YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden Petira of Rabbi Yoseph Herman ZT”L of Sylvan Road in Monsey. A levaya was held on erev Shabbos, followed by another on motzei Shabbos and then the aron was flow to Eretz Yisrael for kvuran
Many did not know him by name, and even a larger number of people were unaware of his tireless efforts spanning decades due to his tznius, but Rabbi Yoseph Herman Z”L was the pioneer of monitoring chodosh in the United States, a work of a lifetime that grew into an international effort, providing chodosh information long before the mitzvah started becoming relevant to torah observant people in the USA and other countries outside of Eretz Yisrael, where the mitzvah was always relevant.
Rabbi Herman was the trailblazer in disseminating the importance of the halachos of Chodosh and Yoshon. He worked tirelessly for many years, devoting his life to this cause. he published a book called “A Guide To Chodosh”, as well as running a popular hotline where callers heard the latest updates (718) 305-5133, as well as being able to ask questions about various products.
Prior to Rabbi Herman getting involved in this on a public scale, it was virtually impossible for people to find out what products were Chodosh or Yoshon.
Undoubtedly, his clinging to this mitzvah led to many undertaking adherence to the mitzvah that for many years, was lost to almost all. Rabbi Herman also did groundbreaking work on determining the sources of post-Pesach items in stores in the USA.
Rabbi Herman’s Guide to Chodosh was spread internationally despite his insistence that nothing be published on the internet. The niftar relied on email and word of mouth as well as the old-fashioned ‘snail mail’, and despite efforts by some to persuade him to upload his work to the internet, he remained tenacious in his refusal, unwilling to compromise his principles in the matter.
Rabbi Herman received no remuneration for his services and for the countless hours required to obtain information about hundreds of different products.
Yehi Zichro Baruch…
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3 Responses
BDE leavaya is moetzei Shabbos at Rabbi Teitelbaum Shlita shul on metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens. He lived in Kew Gardens the last year or 2, and from what sources tell me he davened every day in Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah as opposed to a reg ballah batish shul- because he wanted a Yeshiva davening. He also gave a daily Halacha shiur to some Mesivta guys afterwards. BDE he will be missed
Anyone know how old he was?
I am so sad to hear. BD”E. I don’t know him personally, but I used to always send him my chodosh/yashan questions that I have here in E”Y where I live. He was mezakeh so many of us who tried to keep yoshon.