Rav Naftoli (Theo) Klein, one of the pillars of the community
and a prominent educator in France, passed away on Erev
Shavuos.
The deceased was born in Paris in 5673 (1913) to the Klein
family, which was among the founders of the city's first
chareidi kehilloh. His grandfather, Dr. Naftoli Klein,
an eye doctor, was in touch with HaRav Yisroel Salanter when
he came to Paris. His great-grandfather was HaRav Shlomo
Ze'ev Klein, the rov of the Colmer in Alsace, who fought hard
against the Reform Movement. His mother's father was a famous
chareidi physician from the city of Milhaus, Dr. Reuven
Mayer, many of whose offspring were involved in restoring the
crown of Torah to French Jewry.
In 5688 (1918) his father, Rav Alexander Klein, decided to
move to Strasburg and his family joined the Kagnak
kehilloh, where his uncle, HaRav Emanuel Meir
Braunsweig Hy"d, served. His personality had an impact
on the city's chareidi youth, especially Rav Naftoli. At the
Rav's behest the Yeshurun youth movement was started,
maintaining close ties with Agudas Yisroel Youth in
Switzerland. Rav Naftoli served as one of the leaders of
Yeshurun.
During World War II HaRav Avrohom Deutsch started a
yeshiva ketanoh in Limoges, a city in the center of
France, and Rav Naftoli joined its teaching staff. Despite
the dangers the yeshiva remained in operation almost
throughout the war. In 5701 (1941) and 5702 (1942) Yeshurun
leaders, including Rav Naftoli, managed to organize a summer
camp for young people scattered throughout occupied France.
The camp saved hundreds of youths from spiritual ruin and
served as a foundation for the movement's activities after
the war. During this period Yeshurun set up a project that
was unique in occupied Europe: a series of Torah
correspondence courses that prevented many Jews in outlying
towns from being severed from Torah study and mitzvas.
In 5705 (1945) he married his wife Esther (Edith) Orner, a
Viennese refugee, whose father was close to the Admor of
Chortkov. After the war they moved to Colmer, where they
organized shiurim and educational activities to
strengthen young Jews in Torah and mitzvas. They also ran
Yeshurun, whose crowning achieving was the summer camps in
the Alps in an atmosphere of Torah and kedushoh. Many
of the campers were exposed to Torah for the first time in
their lives.
In 5725 (1965) Rav Naftoli's family moved to Strasburg, where
they expanded their activity. They assisted the Friends of
Yeshivas HaNegev and later the Yad Sarah Association, and Rav
Naftoli was even made president of the small kehilloh
on Zilberman Street.
In 5750 (1990) they moved to Eretz Yisroel, settling
in Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan neighborhood. In Eretz Yisroel
Rav Naftoli continued giving gemora shiurim and
maintained set times for Torah study.
In Teves 5766 (2006) his wife passed away and after his own
passing on Erev Shavuos he was buried in Moshav Yesodot,
where some of his relatives lie. Rav Naftoli Klein
zt"l is survived by a dor yeshorim —
sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren
— in Eretz Yisroel and abroad.
