Samuel Turk
Rabbi Dr. Samuel A. Turk (1917–2009) was an American-born pulpit rabbi whose writings [1] [2] and issues [3] and organizational [4] activism made a mark beyond the congregation he served for 40 years .[5]
Credentials
After attending the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School), he studied at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath under HaRav Shlomo Heiman, zt"l his Rebbi Muvhok for several years and was granted Yoreh Yoreh, Yadin Yadin. Subsequently he also received Semicha from HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l.
His Bachelor's degree cum laude was from City College, Master's from NYU, and PhD from Yeshiva University.
Pulpit
"For 40 years, Rabbi Turk served with distinction as moreh d'asra of the Kingsbridge Center of Israel in Riverdale." [5]
Issues and Organizations
Rabbi Turk was the first president and a co-founder of the Igud HaRabbonim (Rabbinical Alliance of America). .[5]
His concern for Jews around the world included being one of the Rabbis who marched in Washington, DC in 1943 to try to save the Jews of Europe who were still alive [6] at a time when this type of public demonstration by clergy was unknown.
He continued this activism when, decades later, Soviet Jewry was a still "quiet" matter.[7]
Writings
His Jewish Press Obituary said "To the broader Jewish community, Rabbi Turk is best known as a long-time columnist ... some 1,500 columns spanning three decades ... wide range of topics including halacha, musar, Jewish history, Eretz Yisroel, contemporary Jewish and even secular issues... gained him a wide following."
References
- ↑ decades of columns in The Jewish Press
- ↑ Here's an image of a 1986 column, including Rabbi Turk's photo
- ↑ e.g. Soviet Jewry
- ↑ e.g. Rabbinical Alliance of American
- 1 2 3 Obit, Jewish Press, July 10, 2009, p. 58
- ↑ http://www.wymaninstitute.org/news/2007-09-05-update.php
- ↑ The Jews of Silence, by Elie Wiesel, ISBN 0-935613-01-3