Rabbi Dr. Boruch Aaron (Bernard) Poupko

Rabbi Bernard A. Poupko - Oral History Interview

Rabbi Dr. Baruch A. Poupko, born in Velizh, Russia, (a town north of Mogilev) to Rabbi Eliezer and Pesha Poupko, was an American multi-lingual scholar, author, and lecturer.

After receiving ordination from Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1941 he served as Rabbi and Senior Rabbi of Shaare Torah of Pittsburgh, PA (1942–2004), President of the Rabbinical Council of Pittsburgh (1949–1999) and was one of the original founders of the Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh.

He was one of the very first Jewish leaders who advocated international efforts on behalf of Soviet Jews during the early 1950s, and wrote the award-winning Yiddish book In the Shadow of the Kremlin, as well as many articles regarding the plight of Soviet Jewry.

Rabbi Poupko's doctoral thesis, completed at the University of Pittsburgh, "traces the history and status of Jewish religious adult education, analyzing the various emphases in curriculum of the three major religious ideologies." (American Jewish Year Book Vol. 66 (1965) 281)

Rabbi Dr. Baruch A. Poupko Rabbi Poupko edited and co-edited 38 sermon volumes of the Rabbinical Council of America, including the scholarly Anglo-Hebrew volume Eidenu in memory of the founder and first president of Yeshiva University, Dr. Bernard Revel, the volumes in honor of Chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, and the Centennial of YU, and Dr. Norman Lamm's 20th anniversary as President of YU.

Rabbi Poupko served as the National Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America and as the National President of the Religious Zionists of America. He lived in Seattle, WA with his daughter, Rivy Poupko Kletenik, and son-in-law, Moshe Kletenik.

Rabbi Poupko died on April 14, 2010 in Seattle WA.

Sources

• "Poupko, Bernard." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Jerusalem: Keter, 1972.
• Rosenstein, Neil. The Unbroken Chain. Lakewood, NJ: CIS, 1990. p. 294
• American Jewish Year Book
• [edit]References
• ^ "Dr. Baruch Poupko Rabbi (Obituary)". Seattle, WA.: Seattle Times. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
• ^ Leibowicz, Angela (15 April 2010). "Baruch Poupko dies". Pittsburgh, PA.: The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 16 May 2010.

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Rabbi Baruch Poupko (1917 - 2010) was born in Velizh, Russia in 1917. Ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University, 1941. PhD University of Pittsburgh, 1952. Past National President of Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi. Pioneer in campaign for liberation of Soviet Jewry. Led first Rabbinic delegation to the Soviet Union to bear witness and express solidarity with Soviet Jews. One of the early architects of Orthodoxy in America. Widely published author and sought-after lecturer. Among others, Rabbi Poupko authored In the Shadow of the Kremlin and edited and co-edited 38 sermon volumes of the Rabbinical Council of America and the scholarly Anglo-Hebrew volume Eidenu in memory of the founder and first president of Yeshiva University, Dr. Bernard Revel. Rabbi for over 60 years at Shaare Torah Congregation in Pittsburgh, PA, he was a vibrant communal leader, instrumental in founding Hillel Academy as well as other Jewish institutions in the city.

• • Husband of the late Gilda Twersky-Novoseller Poupko and survived by Miriam Bak Poupko.
• • Father of Rabbi Yehiel and Tzivia Poupko of Chicago,
• • Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko of Jerusalem,
• • Debby and Rabbi Yeshaya Steinberger of Jerusalem,
• • Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Head of School of the Seattle Hebrew Academy, and
• • Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, rabbi of Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath Congregation in Seattle.
• • Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Montreal.
• • Grandfather of Yehuda and Nicole Poupko,
• • Drs. Kevin and Elisheva Schreiber,
• • Rabbi Chaim and Shoshana Poupko,
• • Rabbi Aaron and Chaya Segal,
• • Dr. Dov and Sara Malka Reichman,
• • Rabbi Eliezer and Margueya Poupko,
• • Rabbi Elchanan Zakkai Poupko,
• • Chana Rivka Poupko,
• • Dovid Shlomo
• • Achinoam Poupko,
• • Rabbi Dovid and Rochie Kleinerman,
• • Dovid and Sara Steinberger,
• • Rabbi Eliezer and Chavi Steinberger,
• • Udi and Margalit Steinberger,
• • Rabbi Nechemia and Yehudit Steinberger,
• • Rabbi Chaim and Pesha Loike,
• • Rabbi Shya Kletenik, Gilah Kletenik
• • Eliezer and Devorah Kletenik,
• • Rabbi Avi and Shifra Poupko,
• • Elliot and Tamar Smith,
• • Seth and Hindy Galena,
• • Adina Leah Poupko
• • Eliezer Poupko
• • Forty-one great-grandchildren.
• • Predeceased by his parents and his brothers and sisters:
• • Rabbi Eliezer and Pesha Chaya Poupko,
• • Rabbi Yitzchak and Shifra Poupko,
• • Rabbi Abraham and Sonia Poupko,
• • Rabbi Reuven Poupko,
• • Rabbi Mordechai and Claire Poupko,
• • Rabbi Mordechai and twin-sister Basya Savitsky,
• • Rosalie Schwartz,
• • Rabbi Shlomo and Esther Poupko,
• • Rabbi Sholom and Rose Novoseller, Rabbi Harold Novoseller,
• • Harry and Martha Stern.
• •

Survived by brothers and sisters-in-law;

• • Felice Poupko,
• • Rabbi Gedalia Schwartz
• • Rabbi Moshe and Shirley Novoseller.

