By COLlive & Hamodia staff
The Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, a prominent figure in American Jewry who led Agudath Yisrael of America since 1998, passed away on Tuesday, 13 Nissan 5780.
He was 89.
He was born in New York in 5691/1931, the son of the previous Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Nachum Mordechai Perlow and Rebbetzin Beila Ruchama who was a descendant of the Kotzker Rebbe.
When he came of age, he married Rebbetzin Yehudis, the daughter of Harav Avraham Eichenstein, the Ziditchover Rebbe of Chicago.
After his father’s petirah in Elul of 5736/1976, he was appointed Novominsker Rebbe and led the Beis Medrash on 48th Street and 16th Avenue in Boro Park.
In 1998, he was named head of Agudath Israel of America and its Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. He was a mainstay and keynote speaker at events related to Torah Umesorah and Agudath Israel.
In that position, he has been a staunch supporter of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin as he battled the excessive prison sentence he was given after the collapse of the Agriprocessors kosher meat plant in Iowa.
The administrator of the Novominsker institutions is Rabbi Lipa Brennan, a Lubavitcher chossid from Crown Heights who is also an organizer of the International Kinus Hashluchim of Chabad in New York.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
The family asked that nobody come to the levaya. Normally he would have tens of thousands. But we honor him this time by NOT going. That is his true honor.
He was such a big tzadik!!!
In addition to his leadership and learning, the Novominsker was a tremendous champion and pioneer in the special needs world. He had a son with special needs, who his wife cared for devotedly at home until she couldn’t anymore and ultimately she founded Women’s League, the first Jewish service agency and group home.
Baruch Dayan Emes
Although we may disagree with some particulars of the Aguda platform, we all know that the Noviminsker was a giant in Torah and the promotion and support of Torah and Yahadus. May his merits protect us.
The Novominsk Shul and Rebbe (his father) was originally in Crown Heights. I remember them from waaay back.
The Novominsker Rebbe was our family Rov. Such a pure and holy neshomo.
He will be missed.