YS GOLD

The sixth of Nissan of this year marks one century since the passing of Rav Hillel HaKohen Klein, a major figure in New York Jewry of the last century, and a major activist in the rescue and relief efforts for European Jewry. 

Rav Hillel hailed from Hungary, and his father, Rav Zeev Zvi, was a talmid of the Chasam Sofer. As a bachur, he too entered the illustrious Yeshiva in Pressburg where he learned under the Ksav Sofer. He later learned under other gaonim of his era, including Rav Azriel Hildesheimer of Berlin. He married a granddaughter of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch of Frankfurt. 

After a number of years of serving as a rov in Russia, the anti-Semitism became too much for him (the 1880’s were a particularly difficult time for the Jews of Russia, and saw mass emigration to the United States). He accepted the invitation of New York’s Rav Hakollel to serve as the rov of Congregation Ohab Zedek on Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side, and he remained there until his passing. 

He went on to become one of New York’s most influential rabbonim, and served on the Bais Din of the Rav Hakollel alongside esteemed rabbonim from that era. Simultaneously, he served in the leadership of numerous charitable organization, including Kollel Shomrei Hachomos and Agudas Harabanim of the United States. 

In his will, it is written that the 43,000 sefarim that were in his home should, after his passing, be donated to the yeshiva of Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan. He had served as the president of the yeshiva for three years and helped establish and support it through his benefactors. Indeed, to this day there is still a room in the yeshiva known as the library of Harav Hillel HaKohen Klein.

Rav Klein was niftar on 6 Nissan of the year 1926, and was interred in Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn, leaving behind an incredible legacy of Torah activism and leadership.