Obituary of Rabbi Herbert Bomzer

RABBI HERBERT W. BOMZER ( RABBI CHAIM ZEV) by Binni Lewis, Aryeh Sklar, and Faygie Hellman Rabbi Herbert W. Bomzer, age 85, died on Friday, February 8, 2013. Our grandfather, Rabbi Herbert W. (Chaim Zev) Bomzer was born on the Lower East Side on August 16th 1927, to Philip and Yetta Bomzer, Polish immigrants. Mr. Philip Bomzer - who was related to the Kapishnitzer Rebbe zya, and traced his lineage to Harav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev zya - was actively involved in strengthening religious Jewish life in America in the early 1900's, an era quite inhospitable to frumkeit. He helped start one of the first Chevra Kadishas, and was involved in numerous landsemanshaften, organizations that sought to support new immigrants and ease their adjustment to America. The young Herbert was often involved in his father's projects, which impressed upon him the value of helping others, and left an indelible mark upon him for the rest of his life. Herbert attended Yeshiva Toras Chaim for elementary school, and MTA (of Yeshiva University) for high school. In 1944, he was introduced to Rabbi Moshe Aharon Paleyeff ztl, whom he would consider his rebbe muvhak. Herbert learned with him one-on-one for 3 years, finishing Gemara-Rashi-Tosfos of Kiddushin and Beitza 17 times. While at Yeshiva University, Rabbi Bomzer received semicha from Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik ztl, and later encouraged his children and grandchildren to learn for smicha as well. His proudest moments were when his children and grandchildren achieved these goals. Rabbi Bomzer graduated YU as an English major, and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Jewish history and philosophy, as well as a doctoral degree in Jewish education and administration. An honorary doctorate was later bestowed upon him by Yeshiva University for exemplary communal service. While an undergrad at YU, he met Leona Abeles yblch, who would become his life partner in building a family of rabbanim, bnos Yisroel, and yirei shamayim. He would often say to her, "I might not be able to give you very much, but I will always make you laugh," a promise he constantly kept! Our grandfather and grandmother travelled the world together. While Russia was still under Soviet rule, they were sent together to help the Jews there. They smuggled in tefillin, performed kiddushin, arranged for divorces, sanctified the mikvaot, and took care of many other important needs of the Jewish community. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zya - with whom Rabbi Bomzer maintained a very close relationship, and of whom Rabbi Bomzer eventually called himself a chasid -- wrote a letter in which he personally thanked Rabbi Bomzer for his help on behalf of Soviet Jewry, and declared, "There was no trip so successful until Rabbi Bomzer went to Russia." After receiving semicha Yoreh Yoreh from Rabbi Soloveitchik and REITS, he went on to serve at two pulpits, the first at the Young Israel of Williamsburg from 1951-1954, and the second at the Young Israel of Ocean Parkway for the years 1954-1996, during which he built a new shul and a new kehillah in Flatbush. As his shul, located next door to Yeshivas Mir, he was close to the Roshei Yeshiva, and the bochurim who davened with him. For years, they joined together to march on Kings Highway to raise awareness of Shmiras Shabbos, resulting in many stores subsequently closing for Shabbos. For many years at Young Israel, Rabbi Bomzer was significantly involved in the tefillos on Yomim Noraim, blowing the shofar, leining, being chazzan, and deliverng drashos. He would meet with other rabbis of nearby shul to discuss their drashosl His own drashos were so well-received, they were published in Rabbinical Council of America Sermon manuals. For thirty-five years Rabbi Bozmer gave a shiur in Yiddish every Shabbos, serving as a true bridge between the older and newer generations of American Rabbis. His shiur style frequently involved asking the audience questions, to promote interest and participation. His endeavor was to teach, not merely to speak. Rabbi Bomzer was also a maggid shiur at Yeshiva University High School for Boys in Brooklyn. Rabbi Bomzer was deeply involved in the Jewish community and Torah institutions for many years. He served as President of the Vaad HaRabbanonim of Flatbush three times and was the Chairman of the Political Action Committee for the Vaad. He played an instrumental role in the founding of Yeshiva Torah Temimah, Yeshiva of Brooklyn - which, upon opening its Flatbush branch, initially held classes in the Young Israel building, before moving to its own building on Ocean Parkway -- Bais Yaakov of Flatbush, and the Sephardic Institute; and served as president of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis, the Vaad Harabonim of Flatbush and Mizrachi HaPoel Hamizrachi of New York. Rabbi Bomzer never considered himself a posek, although many Jews from all over, including Lubavitch shlichim, would ask him their shailas. He loved to read halachic responsa. We recall how at many a Friday night meal, he would open an Igros Moshe, read the question to the family, and ask them what they thought the answer would be. After fielding many different responses, he would read Rav Moshe's answer. Igros Moshe was one of the untold numbers of seforim that he read cover-to-cover numerous times. He became close to Rav Moshe Feinstein, and for a time was able to serve as Rav Moshe's driver, which allowed him to personally ask Rav Moshe many halachic questions. One time, he mentioned to Rav Moshe that he had read through the entire Igros Moshe, and he would like to receive semicha Yadin Yadin from him. Rav Moshe replied, "If you read through it all, you don't need my semicha; you already have it!" However, Rav Moshe indeed tested him, and granted him semicha Yadin Yadin. Rabbi Bomzer was very involved with issues of geirus, and had great joy when he could celebrate life cycle passages with these individuals and families he was megayer. His book The Chosen Road, filled with sheilos and teshuvos regarding gerus, has been a guidepost for many. He had a terrific knack for making everyone around him feel as if they were his favorite, and was very close with all his grandchildren. One of the present authors, Aryeh Sklar, once had the merit to walk Rabbi Bomzer back from shul one Friday night, and asked him about the halacha of not davening directly next to one's father, because it is considered not respectful. "Zeidy," he asked, "Do you think this applies to grandfathers too?" Rabbi Bomzer replied, "Not only doesn't it apply to grandfathers, I believe it doesn't even apply to fathers. Nowadays if a son davens next to his father, people look and say, 'Wow, look at how much honor he gives his father, he davens together with him.'" Rabbi Bomzer created such a relationship to his children and grandchildren that they all felt as if they were being honored by him. Indeed, so many people have felt it was a great honor to have known Rabbi Herbert W. Bomzer during the 85 years we were privileged to have him with us. By the time he passed away on Friday, February 8th - two days after he and my grandmother celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary -- he had enriched the lives of untold numbers of family, friends, rabbanim, and ordinary Yidden. He took great joy in the growth of Torah and avodah in each and every one of us - growth that was largely thanks to his influence, and which will accompany him on his final journey to the Olam Ha'emes. ----------------------------------------------- : "He was a master of shas; I know for certain that he learned Shas Bavli more than three times b'iyun; Services and interment were held in Hewlett, Long Island on Sunday February 10, 2013. The period of mourning was observed in Long Island. Those wishing to remember Rabbi Bomzer in a special way may make a memorial contribution to Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob in Albany of the Vaad Hakashruth of the Capital District.