Rav Yacov Halevi Lipschutz zt”l

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Yaakov Halevi Lipschutz zt”l of Monsey, NY. He was 87.

Born on March 10, 1932, Rav Lipschutz was a son of Rav Binyomin Lipschutz, rov in Fall River, Massachusetts, who was niftar in 1989. He was a grandson of Rav Avrohom Lipschutz, who was a member of the Agudas Harabbonim and served as chief rabbi of Fall River for close to 40 years, and a great-grandson of Rav Yacov Halevi Lipschutz, the famed secretary of Rav Yitzchok Elchonon Spector and author of Zichron Yaakov.

A talmid of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and Bais Medrash Elyon, Rav Lipschutz married Itta Brocha Levin, a daughter of Rav Leizer Levin, head of the Vaad Harabbonim of Detroit and talmid of the Chofetz Chaim.

He settled in Monsey, where he served for many years as rov of Khal Bais Yosef.

Rav Lipschutz was a tremendous talmid chochom and baal machshavah, and authored Kashruth, a seminal work on kashrus published by ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications that was the first volume of its kind and the predecessor of many subsequent works authored by others. He also authored sefer Ikvei Binyomin, which contains his original Torah thoughts on Chamisha Chumshei Torah. He was also a talented and impactful orator, who inspired others with his insightful Torah thoughts and poetry-like delivery.

Rav Lipschutz was a pioneer of American kashrus, first heading the OU Kashrus Division and later leading National Kathruth, his own kosher supervision organization. He also formerly served as a rebbi in Breuer’s.

Rav Lipschutz was reminiscent of the Litvishe rabbonim of old, carrying his mesorah with great pride. He spoke with great satisfaction at being able to perpetuate the precious mesorah of the holy Litvishe Yidden from whom he descended. Rav Lipschutz was one of the last representations of that pure mesorah, and with his passing, a precious link to the past has been severed.

His first wife, Rebbetzin Itta Brocha, passed away several decades ago.

Rav Lipschutz leaves behind an illustrious family of talmidei chachomim and bnei and bnos Torah. His children are Rav Pinchos Lipschutz, editor and publisher of Yated Ne’eman; Mrs. Sora Kamenetzky, wife of Rav Mordechai Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of South Shore; Rav Yosef Lipschutz, R”M at Yeshiva Nachalas Zvi of Toronto; Rav Avrohom Lipschutz, mashgiach of Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago; Mrs. Bashy Morgenstern, wife of Rav Moshe Dov Morgenstern, rov of Khal Yad Shmuel of Monsey; Mrs. Rochel Gruner, wife of Rav Moshe Gruner of Lakewood; Mrs. Leah Gelley, wife of Rav Meir Gelley of Lakewood; and Rav Chaim Moshe Lipschutz of Flatbush.

He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He also leaves behind his wife, Rebbetzin Tzipora Lipschutz.

The levayah will be held on Sunday, November 3, at 1:30 p.m. at Yeshiva Shaarei Torah on Carlton Road in Monsey, NY.

The family will be sitting shivah at 101 Route 306, Monsey, NY. Shacharis will be at 7:30 a.m. each day. Mincha will be at 7:30 p.m., followed by Maariv.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}