The Altstadter Beis Medrash on 52nd Street in Boro Park is an institution that is many decades old, and was headed by Rav Yaakov Thumim, zt”l, a scion of great rabbinic families, a talmid chochom, a supporter of Torah causes, and a patriarch to an esteemed Torah family. 

Today, we take a glimpse into his life. 

Vienna

Rav Yaakov was born in Vienna, Austria on the 13th of Cheshvan of the year 5682 (1921). His father was Rav Pinchos Yosef Thumim, a brilliant talmid chochom, a Belzer chossid, who was the son of the rov of Krisnipolye (Chervonohrad), Ukraine. Rav Pinchos Yosef hailed from ten generations of Rabbonim. His shidduch with Rebbetzin Chaya Yocheved, the son of Rav Chaim Yitzchok Jeruchem, the Altstadter Rov, was suggested by none other than Rav Yisochor Dov of Belz himself. 

The couple settled in Sambor, Galicia (today Ukraine), and like many of the Yidden of Galicia, the family escaped to Vienna during World War One, and thus found themselves there when a little boy was born to them in the year 1921. They named him Yaakov for his great ancestor Rav Yaakov of Lisa, known as the Nesivos Hamishpot, of whom he was twice a descendant. 

Journeying with them to Vienna was Rebbetzin Chana Yocheved’s father, the Altstadter Rov, who would be a major influence in the young boy’s life during their years together in Vinna. Rav Yaakov would later write about those years: “My grandfather’s home was a center of Torah and tefillah, and I witnessed how, in his deep love for Torah, nothing could disturb him, not even the circulating grandchildren. He encouraged me to transcribe my chiddushei Torah. I would watch as he would pour out his heart to Hashem for an hour a day that he should merit children and grandchildren who would go in the ways of Hashem.” 

Ironically, when WWII broke out, Poland was deemed safer than Austria, and Rav Chaim Yitzchok Jeruchem returned to Sambor, because he had Polish citizenship. His children did not, and they needed another Avenue of escape. While his daughter and grandchild miraculously escaped via Switzerland, his son-in-law, Rav Pinchos Yosef wound up in Casablanca, Morrocco (he later composed a kinah for the horrors of Churban Europa). 

Boro Park  

In 1984, he opened the shul Nachlas Yaakov-Altsdadt in tribute to his namesake, the Nesivos Hamishpot, as well as his saintly grandfather, the Altstadter Rov. 

Throughout their years, Rav Thumim and his Rebbetzin supported Torah generously, and gave handily for the gamut of charitable causes. He delivered a daf Yomi shiur for many years, where many Boro Park residents would come to enjoy hearing the daf from him in his unique delivery. 

He also opened a night Kollel—one of the first of its kind—named Birchas Yitzchok, in the name of his grandfather, the Altstadter rov. He supported this endeavor from his own pocket, serving as a beacon of Torah in that corner of Boro Park.   

He authored the sefer Vayomer Yaakov al haTorah. In the introduction, the grandchildren of the author write: “This pamphlet is only a small portion of the Torah in the possession of the author, shlit”a, who has more chidushim al haTorah, Mo’adim, on Shas, and other topics.”  

Rav Thumim writes in his introduction: “Many of these chiddushim came to me half a century ago, but it did not occur to me to publish them. But my grandchildren prevailed upon me to bring them to print—especially since the Divrei Chaim, the Rebbe of my saintly grandfather, writes that it is proper to publish chidushei Torah that come to a person. 

Rav Yaakov and his Rebbetzin established beautiful Torah generations, with Rabbonim, many bnei Torah and marbitzei Torah among their offspring. Rav Thumim and his rebbetzin suffered a terrible tragedy with the untimely passing of their oldest child, their son, Rav Dovid, a talmid chochom and rav hamachshir, who perished in a plane crash while on a kashrus mission in Ecuador. 

Rav Thumim was niftar on Chol Hamoe’ed Pesach of the year 2016 at the age of 94. He was escorted to his eternal rest by scores of Boro Park residents who greatly respected rov within their midst who devoted his life to Torah, avodah and gemilus chassodim

Upon his matzeivah it is inscribed: He shaped many talmidim and was marbitz Torah. He established a Kollel erev in his beis medrash, he dealt honestly in business, supported lomdei Torah, and accepted his suffering in silence. His home was open wide, he was ardently connected to his grandfather, and he transmitted the traditions of his forefathers to his offspring with love.”