Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelson

Yaakov Ben Zion Mendelsohn (Hebrew: יעקב בן ציון הכהן מענדעלסאן) (October 12–14, 1875 – August 5, 1941)[1][2][Note 1] was a renowned Russian-born Orthodox Jewish scholar, communal rabbi, Talmudist, Halachist, and rabbinical author (mechaber seforim).His rigorous Talmudic education started at age 7,[2] and culminated with semicha ordination from the Rabbi Yosef Rosen, the "Rogatchover Gaon," one of the rabbinic greats of the time.[6] In 1921 he was appointed as Chief Rabbi of Newark, with primary jurisdiction over matters of Shechita and Kashrus; he held the position until his death.[6] Distinguished for his scholarship and devotion to the Jewish community, Mendelson was a member of Knesseth ha-Rabbanim (the Assembly of Hebrew Orthodox Rabbis of America and Canada),[10] where he was considered an expert in kashruth.[19] He was the personal Talmud teacher to a young Gedalia Dov Schwartz,[20] who became a leading American rabbi in New York and Chicago.Today, he has many descendants involved in communal life at the national and local levels, including kashruth administration at the Orthodox Union and the Fairfield, Connecticut kosher supervision agency (grandson and namesake Yaakov Mendelson), and the teaching faculty of Yeshiva University's Manhattan Talmudical Academy High School (great-grandson Boruch Pesach Mendelson), and cantorial leadership (see below).Both have been presidents of the Cantors Assembly, with Jackie serving in 2003-2004, and Sol serving in multiple roles including President (1987-1989), Programming Chair, Journal Editorial Board member, journal article author, and leading many events on behalf of the Assembly, including:[26][27][28][24] In addition to Rabbi Mendelson's descendants, several other close relatives by marriage had significant impact on the Newark kehila, mostly originating with his support.[22] The position included responsibility for Jewish slaughterhouses, butchers, and the kosher operations of Swift & Co., and effectively made him chief Orthodox rabbi of the city.Many other famous rabbis of the day were involved in this dispute, including Rabbis Abraham Kook, Moshe Mordechai Epstein, Avrohom Dov Ber Kahana, Joseph Rosen (the Rogotchaver Gaon), Moses Margolies (RAMAZ), and Velvele (Gavriel Zev) Margolis.Konvitz filed a lawsuit in religious court (Beth Din), while Mendelson got a consensus of leading rabbis to back his position.
Mendelson as a young man and as a senior rabbi.
HebrewOrthodoxTalmudistHalachistKreitzburgVitebsk districtRussiaDaugava RiversemichaRogatchover GaonSholom Dovber SchneersohnYosef Yitzchak SchneersohnLondonEnglandGatesheadGlasgowScotlandUnited StatesNewark, New JerseyShechitaKashrusNorth Arlington Jewish CemeteryInterstate 78Gedalia Dov SchwartzShlomo HaKohenAggadahBook of GenesisTalmud BavliandrogynyresponsazemirosOrthodox UnionYeshiva UniversityMelamedRosh YeshivakollelCantors AssemblyCongregation Shaar HashomayimJacob "Jackie" MendelsonUniversity of HartfordHartt School of MusicHazanutNational Coalition Supporting Soviet JewryFirst Gulf WarkehilashochetetrogsmechutanMatzahMikvahprice gougingkasheredShimon ShkopSwift & Co.Abraham KookMoshe Mordechai EpsteinJoseph RosenMoses MargoliesVelvele (Gavriel Zev) MargolisBeth DinNew York Daily NewsNewspaper.comNewspapers.comGannettday schoolSukothWürzburgMinsk provinceRosh yeshivasEliyahu Eliezer DesslerTzvi Hirsch FerberNachman Shlomo GreenspanAvrohom GurwiczLeib GurwiczElyah LopianBenzion RakowNaftoli ShapiroShammai ZahnDayanimYonason AbrahamYehezkel AbramskyJosef Hirsch DunnerChanoch EhrentreuMichoel FisherShmuel Yitzchak HillmanMoses HyamsonCasriel Dovid KaplinChanoch Dov PadwaYitzchok Yaakov Weiss