Yitzchok n Lev i Ge r s ho n : Ra bbi : o Kerzner zt”l P ho t

By Baruch Weiss nitz shteibel led by Rav Eliezer Hager, the Marriage and Early Florida at which Rav Kerzner was in at- Damesek Eliezer. tendance, the subject was brought up, with The rabbonim of a city are the guardians Rabbonus Attuned to the winds of the times, some people questioning the seriousness of of the kehillos, watching, cultivating, and young Yitzchok took stock of the situation In 1951, while teaching at the the aforementioned prohibition. Rav Ker- maintaining the level of Yiddishkeit they and urged his parents to flee. One night, the of Brighton in New York, Rav Kerzner met zner, with his eloquence of speech and co- feel their kehillos are capable of upholding. Nazis entered the Kertzners’ building and his eishes chayil, Rebbetzin Bashie (nee gency of reasoning, defended the position This past Erev Shabbos, the city of Toronto began rounding up all the heads of house- Zuckerman), who would stand faithfully of the gedolei Yisroel, explaining how be- lost one of its guardians, Rav Yitzhok Ker- holds. When they reached the Kertzners’ beside him in all his endeavors. The Ker- longing to such a body lends legitimacy to zner. A moreh derech loved and revered apartment, they inexplicably, miraculous- zners moved to New London, Connecticut, the Reform and Conservative movements, by all, the tragedy of his passing was felt where he assumed the position of rov of the ly, skipped over their door. The next day, and closed the topic for any further discus- throughout the city. As Rav local shul. the Kertzners obtained papers and began sion. remarked at the levayah, even though Rav their escape. Even as a newlywed, Rav Kerzner was Kerzner had been ill for the past few years, As the Kertzners were approaching ready to take full responsibility for the Yeshiva Bais Moshe his presence was still an influence. With hispe - kehillah. When word came that the lo- the train station to leave to the port, they of Scranton tirah, that light is no more. realized they had forgotten an important cal shochet had been seen swimming on A few years later, Rav Kerzner took Rav Kerzner’s brother-in-law, Rav Aharon suitcase and considered going back for it. Shabbos, Rav Kerzner immediately went part in an endeavor which, by his own Zuckerman, mara d’asra of Khal Zichron Pin- Yitzchok was adamant that due to the dan- to the slaughterhouse and told the shochet testimony, was one of the most significant chos of Lakewood, aptly applied the words of ger, they should take no chances of missing to stop. He informed him that being that accomplishments of his life; the establish- Chazal, that yetzias tzaddik min hamakom oseh the boat and they should not return for the he was a mechallel shabbos, his shechitah ment of Yeshiva Bais Moshe in Scranton, roshem—the departure of a righteous person suitcase. The ship on which they traveled was posul and he was hereby relieved of Pennsylvania. from a place makes an impression; as long as to America ended up being the last to leave his duties. The shochet was an older and Rav Dov Lesser of Bais Medrash Go- he is in a city, he is its magnificence, its splen- occupied Europe before the war. accepted member of the community, and voah had approached Rav Chaim Bressler dor, its grandeur. Unlike many in that time period, Yitz- the courage it took for the young rabbi to and Rav Yaakov Shnaidman with the fol- Rav Zuckerman quoted the following ex- chok was fortunate to learn in yeshiva. For make such a statement speaks volumes. lowing idea — both Wilkes-Barre and planation from the Gur Aryeh. Hod, magnifi- eighth-grade, Yitzchok was sent to Yeshiva Rav Kerzner also established a day cence, refers to the lessons of yiras shomayim Toras Chaim in Brownsville, New York; school in New London and accepted the Scranton had excellent, supportive rab- the tzaddik purveys. Throughout Rav Kerzner’s his classmates included the Novominsker majority of its financial responsibilities. bonim; Rav Kerzner in Wilkes-Barre and life, he worked tirelessly to raise the level of Rebbe zt”l and yblch”t Rav Ahron Schech- Many students of this day school came Rav Mordechai Shapiro in Scranton. They yiras shomayim wherever he went. Ziv, splen- ter. The next year, he was sent to Torah from homes that were not shomer Shabbos, both had day schools, but no yeshiva high- dor, refers to the lessons of chochma which the Vodaas, where he was met Rav Shraga but a significant number of them developed school. What better fertile grounds could tzaddik imparts to his followers. Rav Kerzner Feivel Mendelowitz, Rav , into full-fledgedshomrei Torah u’mitzvos. there be for the establishment of a yeshiva? was constantly teaching—he learned privately and Rav . Rav Schor would In 1957, the Kerzners, now a family Rav Dov brought the roshei yeshiva to with whoever asked to do so, and he delivered have a profound impact on Rav Kerzner; with two young children, moved to Wilkes- meet with Rav Kerzner and Rav Shapiro, shiurim in Chumash, Minchas Chinuch, Ge- his affinity for the sefer Sfas Emes was Barre, Pennsylvania, where Rav Kerzner who agreed