The invitations stipulated that guests be appropriate attired, blessings be recited over food, and — most of all — that dancing be separate throughout the affair

Title: “All for the Boss” Revisited

Location: New York, New York

Document: Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Time: June 1929

R

eb Yaakov Yosef Herman, legendary machnis orech and defender of Yiddishkeit, achieved immortality through his great deeds, his family, and his immeasurable impact on American Jewish life. He insisted on maintaining the highest standards of kashrus and tzniyus at his children’s weddings. Oblivious to the surprise and even derision from others for his adherence to “old world” standards on the American scene, he personally kashered the wedding hall kitchen. The invitations stipulated that guests be appropriate attired, blessings be recited over food, and — most of all — that dancing be separate throughout the affair.

A frequent guest at the Herman home was Rav Dovid Ber Kreiser, rosh yeshivah in Kletzk and father-in-law of Rav Dovid Povarsky and Rav Leib Malin. Impressed with Nochum Dovid Herman’s wedding invitation requesting guests come dressed in accordance with Jewish law, Rav Kreiser sent it to his family in Kletzk. Sadly, Rav Kreiser passed away in New York in 1931. He is buried near many of America’s first roshei yeshivah at Queens’ Mount Judah Cemetery.

The Lions of RIETS: In the early 1930s Reb Yaakov Yosef Herman began delivering a weekly Chumash shiur for RIETS students looking for additional inspiration. That chaburah was adopted by Slabodka rosh yeshivah Rav Isaac Sher when he was fundraising in the States. The “club membership” reads like a who’s who in America’s Torah development, and includes Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, Rav Avigdor Miller, Rav Mordechai Gifter, and Torah Umesorah’s Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky.

“A few days before Nochum Dovid’s wedding, Reb Boruch Ber was expounding a difficult piece of Torah to him. To prove his point, Reb Boruch Ber pounded his hand hard on his silk high hat, which was lying on a chair near him. It folded like an accordion… Davie, however, quietly took the damaged hat to a hatter and asked him if he could restore it. He did an excellent job, and Davie proudly wore Reb Boruch Ber’s silk high hat to his wedding.”

—Excerpted from All for the Boss by Ruchoma Shain

For more on Reb Yaakov Yosef Herman, listen to this week's Lower East Side episode of Jewish History Soundbites, now also available by calling (857) 385-7268

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 820)