Shlomo Nosson Kotler
Rabbi Shlomo Nosson Kotler was a distinguished Orthodox rabbi and Rosh yeshiva, and an acclaimed Talmudic scholar, Torah author and Posek (Halachic decisor).
Born in Kovno, Lithuania, Rabbi Kotler first studied in the world-renowned Telz yeshiva under Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, and later in the yeshiva of Rabbi Yaakov Charif, who became his foremost teacher. He received semicha from many great rabbis, among them Rabbi Yitzchok Elchanan Spektor. At the young age of twenty, having already served as a Talmudic lecturer in the Lomza yeshiva, he became the first Rosh yeshiva of the famed Knesses Yisroel yeshiva in Slobodke. From there, he went on to become Av Beth Din in the city of Uzhvent, Kovno.
When Rabbi Jacob Joseph, the chief rabbi of New York, fell ill at the end of his life, he invited Rabbi Kotler to serve as his associate, who was appointed on his arrival in New York as rabbi of Congregation Tiferes Yisroel, where he remained for three years. Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary was founded within a few months of Rabbi Kotler's arrival and he was shortly appointed as a Rosh yeshiva. Several years later, he returned to Europe to serve as rabbi in the cities of Kurshan and Luknik. He returned to America during World War I, settling for seven years in Detroit.
In his later years, Rabbi Kotler moved to Israel, where he lived until his death. He authored numerous Torah articles, which were published in the various Torah journals of his time, as well as many sefarim, including the responsa Kerem Shlomo and Beis Shlomo.