Rabbi Poupko has instilled in his family a passionate commitment to the Jewish people and State of Israel. His life was characterized by buoyant optimism, stirring eloquence and enduring dignity. Funeral Service to take place at Eretz Hachaim cemetery in Beit Shemesh, Israel. The family requests that contributions be made to Shaare Torah Congregation 2319 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

GEDCOM Note

<p>נולד ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background-image: none; background-position: initial;background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" title="וליז'" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%96%27">ווליז'</a> לרב העיר הרב <a class="new" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #a55858; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" title="אליעזר פופקו (הדף אינו קיים)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%A2...">אליעזר פופקו</a> ולפעשא חיה בתו של הרב <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" title="יעקב משה ספיר" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%A7%D7%91_%D7%9E%D7%A9...">יעקב משה ספיר</a>. הוריו <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" title="הגירה לארצות הברית" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%94%D7%92%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%94_%D7%9C...">היגרו לארצות הברית</a> ואביו כיהן כרב ב<a style="color: #5a3696; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" title="" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%93%D7%9C%D7%A4%...">פילדלפיה</a>.</p>ize: 14px;">משפחתו של הרב פופקו היא משפחה רבנית, אביו הרב <a class="new" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #a55858; background: none;" title="אליעזר פופקו (הדף אינו קיים)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%A2...">אליעזר פופקו</a> נפטר כזקן הרבנים בפילדלפיה וסבו היה הרב <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="יעקב משה ספיר" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%A7%D7%91_%D7%9E%D7%A9...">יעקב משה ספיר</a>.</p>color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">אחותו בתיה נישאה לרב <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="מרדכי סוויצקי" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%9B%D7%99_%D7%A1...">מרדכי סוויצקי</a> ואחותו ריסיה שושנה נישאהלרב <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="גדליה דוב שוורץ" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%92%D7%93%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%93...">גדליה דוב שוורץ</a>. ארבעה מאחיו כיהנו כרבני קהילות ברחבי ארצות הברית: הרב חיים יצחק פופקו, היה ממנהיגי <a class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="אגודת הרבנים דארצות הברית וקנדה" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%92%D7%95%D7%93%D7%AA_%D7%94...">אגודת הרבנים דארצות הברית וקנדה</a>, הרב אברהם אריה פופקו והרב מרדכי פופקו היו רבני קהילות ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="פילדלפיה" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%93%D7%9C%D7%A4%...">פילדלפיה</a>, והרב שלמה פופקו היה רב ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="קולומבוס (אוהיו)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%91%...)">קולומבוס</a> שב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="אוהיו" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%95%D7%94%D7%99%D7%95">אוהיו</a>, ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="ג'קסונוויל" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%92%27%D7%A7%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%...">ג'קסונוויל</a> שב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="פלורידה" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A4%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%93%...">פלורידה</a> ובקהילת "חובבי תורה" ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="קראון הייטס" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%95%D7%9F_%D7%94...">קראון הייטס</a>, <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696;background: none;" title="ניו יורק" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95_%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A8...">ניו יורק</a>. אחיהם הרב ראובן פופקו חיבר ספר והתפרסם כלמדן מבריק, אך נפטר בצעירותו.</p>נותיו:</p>e cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229.5%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%2300528c%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E'); color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ו - חבר הסתדרות הרבנים של <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="שיקגו" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%92%D7%95">שיקגו</a></li>le="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">דבורה שטיינברגר - אשת הרב <a class="new" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #a55858; background: none;" title="ישעיהו שטיינברגר (הדף אינו קיים)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%99...">ישעיהו שטיינברגר</a>, רב שכונת <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="רמת שרת" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%AA_%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%AA">רמת שרת</a>, כיהן כ<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="ר"מ" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A8%22%D7%9E">ר"מ</a> ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="ישיבת הכותל" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA_%D7%94...">ישיבת הכותל</a></li>ground: none;" title="מונטריאול" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%99%...">במונטריאל</a> <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="קנדה" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%94">קנדה</a></li>class="new" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #a55858; background: none;" title="ריבי פופקו קלטניק (הדף אינו קיים)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%91%D7%99...">ריבי פופקו קלטניק</a> <small class="noprint" dir="rtl" style="unicode-bidi: isolate;">(<a class="extiw" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #663366; background: none;" title="en:Rivy Poupko Kletenik" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivy_Poupko_Kletenik">אנ'</a>)</small> - נישאה לרב <a class="new" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #a55858; background: none;" title="משה קלטניק (הדף אינו קיים)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%94_%D7%A...">משה קלטניק</a> <small class="noprint" dir="rtl" style="unicode-bidi: isolate;">(<a class="extiw" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #663366; background: none;" title="en:Moshe Kletenik" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Kletenik">אנ'</a>)</small>, יו"ר ועדת ה<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="סמיכה לרבנות" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%94_%D7%9C...">סמיכה לרבנות</a> של <a class="new" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #a55858; background: none;" title="הסתדרות הרבנים של אמריקה (הדף אינו קיים)" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%D7%94%D7%A1%D7%AA%D7%93...">הסתדרות הרבנים של אמריקה</a> (RCA)</li>font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">בין נכדיו: הרב חיים פופקו, רב קהילת אהבת תורה <a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="ניו ג'רזי" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95_%D7%92%27%D7%A8%D7...">בניו ג'רזי</a> ור"מ בישיבת TABC; והרב אליעזר שטיינברגר, ר"מ ב<a style="text-decoration-line: none; color: #5a3696; background: none;" title="ישיבת מערבא" href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%91%D7%AA_%D7%9E...">ישיבת מערבא</a> ומחבר הספר "שומר מצווה".</p>