Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman - Building Torah in America

Building Torah in America

In 1930, Rabbi Ruderman joined his father-in-law Rabbi Sheftel Kramer at the latter's yeshiva in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1933, he moved to Baltimore, where he was he immediately offered a rabbinical post. Rabbi Ruderman accepted the position on the condition that he be permitted to open a yeshiva using the synagogue facilities; he named the new yeshiva Ner Yisroel, or "Ner Israel".

The yeshiva grew quickly, and Rabbi Ruderman approached the renowned Rabbi Shimon Schwab, at the time rabbi of another Baltimore congregation, and invited him to join the faculty. Rabbi Schwab taught the first-year shiur (class) in Ner Israel for several years, until he moved to Washington Heights.

Rabbi Ruderman led the yeshiva for 54 years until his death when Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, his son in law, took over (Rabbi Weinberg's wife, Chana, died on January 23, 2012). Rabbi Ruderman was Rosh Yeshiva, while his brother-in-law, Rabbi Naftoli (Herman) Neuberger took care of the financial side. Together, they built it into one of the largest yeshivas in America, producing thousands of rabbis, educators and learned laymen.

Rabbi Ruderman was also involved in many aspects of Jewish communal life outside of the Yeshiva. He was a member of the Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel and the chairman of the Rabbinic Advisory Board of Torah Umesorah.