Rav Yaakov Yosef Joseph zt"l
הרב יעקב יוסף בן דוב ג'וזף זצ"ל
Tammuz 24 , 5662
Known As: Rav HaKollel, Chief Rabbi of NY
Father's Name: Dov Joseph
Rav Yaakov Yosef Joseph zt"l
Served as chief rabbi of New York City's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, a federation of Eastern European Jewish synagogues. Born in Krozhe, a province of Kovno, he studied in the Nevyozer Kloiz under Rabbi Yisroel Salanter and in the Volozhiner yeshiva under the Netziv.
He became successively rabbi of Vilon in 1868, Yurburg in 1870, Zhagory and then Kovno. His fame as a preacher spread, so that in 1883 the community of Vilna selected him as its maggid.
The Orthodox Jewish community of New York was united under a common religious authority they sent a circular offering the post throughout Eastern Europe. Rav Jacob Joseph was among those offered the prestigious position. In 1888 he accepted the position of The American Orthodox Hebrew Congregations—comprising 18 kehilos and headed by Bais Ha'Medrash Ha'Gadol—were thrilled when he accepted the position.
They attempted to create one central rabbinic authority in America to maintain order in the fields of Kashrus and expand Jewish education programs. Due to internal strife and machlokes after six years, the Association stopped paying his salary. The butchers then paid him until 1895.
Among Rav Joseph's most notable accomplishments, including the hiring of qualified shochtim, introducing irremovable seals ("plumba") to identify kosher foul, and set up Mashgichim to oversee slaughter houses. He also took an active role in establishing the the first yeshivah on the Lower East Side, Etz Chaim , which was founded in 1886. (It was the forerunner of Yeshiva University).
In 1897, Joseph suffered a stroke, which incapacitated him for the rest of his life. He died at age 62 and his funeral was one of the largest in New York, attended by more than 50,000 Jews.
The Satmar Rav, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum encouraged his chassidim to daven at the tzion of the Rav Yaakov Yosef. It is reported that many people have experienced yeshuos (found salvation) after visiting the tzion.