HaRav Shlomo Hacohen Rottenberg, one of the most prominent
rabbonim and mechanchim in America, was niftar
suddenly on motzei Shabbos, the second day of Rosh
Hashonoh. He was known throughout the United States for his
monumental efforts on behalf of the klal which he
served for decades, and for his profound impact on thousands
of students in America's yeshivos and Beis Yaakov schools,
whom he inculcated with the foundations of Torah, yiras
Hashem and pure Torah outlook. He was the author of the
famed series Toldos Am Olom on Jewish history.
HaRav Rottenberg, the son of HaRav Chaim Dovid Hacohen, was
born in 5675 (1915). HaRav Chaim Dovid was one of the eminent
members of the chareidi community of Antwerp and very close
with the Imrei Emmes of Gur.
As a youth, Reb Shlomo studied in the yeshiva near Antwerp,
where he was one of its first students. When his father
passed away he left Antwerp and, with mesiras nefesh
he traveled to the Mir, where he was meshamesh HaRav
Yeruchom. Later on he returned to Antwerp and although still
young, he began to teach Torah there, soon becoming the
director of Antwerp's Yesodei HaTorah Talmud Torah. He was
also one of the first activists of the Agudas Yisroel branch
of Antwerp and served as president of its Zeirei Agudas
Yisroel.
During the Holocaust, he was detained in a concentration
camp. In 5703 (1943) he managed to flee the inferno and reach
the safe shores of America, where he married the daughter of
Reb Heshel Tzeinvirt, a prominent Bobover chossid. From then
on, he did not cease in his multifaceted activities on behalf
of the klal.
When HaRav Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz discerned Reb Shlomo's
talents, he got him involved in Jewish education, where Reb
Shlomo excelled as an outstanding teacher who had a mighty
influence on thousands of students.
His influence was felt in two ways: through his harbotzas
Torah and by means his activities on behalf of the
klal. At that time, America was a spiritual wasteland,
and by his teachings he instilled in his students pure and
steadfast Torah foundations. His efforts on behalf of the
klal found expression mainly in his extensive activity
in Agudas Yisroel, and in his efforts as the rav of the Aguda
shul in Williamsburg. He was one of the leaders of Agudas
Yisroel for many years, and was trusted by gedolei
Yisroel. His fervent speeches had a tremendous impact on
his listeners. These speeches excelled in their ideological
wealth, and in the clear daas Torah they expressed.
His main activity, which was highly acclaimed by gedolei
Yisroel, was his series of books, Toldos Am Olom,
which he published during recent decades. This series is a
remarkable work which portrays the history of the Jewish
Nation from its beginnings until the period of the Amoraim.
It is based entirely on the pure sources of Chazal, and
manifests the unique talents and comprehensive knowledge of
its author in all aspects of the Torah. It also illustrates
the extent of his effort to convey Jewish history in a loyal
and detailed form. Until his final days, he continued working
on his writing and on delivering shiurim.
After moving to America, he visited the Imrei Emmes in Gur a
number of times and was very close to the rabbonim of the
Gerrer dynasty.
This Rosh Hashonoh, he davened in shul as usual. After the
prayer service, he suddenly felt ill, and was taken to the
hospital, where he was niftar after a few hours. His
large levaya left from the Torah Vodaas yeshiva in New
York, where hespeidim were delivered by HaRav Avrohom
Pam; the Admor of Novominsk, HaRav Dovid Shustal, HaRav
Malkiel Kotler, and family members. His aron was
brought to Jerusalem on Tzom Gedaliah in the afternoon.
He is survived by his wife and his sons, HaRav Chaim Dovid
from Jerusalem, HaRav Yaakov Yosef from Lakewood, and HaRav
Shmuel Meir from New York, as well as by chassonim who
hold important rabbinical positions, and by grandchildren and
great children, all of whom are following along the paths of
Torah and yiras Shomayim.
