. During Chol HaMoed the usual restrictions that apply to the Biblical Jewish holidays are relaxed, but not entirely eliminated...
Sukkos 5632) to Jerusalem-born Noach Kaplin, a grandson of Reb Nochum Magid who formerly held lectures in the Hurva Synagogue
Hurva Synagogue
The Hurva Synagogue, , also known as Hurvat Rabbi Yehudah he-Hasid , is a historic synagogue located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem....
in the Old City of Jerusalem. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the family was evacuated to Letchworth
Letchworth
Letchworth Garden City, commonly known as Letchworth, is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The town's name is taken from one of the three villages it surrounded - all of which featured in the Domesday Book. The land used was first purchased by Quakers who had intended to farm the...
because of their dwelling's proximity to the London Docks
London Docks
The London Docks were one of several sets of docks in the historic Port of London. They were constructed in Wapping downstream from the City of London between 1799 and 1815, at a cost exceeding £5½ million. Traditionally ships had docked at wharves on the River Thames, but by this time, more...
, a major target of German bombing. He became barmitzva while living at Letchworth; in later years he would bemoan the fact that he was not able to have his own personal tefilin at the ceremony. However, the pilpul (discourse) he delivered on the occasion of his barmitzva was heard by Rabbi Elya Lopian and Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky, two great Torah scholars who were living in Letchworth at the time.
Rabbinate and scholarship
After World War II Kaplin studied at Gateshead YeshivaGateshead Talmudical College
Gateshead Talmudical College , popularly known as Gateshead Yeshiva, is located in the town of Gateshead in England. It is the largest yeshiva in Europe and considered to be one of the most prestigious advanced yeshivas in the Orthodox world. The student body currently numbers 350...
. In 1952 he transferred to the Chevron Yeshiva for several years, after which he was accepted in Gateshead Kolel. He received semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
from Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer
Isser Zalman Meltzer
Isser Zalman Meltzer, , was a famous Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, rosh yeshiva and posek. He is also known as the "Even HaEzel" - the title of his commentary on Rambam's Mishne Torah....
, Rabbi Zvi Pesach Frank the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and Rabbi Shlomo Dovid Kahana.
In 1960 Kaplin married the eldest daughter of Aharon Zucker (of Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill is a place in the north of the London Borough of Hackney, England, near the border with Haringey. It is home to Europe's largest Hasidic Jewish and Adeni Jewish community.Stamford Hill is NNE of Charing Cross.-History:...
). He continued his studies at Gateshead Kolel until 1965, when he was appointed as the rabbi of the Shomrei Hadath Synagogue, Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London. He had not been long in this position when he received a call to join the London Beth Din.
London Beth Din
Casriel Kaplin's first appointment was as a rabbi with the Federation of Synagogues. The London Beth Din then offered him a better job and he transferred there in the late 1960s, in a position he was to hold for the next thirty years. This proved to be a turning point in Kaplin's career. He rapidly built up expertise in the areas of agunos and the correct spelling of names in gittin as well as in practical issues relating to mikvehs. As his reputation grew Kaplin began to receive rabbinical questions from all over the world, and is quoted in such classic responsa as Minchas Yitschok and Yabia Omer. In 1998, he left the Beth Din to live in Israel.Final years
In retirement Kaplin moved to Jerusalem, Israel, where he was invited to serve as rosh yeshivaRosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Rabbi Yitschok Myer Morgenstern's Yeshivas Toras Chochom. On a visit to his family in England for Pesach 2006, he fell ill with severe breathing problems. He did not recover and died in London on the 14 Iyar of that year.
Works
Kaplin published three volumes of responsa:- Keser Dovid
- Keser Dovid Tinyono
- Keser Nehora
A posthumous edition of novellae on tractate Mikva'ot
Mikva'ot
Tractate Mikva'ot is a section of the Mishna discussing the laws pertaining to the building and maintenance of a mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath...
was published in 2007 under the name Keser Dovid.