Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelson - Biography

Rabbi Yaakov Ben Zion HaCohen Mendelsohn (October 12, 1875 – August 5, 1941) was a renowned Orthodox communal rabbi, Talmudist, Halachist, rabbinical author and scholar.

Rabbi Mendelson was born Yaakov Ben Zion Morein in 1875, in Kreitzburg, part of the Vitebsk district of what was then Russia, to his parents Menachem and Beila Rochel Morein. After receiving rigorous Talmudic education, he was drafted into the Russian Army. He deserted, changing his surname to Mendelson ("Mendel's son," with Mendel being the Yiddish equivalent of his father's name, Menachem).

Rabbi Mendelson emigrated to London, England. At age 22, Rabbi Mendelson found a position as the Rabbi/Dayan of Leeds (and of the ‘Chevras Torah’ shul therein), and sent for his cousin, Feiga, who was betrothed to him. They married in Leeds. In 1905, he took a new position as rabbi of Gateshead, and later, as rabbi of Glasgow.

Rabbi Mendelson relocated to the USA in 1915, and in 1919 took up the Rabbinical position of the Brisk d’Lita shul in Newark, New Jersey. In 1921 he was appointed as the rabbi of Newark, with primary jurisdiction over matters of Shechita and Kashrus. Rabbi Mendelson was then the Rabbi of Adas Yisroel in the city, before founding his own shul, Congregation Beis Hamedrash Hagadol, in Newark in 1934. It was commonly known as the Bergen Street Shul.

Distinguished for his scholarship and devotion to the Jewish community, Rabbi Mendelson was appointed vice-president of the Assembly of Orthodox Rabbis of the USA and Canada. Rabbi Mendelson died in 1941, leaving a widow, five sons, four daughters and twelve grandchildren. Another son, Shmuel Dov, died in a scalding accident in Gateshead in 1905.

Relatives

Rabbi Mendelson's son Harry and his descendants reverted to the original family surname of Morein, though other family members continued to use Mendelson. Harry Morein was a founder of the Young Israel of Newark, and an early advocate to change New Jersey's Sunday blue laws, forbidding commerce on Sunday.

Today, he has many descendants involved in communal life at the national and local levels, including kashruth administration at the Orthodox Union, and the teaching faculty of Yeshiva University's Manhattan Talmudical Academy High School and cantorial leadership.

A cousin by marriage, Rabbi Moshe Schneider, followed a path set by Rabbi Mendelson. At the start of World War II, Rabbi Schneider moved his Yeshiva, Toras Emes, to London. Known as Schneider's Yeshiva, it was the only Yeshiva in London of the classic Lithuanian mold.

Works

Rabbi Mendelson was a talented author of Talmudic and Rabbinic works. He wrote:

• Sha’arei Tzion (1903) - on the Talmud (with approbation from Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen, Dayan of Vilna)
• Sefer Hatzid (1904) - about the laws of covering the blood of sacrificial offerings,
• Midrash Yaavetz (Glasgow 1911) - Halacha and Aggadah on the Book of Genesis (with approbations from Rabbi Nosson Halevi Bamberger of Würzburg; Rabbi Menachem Dovber Dagutski of Manchester; Rabbi Refoel Zilberman of Tzfas; Rabbi Eliyahu Posek of Alapolia in Russia; Rabbi Eliezer Dan Yachai of Lutzin and Rabbi Shlomo Yaakov Koton of Leshenov, and with a warm letter from Rabbi Akiva HaCohen Matlon of Heina in Minsk province, then-Russia)
• Mishnas Yaavetz (Newark 1928, three volumes) – Vol. One about androgynous, Vol. Two of Talmudic novellae, and Vol. Three of responsa

Communal Disputes

In Glasgow, Rabbi Mendelson defied business interests to bring down communal costs for Passover Matzah and Mikvah use. At one point, to prevent price gouging, he rented the production facilities of Consolidated Biscuit, kashered it, and ran Matzah production, causing the prior bakery cartel to lose all business for the year.

In Newark, he published a controversial ruling regarding the permissibility, under certain conditions, of using a Shochet who is not Sabbath-observant. The opinion is cited and argued against by Rabbi Shimon Shkop.

During his later years, another rabbi, Yoseph Konvitz, took issue with Rabbi Mendelson's leadership, and attempted to take over the position of Rabbi of Newark and head of the Vaad Hakashruth. Allegations against Rabbi Mendelson were made and rebutted, but there resulted a permanent rift in the city over rabbinate, with competing Vaadei Kashruth and cases brought in Beth Din.

Sources

General references

• Semi-autobiographic introduction to Midrash Yaavetz (pages 8-9)
• American Jewish Year Book Vol. 44 (1942–1943)
• New York Times Archives
• Unpublished memoirs of son Harry Morein and son-in-law Dr. Sam Gross.

Related materials (external links)

• Midrash Yaavetz
• Mishnas Yaavetz
  • Volume One
  • Volume Two
  • Volume Three

Noted references