Shmuel Kamenetsky
American Haredi rabbi (born 1924)
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Shmuel Kamenetsky (born 1924) is an American Haredi rabbi. He is the co-founder and rosh yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky | |
|---|---|
| |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1924 (age 101–102) Tytuvėnai, Lithuania |
| Spouse |
Temi Brooks (died 2022) |
| Children | 11 |
| Parent(s) | Yaakov Kamenetsky and Ettil Kamenetsky |
| Alma mater | Beth Medrash Govoha, Ner Israel Rabbinical College |
| Occupation | Rosh yeshiva |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
| Position | Rosh yeshiva |
| Yeshiva | Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia |
| Residence | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Early life
Kamenetsky was born in Tytuvėnai, Lithuania to Yaakov Kamenetsky, the town's rabbi.[1] After the family's emigration to Canada in 1938, he attended Eitz Chaim Day Schools in Toronto,[2] then studied at Ner Israel Rabbinical College under his father's cousin, Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman. He went on to study at Lakewood Yeshiva,[3] becoming a primary student of Aharon Kotler, from whom he received rabbinic ordination.
Career
In the mid-1950s,[4] Kotler's colleague Nosson Meir Wachtfogel asked Kamenetsky to help establish a yeshiva in Philadelphia, the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.[5] In 1956 Schwartzman left to open his own yeshiva in Israel, and Kamenetsky chose Elya Svei[6] as co-rosh yeshiva. This arrangement continued until Svei's death in March 2009.
Kamenetsky is a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of America[7][8] and serves on the rabbinical board of organizations including Chinuch Atzmai (Torah Schools for Israel),[9] Torah Umesorah,[10] the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation,[11] and the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals.[citation needed]
Opinions
Kamenetsky's opinion is frequently sought and quoted on current issues such as same-sex attraction,[12] child molestation,[13] obesity and dieting,[14] smoking,[15] and drinking alcohol to excess on Purim.[16]
Kamenetsky and his wife Temi believe that vaccines are more harmful than the diseases they prevent. He said, "I see vaccinations as the problem. It's a hoax. Even the Salk vaccine is a hoax. It is just big business".[17] He has supported the idea that a child cannot be refused entry into a school for refusing to vaccinate.[18] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamenetsky denied that he ever instructed anyone to refuse to take the vaccine, stating that a letter publicized to this effect was a forgery.[19][20] In a rebuttal letter, he stated his opinion that each individual should ask his own doctor.[21][22]
In July 2020, Kamenetsky endorsed the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign, stating "Yes, I think people should vote for him. He’s done a good job. It’s hakaras hatov."[23]
Personal life
Kamenetsky's wife, Temi, was the daughter of cantor Mordechai and Charna Reizel Brooks.[1] Born c.1929,[24] she grew up in Brooklyn, New York,[25] and died on January 10, 2022.[26] They had 11 children.[27] Kamenetsky's son Sholom serves as a rosh yeshiva at the yeshiva,[28] his son Avraham is a teacher at Yeshivas Beis Yisroel in Jerusalem, his son Zev is a teacher in Belmar Yeshiva, his son Dovid is a teacher in Darkei Noam Yeshiva and was an editor of the Schottenstein Talmud published by ArtScroll.[27]
In 2023, Kamenetsky was hospitalized after suffering a stroke.[29][30] After being released to a rehabilitation facility, he developed pneumonia and was re-hospitalized.[31] He was hospitalized several times in 2025 and in July 2025, he was admitted into the intensive care unit[32] and went into septic shock[33] before improving and being released.[34]