Shraga Feivel Paretzky
Rabbi Shraga Feivel Paretzky (1917–1992) (he: שרגא פייבל פארעצקי), also known as Rabbi Philip Paretzky, was a Rosh Yeshiva and Dean of Admissions at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in Manhattan, which evolved into Yeshiva University.
Rabbi Paretzky was born in Brozhnik, Lithuania in 1917. From the age of ten, he studied at the Yeshiva in Bialystok and then advanced to the Yeshiva in Kobrin. There developed a close relationship with Rabbi Shlomo Mattis, a principal student of Rabbi Shimon Shkop, who ordained Rabbi Paretzky with Semikhah. While still of a relatively young age, Rabbi Paretzky went to learn in Raduń Yeshiva, where he became a very close student of its Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Mendel Zaks, son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim. Before emigrating from Europe, Rabbi Paretzky briefly studied at the Novardok yeshiva of Bialystk.
In 1939, Rabbi Paretzky came to America and continued his Talmudic studies in RIETS, where he became friendly with its Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik. That year he was appointed as Rabbi of Young Israel Synagogue of Tremont in the Bronx, a position on to which he held for almost 30 years. There he sought to reconcile the practices of his contemporary generation with the values of Torah and Judaism. Rabbi Paretzky is reputed to have been easily accessible to younger students, for despite a grave generation gap, he appealed to them.[1] He urged his college students not to skip on their daily Talmudic studies during Final Examinations.[2] He was also a member of the Rabbinical Council of America and the Union of Orthodox Rabbis.
Rabbi Paretzky allegedly[citation needed] earned a master's degree in Semitics from Columbia University and a law degree from Fordham University.
In 1964, Rabbi Paretzky returned to the RIETS to serve as a Rosh Yeshiva and Assistant Dean of Admissions to the Dean Rabbi Mendel Zaks. Rabbi Paretzky assumed the deanship upon the latter's death in 1974. Rabbi Paretsky is considered on par with other Rosh Yeshivas of RIETS including Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz and J. B. Soloveitchik.[2]
He died of a heart attack in 1992, according to Sam Hartstein, a spokesman for YU. [3]
He is survived by his sons Rabbi Koppel "Kenneth" Paretzky of Monsey (husband to Mrs. Malka Paretzky, principal of Bais Yaakov High School in Monsey and daughter of the late Morris and Rose Gibber [4]), Rabbi Yisroel Paretzky of Passaic (a posek for the OU), and author Rabbi Zev T. Paretzky and daughter Dr. Paulette (Peshie) Mandelbaum.
Works
- Ner L'Maor (ספר נר למאור) Google BooksYU Library
- Rabbi Paretzky's thoughts on Talmudic topics have been published in many Judaic Periodicals (see [5] and [6])
- Rabbi Paretzky also left many unpublished writings [7].