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NEWS
HaRav Yosef Zimbal Appointed Rov of Westgate,
Lakewood
by Yehuda Aryeh
On a recent motzei Shabbos in Westgate, Lakewood, a
reception welcomed HaRav Yosef Zimbal as the community's new
rov. Westgate currently houses two hundred families of
bnei Torah. An additional seven hundred homes are
being built, making it the largest chareidi development in
America. There are, at present, four separate minyanim,
two daf yomi shiurim, a night kollel and a
mikveh is under construction.
HaRav Zimbal brings to the position many years of experience.
He was a founding member of the Lakewood Kollel in Melbourne,
Australia, and learned there for twenty years. The baalei
batim associated with the Kollel, including Dr. Danny
Lanzer, Reb Shmuel Yelen, Reb Menachem Casen and Reb Menachem
Kinderman, speak in awe of the fiery kedusha that
permeates Rav Zimbal's learning and shiurim.
Paradoxically, they note that he is at the same time a
most humble and unassuming person. The Rosh Kollel, HaRav
Dovid Nojowitz, appointed him as posek and shoel
umeishiv in the Kollel. Rebbetzin Zimbal was a beloved
teacher and moral compass for many women in Melbourne.
At the kabolas ponim, the ksav rabbonus was
read by HaRav Menachem Mark, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ruach
HaTorah in Flatbush. HaRav Mark formerly served as rosh
yeshiva in Melbourne, for years leading the kehilla
side by side with HaRav Zimbal.
In his address, HaRav Zimbal stressed the importance of peace
in a community. Afterwards HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh
yeshiva of Lakewood, spoke.
He related the story of HaRav Chaim Soloveitchik, who wrote a
letter on behalf of his son Rav Moshe when he applied for a
position. Rav Chaim praised his son as being able to answer
any "shver Rambam." Nonetheless, the town did not hire
Rav Moshe, saying, "We do not mind if the Rambam stays
shver, and even if it must be answered, let it be done
elsewhere."
With this anecdote, Rav Malkiel stressed that a rov needs to
fit his community. HaRav Yisroel Belsky, a rosh yeshiva in
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and brother-in-law of Rav Zimbal, spoke
next.
With the appointment of HaRav Zimbal, Westgate has secured
its prominence as a Torah community, adding another jewel to
the crown of Torah in Lakewood.
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