to move forward and present mara, Pirkei Avos, as well as a popular weekly likely developed under the tutelage of Rav became rov of Congregation Ohav Zedek. the idea to their respective congregations. for women. Hadar, grandeur, refers to the Schorr. Rav Yitzchok Scheiner once told When Rav Kerzner became aware that the Although they initially had the support middos tovos the tzaddik exudes. Anyone who Rav Zuckerman that Rav Kerzner was local mikvah needed fixing, he arranged for of most of the two kehillos, opposition knew Rav Kerzner attests to the sterling middos “echad min hachaburah,” learning along- Rav Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Deitsch, au- began to form, threatening to derail the and ne’imus which defined his character. side the best bochurim of those days. thor of Taharas Yom Tov and noted expert entire project. As Rav Chaim Bressler re- Rav Uri Mayerfeld, of Ner During his time at Torah Vodaas, Rav in mikvaos, to come from Williamsburg to lated, it was Rav Kerzner’s use of his ora- Yisroel Toronto, and close friend and mechu- Kerzner became close with Rav Moshe oversee the construction. tory skills and power of persuasion that tan of Rav Kerzner, remarked that Rav Kerzner Sherer, the spokesman for Torah Jewry. In Wilkes-Barre, Rav Kerzner exerted won over the hearts and minds of the lo- represented the ideal concept of a rov. Contrary Rabbi Sherer imparted a number of peda- effort to improve the local day school. He cal Pennsylvanians, paving the way for the to the modern misunderstanding that a rov is gogical lessons to Rav Kerzner related to raised an enormous amount of money for yeshiva to open. The accomplishments of merely a functionary, available to carry out the public speaking, and remarked that Rav the construction of a new building, and Yeshiva Bais Moshe are legendary, hav- religious duties that service his congregation, a Kerzner was from his best talmidim in brought in a menahel from Lakewood to ing produced thousands of bnei Torah who spiritual leader is actully called a “rov” because homiletics. lead the institution. contribute to Klal Yisroel in immeasurable he is the “greatest” among a kehillah, serving After Torah Vodaas, Yitzchok went to During this time, an issue arose which capacities. as an example for each member to emulate. learn in Bais Medrash Elyon, where he impacted Orthodox rabbanus. The New learned bechavrusa with Rav Reuven Gro- York Board of Rabbis was a body of rabbis Toronto Early Childhood zovsky. The fact he was chosen to help pre- comprised of Orthodox, Conservative and In 1972, the Kerzners, now a family of Rav Kerzner was born in Vienna to Reb pare the shiur is testament to his supreme Reform individuals. Rav Ahron Kotler, to- seven, moved to Toronto, with Rav Kerzner Ahron and Chaya Reizel Kertzner in 1927. intellect and his deep understanding. Rav gether with 12 other roshei yeshiva, came assuming the rabbonus of Khal Machzikei An only child, Yitchok remained particu- Kerzner would often say that Maseches Ye- out with a strong psak, stating it was assur Hadas “Clanton Park.” For over 30 years, larly devoted to his parents for the rest of vamos was his favorite masechta, having to associate with this group in any way. Rav Yitchok Kerzner shepherded his ke- his life. The Kertzners davened at the Vizh- learned it together with Rav Reuven. Not long afterwards, at a convention in hillah and guided them in their avodas

70 18 Kislev 5781 | December 4, 2020 Hashem. As rov of one of the city’s most long mispallel, related a number of inci- prominent Orthodox shuls, his influence dents which demonstrate Rav Kerzner’s spread throughout the entire community. foresight when advising his kehillah. Mr. During his tenure, there was not a conse- Shore once planned to enter into a partner- quential event involving the kehillah that ship with a non-Jew and open a pharmacy, didn’t involve him in one way or another. but the man stipulated that the business In addition to his duties as the rov of a would have to be open on Shabbos and shul, Rav Kerzner presided over the COR, Yom Tov. Knowing that heterim can exist Toronto’s central kashrus agency, for many for businesses partly owned by a non-Jew, years. Both Rav Shlomo Miller and Rav Mr. Shore approached Rav Kerzner with Uri Mayerfeld noted the tremendous in- the shailah. “Absolutely not,” was the roads that Rav Kerzner accomplished as reply. “Not everyone is as well-versed in the head of the COR, raising the standards halacha as one would hope, and the risk of of kashrus on numerous fronts. a bad name affecting you and your family Another point Rav Shlomo Miller re- makes such a proposal a terrible idea.” Mr. lated at the levayah was how Rav Ker- Shore ending up opening the pharmacy on zner was responsible for raising the level his own, and operated a profitable business of respect for talmidei chachomim in the for over 30 years. city. He would push for genuine talmidei On another occasion, a mispallel ap- chachomim to be placed in prominent po- proached Rav Kerzner with the following sitions and, in a certain sense, bridged a shailah. Having recently