We regret to inform you of the petira of Rabbi Pinchas Stolper zt’l at the age of 90.
Rabbi Pinchas Stolper, internationally renowned pioneer in Jewish youth work, was widely respected as a lecturer, teacher, educator, author and thinker. Rabbi Stolper was the founder of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) which he served for 25 years as National Director – from its infancy through its seminal role in the international Teshuva movement.
During more than forty years of working with Jewish youth, he met and counseled thousands of young people. One of the world’s largest and most respected youth movements today, NCSY serves over 40,000 young people in the United States, Canada and Israel with fresh, innovative and creative educational programs.
Rabbi Stolper subsequently served as the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union for close to 20 years.
A loyal and dedicated disciple of HaGaon Rav Yitzchak Hutner, he was a musmach of the Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin / Gur Aryeh Kollel, and held degrees from Brooklyn College and the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research.
A prolific writer and editor, he was responsible for over 20 volumes and hundreds of articles on Jewish life and thought earning him a broad following as a major Jewish thinker, innovator and leader.
Rabbi Stolper made it his life mission to disseminate the teachings of his Rebbi, Rav Yitzchak Hutner zt’l by writing sefarim that translated and elucidated Rav Hunter’s magnum opus, Pachad Yitzchak.
Rabbi Stolper was also credited with discovering the talent of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. Rabbi Stolper subsequently hired him to write books for NCSY, thus catapulting Rabbi Kaplan’s career in Kiruv literature.
Rabbi Stolper lived in Chicago for the last several years. He is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Elaine Stolper and his two children, Rabbi Akiva Stolper of Flatbush, former Rav of Congregation Ohr Chaim in Miami Beach and Rebbetzin Michal Cohen (wife of Rabbi Zev Cohen) of Chicago. He was predeceased by his daughter, Mrs. Malkie Kaweblum. He also leaves behind thousands of talmidim, who are talmidei chachomim, respected community leaders and distinguished baalei batim.
The levaya will be held on Thursday, May 26th at 9:00AM at Shomrei Hadas, 3803 14th Avenue. The kevura will be in Eretz Yisroel on Har Hamenuchos on Friday, May 27th. Shiva information to follow. Yehi Zichro Baruch.
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5 Responses
A Talmid Chacham
Once heard him speak in MB that “one should make sure to look at Siddur when saying Shema and Shemone Esre because one mistake is consequential”.
Never forget it because I realized I was making so many mistakes.
BDE
B’DE
Yes, he did a lot for klal Yisrael. However, it is not historically correct to say that he founded it. It was founded by Anita Federman in the sixties, handed over to the OU who then found Rabbi Stolper to lead it. I have seen the pictures of his installation ceremony.
BDE Rabbi Stolper was national director of NCSY prior to 1963. Although not the founder, under his leadership the organization experienced tremendous growth which resulted in thousands of balai tshuva accross America and Canada. There are numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren of those influenced by Rabbi Stolper and NCSY. leading Torah observant lives who would have been lost to intermarriage and assimilation if had not been for Rabbi Stolper’s NCSY. Almost every yeshiva and Bais Yaakov in America has those grandchildren and great grandchildren in attendance.
Mrs. Elaine Stolper, the wife of Rabbi Stolper zt”l, has already begun sitting shiva. She will sit until Wednesday morning. She is sitting shiva through Sunday at her apartment at Park Plaza in Chicago, 6840 N. Sacramento Avenue, apartment 103. On Monday, she will move to sitting shiva with her daughter Michal at the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Zev and Michal Cohen, 2949 W. Coyle Ave., Chicago.
Mrs. Michal Cohen, daughter of Rabbi Stolper zt”l, will begin sitting shiva in Israel following the kevura at Har Hamenuchos on Friday. She will continue on Sunday in Brooklyn at the home of her brother and sister-in-law, Rabbi and Mrs. Akiva and Channa Lee Stolper, 924 E. 24th Street, Brooklyn, NY. She will return to Chicago on Sunday night and sit shiva through Thursday morning in Chicago at her home, 2949 W. Coyle Ave., Chicago.
Rabbi Akiva Stolper, son of Rabbi Stolper zt”l, will begin sitting shiva in Israel following the kevura at Har Hamenuchos on Friday. He will continue on Sunday and Monday in Brooklyn at his home, 924 E. 24th Street, Brooklyn, NY. He will fly to Chicago on Monday night and sit shiva through Thursday morning in Chicago at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Rabbi and Mrs. Zev and Michal Cohen, 2949 W. Coyle Ave., Chicago.