Kovno kollel
Encyclopedia
The Kovno Kollel also known as Kollel Perushim of Kovno or Kollel Knesses Beis Yitzchok, was a kollel
located in Kaunas
, Lithuania
. It was founded in 1877 by Rabbi
Yisrael Lipkin Salanter when he was 67.
Kovno kollel's purpose was the furtherance of hora'ah (expertise in deciding matters of Jewish law
) and musar - by supporting and guiding exceptional Torah
scholars in their development as authorities. The project received the blessings, and eventually the name, of the Kovno Rav and posek
hador (the generation's outstanding authority in halakha), Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor.
Until 1877, yeshivas only subsidized students until they got married (at an early age). When the Kollel was established, Rabbi Salanter was attacked by many, precisely for this point. He instituted the practice of paying a small salary to married students to continue their advanced Talmud
ical studies. He defended this innovation because he said that he was training leaders. His argument was that the need for well-trained communal leaders mandated this drastic action. The justification was that these individuals would eventually serve the community, and it was not that because they sat and learned that they should be supported.
By 1877-1878, ten scholars had begun their full-time studies, following a curriculum which included the study of musar literature
. In 1879, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor
, the Rabbi of Kovno, became its head. Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel served as the Mashgiach
of the kollel. Rabbi Spektor's son, Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Rabinowitz accepted the administrative responsibilities and was one of the Roshei Kollel (heads of the kollel), while Rabbi Avrohom Shenker and Rabbi Finkel conducted the internal affairs. Under the latter's guidance, the book Eitz Pri was published, featuring essays by Rabbis Salanter and Spektor - including a foreword by the then lesser-known Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen
(the "Chafetz Chaim").
In 1880, Finkel left the kollel so he could devote himself to establishing more kollelim throughout Eastern Europe
. In 1880, Spektor also left the Kollel, and Salanter's student Yitzchak Blazer
became its new head. Under Blazer's direction, the kollel came to be "onsidered by its contemporaries as a bastion of the Mussar movement
," and was attacked by the Mussar movement
's opponents.
The Kovno Kollel was later transferred to Slabodka, a suburb of Kovno, where Rabbi Shimon Zvi Dubiansky
was appointed Rosh Kollel and served there until the outbreak of World War II.
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
located in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It was founded in 1877 by Rabbi
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...
Yisrael Lipkin Salanter when he was 67.
Kovno kollel's purpose was the furtherance of hora'ah (expertise in deciding matters of Jewish law
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
) and musar - by supporting and guiding exceptional Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
scholars in their development as authorities. The project received the blessings, and eventually the name, of the Kovno Rav and posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
hador (the generation's outstanding authority in halakha), Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor.
Until 1877, yeshivas only subsidized students until they got married (at an early age). When the Kollel was established, Rabbi Salanter was attacked by many, precisely for this point. He instituted the practice of paying a small salary to married students to continue their advanced Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ical studies. He defended this innovation because he said that he was training leaders. His argument was that the need for well-trained communal leaders mandated this drastic action. The justification was that these individuals would eventually serve the community, and it was not that because they sat and learned that they should be supported.
By 1877-1878, ten scholars had begun their full-time studies, following a curriculum which included the study of musar literature
Musar literature
Musar literature is the term used for didactic Jewish ethical literature which describes virtues and vices and the path towards perfection in a methodical way.- Definition of Musar literature :...
. In 1879, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor
Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor
Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor was a Russian rabbi, Posek and Talmudic sage of the 19th century.- Early struggles :...
, the Rabbi of Kovno, became its head. Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel served as the Mashgiach
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives.The position of mashgiach ruchani arose with the...
of the kollel. Rabbi Spektor's son, Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Rabinowitz accepted the administrative responsibilities and was one of the Roshei Kollel (heads of the kollel), while Rabbi Avrohom Shenker and Rabbi Finkel conducted the internal affairs. Under the latter's guidance, the book Eitz Pri was published, featuring essays by Rabbis Salanter and Spektor - including a foreword by the then lesser-known Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen
Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Poupko , known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakhist, posek, and ethicist whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life...
(the "Chafetz Chaim").
In 1880, Finkel left the kollel so he could devote himself to establishing more kollelim throughout Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. In 1880, Spektor also left the Kollel, and Salanter's student Yitzchak Blazer
Yitzchak Blazer
Yitzchak Blazer , also known as Reb Itzelle Peterburger, was one of the early leaders of the Musar movement, a Jewish ethical movement based in Lithuania. He was a student of the founder of the movement, Yisrael Salanter, and was responsible for publishing many of Salanter's letters in Or Yisrael...
became its new head. Under Blazer's direction, the kollel came to be "onsidered by its contemporaries as a bastion of the Mussar movement
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
," and was attacked by the Mussar movement
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
's opponents.
The Kovno Kollel was later transferred to Slabodka, a suburb of Kovno, where Rabbi Shimon Zvi Dubiansky
Shimon Zvi Dubiansky
Rabbi Shimon Zvi Dubiansky was born in approximately 1893 in the city of Kupishuk, to parents Rabbi Yehoshua and Bassheva Dubianski. In his youth they moved and settled in the city of Kritzev....
was appointed Rosh Kollel and served there until the outbreak of World War II.
Chavrei kollel (Kollel members)
- Rabbi Yosef Yozel Horwitz
- Rabbi Yaakov KamenetskyYaakov KamenetskyRabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky , was a prominent rosh yeshiva, posek and Talmudist in the post-World War II American Jewish community....
- Rabbi Dovid LeibowitzDovid LeibowitzDovid Leibowitz was a leading rabbi and disciple of prewar Europe's Slabodka Yeshiva in Lithuania who went on to found the Rabbinical Seminary of America as its first Rosh yeshiva in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, New York...
- Rabbi Chaim RabinowitzChaim RabinowitzChaim Shalom Tuvia Rabinowitz was an Orthodox Lithuanian rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Telshe yeshiva...
- Rabi Svei (father of R' Elya SveiElya SveiRabbi Elya Svei was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia together with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, and was internationally known for his incisive, brilliant and clear shiurim , and his ability to offer sage advice to thousands of Jews worldwide...
)