All are asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Chaim Dov Keller, rosh yeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
Rav Keller was rushed to the hospital this morning with a fever and was tested for COVID-19/coronavirus. The test results confirmed that he has coronavirus.
Rav Keller is in critical condition and is now on a respirator/ventilator.
The physicians overseeing his care are considering giving the rosh yeshiva the drugs that have been approved this week to treat the virus.
Rav Keller was born in New York City and subsequently attended the Telshe Yeshiva after it was established in Cleveland, Ohio by Rav Chaim Mordechai Katz and Rav Eliyahu Meir Bloch. Rav Keller became a close talmid of Rav Bloch. Rav Keller later married a daughter of Rav Leizer Levin zt”l, longtime rov of Detroit. Together with his brother-in-law, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin, Rav Keller was hand-picked by the leadership of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland to oversee the establishment of a similar yeshiva in Chicago in 1960.
One of the senior roshei yeshiva of North America, Rav Keller has for years served as a member of the Nesius of Agudas Yisroel of America.
All are asked to daven for the complete recovery of Rav Chaim Dov ben Kreindel.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
The Rosh Yeshiva should have a refuah shleima b’korov. Just for the sake of truth, Telshe leadership, in 1960, sent Rav Avrohom C. Levin zt”l and Rav Chaim Schmelczer zt”l to establish Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago. Rav Keller joined a few years later. Rav Keller, one of the zkan Roshei Yeshiva in the USA is sorely needed for his sage leadership – not only in the Yeshiva, but in Chicago and the entire Midwest. Please daven for him.
He was in LA with Rav Simcha Wasserman and working his Yeshiva when Rav Mottel Katz sent Rav AC Levin and Reb Chaim Schmeltzer to open the yeshiva in Chicago. About a year later when Rav Chaim Dov was considering accepting a job in South Africa, his brother-in-law Rav Avrohom Chaim asked him to come to Chicago.
רפואה שלמה בקרוב ממש
It was Rav Chaim Schmelczer zt”l who was tasked with opening Telz Chicago together with Rav Levin zt”l. Rav Keller, yblch”t, joined the yeshiva a few years later.
May Hashem send him a speedy recovery.
Correction: Telshe was started by R’ Avrohom Chaim Levin Zt”l and R’ Chaim Schmelczer zt”l. Rabbi Keller joined over a year later. Refuos Un yeshuos!
Rabbi zenernski joined in 1968
Rav Chaim Dov Shlita was my rebbe in 1964 and I have only fond memories of his shiur and my relationship with him. I wish him a speedy recovery and a refuah shleima. Klal Yisroel needs his strong leadership and warmth.
Itzy Weisberg
Detroit Michigan / Miami Beach
I wish and pray for a speedy and complete recovery for Rav Keller. Why was his tenure as a student at Yeshiva University not noted?