graduated from gap that had previously existed between university, he wanted to know if he should yeshivaleit and other elements of the com- wear a yarmulke to business meetings and munity. job interviews. “There are heterim to not While Rav Kerzner was definitely a wear a yarmulke l’tzorech parnossah,” Rav more traditional rov, the kehillah of Clan- Kerzner responded. “However, I want you ton Park was comprised of an eclectic ar- think about the repercussions that may ray of individuals, ranging the full gamut arise from you not wearing it and how one of North American Orthodox Judaism. Rav thing might lead to another. I want you to Kerzner was talented in his ability to reach decide whether or not there is anything to and relate to the various elements of his worry about.” kehillah, making everyone feel heard and The man thought about what would appreciated. The fact that he presided over happen if he would go to a business meet- a “mixed” kehillah caused his opinion to ing and, say, be offered a drink. He decided hold sway with a large segment of the com- he wanted to avoid any potential mishaps, munity. and ended up wearing his yarmulke and de- A recurrent theme which emerged dur- veloping a successful career. ing conversations with Rav Kerzner’s ac- quaintances was his ability to use gentle Family Life diplomacy—and at times, humor—to Both Rav Kerzner’s son, Rav Yanky, defuse contentious situations and make and his grandson, Rav Aryeh, related that shalom between disagreeing parties. Rav the majority of the lessons they absorbed Kerzner was once invited to be the guest from Rav Kerzner were not taught to them speaker at an out-of-town shul celebrating directly, but were rather internalized from a chanukas habayis for its new building. observing him. His gentle hanhogah with There was disagreement among different people in the community extended to his elements of that community as to the na- immediate and extended family as well, ture of the mechitza they would install in and there was never a sense of lachatz or the main shul, and a number of community pressure in his home. Rav Yanky related members decided to approach Rav Kerzner that when interesting debates would be to be the deciding voice. raised at their Shabbos table, Rav Kerzner Rav Kerzner explained that although would often remain quiet, allowing his there might be room for leniency in this children to offer their opinions without any matter according to the “letter of the law,” pressure to conform to a particular narra- he would advise them to go with the more tive. mehudar option being discussed. He ex- His relationship with his rebbetzin was plained that being that their kehillah had an example his children aspired to emulate. undergone such immense growth in the His children, sons- and daughters-in-law, past years, they had become a role model grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and to many other communities. When a ke- even great-great-grandchildren, all de- hillah is being viewed as a prototype for veloped close relationships with him and what to live up to, it is best for them to do would consult with him whenever they things in the best manner possible. could. Mr. Marvin Sigler was both a mispallel After the petirah of his rebbetzin 12 at Machzikei Hadas as well as the chair- years ago, Rav Kerzner’s health deteriorat- man of the COR. He worked alongside Rav ed and it became necessary for him to en- Kerzner for many years, and related that he ter a home for the elderly, where he would had often seen Rav Kerzner put COR cli- receive 24-hour care. Rav Mayerfeld, who ents at ease with his gentle smile or a joke. would often visit Rav Kerzner on Erev On one occasion, where two parties were Shabbos, related that even after Rav Ker- going at each other in heated fashion, Rav zner began to lose his ability to converse, Kerzner was able to get them to calm down he was able to elicit a few words from him and come to an agreement. in the following manner. When Rav May- On another occasion, the shul board erfeld would say “Rav Kerzner, geb mir a felt that due to a certain individual’s talk- brocha az ich zol kennen gut lernen—give ing during davening, they should enact a me a brocha that I should be able to learn “three strikes and you’re out” policy to well.” Rav Kerzner would reply “Ir zolt get him to improve his behavior. But Rav kennen gut lernen—you should be able to Kerzner refused to consider it. “You don’t learn well.” understand,” he explained. “This person is Rav Kerzner merited to establish an experiencing unbearable hardships in his eternal legacy in the form of the numerous personal life. Coming to shul and talking kehillos, families and individuals he was to people is what gives him a chiyus. You zoche to influence throughout his long and may tell him to stop disturbing the daven- fruitful life. He leaves behind a family of ing, but under no circumstances can you yereim u’shleimim, who are all contributors ask him to leave.” to their respective communities. Mr. Murray Shore, another decades- Yehi zichro boruch.

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