Rabbi Yehoshua Klavan

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Rabbi Yehoshua Klavan

Also Known As: "Joshua"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Joniškis, Joniškis District Municipality, Šiauliai County, Lithuania
Death: July 28, 1953 (68)
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States
Place of Burial: Jerusalem, Israel
Immediate Family:

Son of Rabbi Benjamin Klavansky and Roche Klavansky
Husband of Feige Devora Klavan
Father of Morris Solomon Klavan; Harry Klavan; Israel Klavan; Rabbi Hillel (Hillard) Klavan and Ben Klavan
Brother of Morris Louis Klawansky; Solomon H Klavan; Fanny Klavan; Ethel Klavan; Jacob (Jack, Yankel, Jacob) Klavan and 1 other

Managed by: Joshua Klavan
Last Updated:

About Rabbi Yehoshua Klavan

http://rabbiyklavan.blogspot.com/

a disciple of Rabbi Aaron Walkin known as the " Pinsker Rav", a distinguished Rav and the author of the " Zekan Aaron" as well as other seforim.

At the age of 17 he enrolled in the world famous Rabbinical College, Keneseth Bais Yitzchak- Slabodka, near Kovno, Lithuania. There he studied under Rav Chaim Rabanowitz (better known as Reb Chaim Telzer), whom he considered himself a talmid muvhak of. After Reb Chaim's departure to Telz, Shea Yanishker, as he was referred to in the yeshiva world, together with a group of eltere bachurim, was instrumental in bringing Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz to serve as the Rosh Hayeshiva of Keneseth Bais Yitzchak.

He formed a very close relationship with Reb Baruch Ber that lasted throughout his lifetime. During Rabbi Leibowitze's visit to the U.S. in the early 1930's he made it a point to go and visit his Rebbe. In addition, he felt a strong sense of "hakoras hatov" to his Rebbe and the yeshiva and whenever possible he would raise funds to help support the yeshiva, even many years later when it had moved to Kaminetz.

In 1907 he married Feiga Devora Sheifer of Zezmer, Lithuania. She was the daughter of Reb Avrohom Shmuel Sheifer, one of the most respected citizens of the Zezmer community. Immediately following his marriage his rebbe, Reb Baruch Ber Leibowitz, as well as Rav Moshe Danishevsky, the Kovno Rov and a lecturer in the Slabodka Yeshiva, ordained him. Thereafter he continued his studies at the famed Yeshiva of Volozin then under the leadership of Reb Rephoel Shapiro, a son-in-law of Reb Chaim Voloziner, and the author of "Toras Rephoel". While there he received semicha from Reb Rephoel Shapiro.

His first position as Rabbi was in the small town of Zaskevitch, near Vilna, Lithuania. He served the community until the outbreak of World War I in 1914 when he and many members of his community were forced into Central Russia. They finally established residence in the city of Kursk, where he devoted his energies to helping refugees in the area.

In 1921 after they finally departed Russia He was appointed as the Rov in Gilvan, Lithuania a city near Kovno. He remained in that position until his departure to the U.S. three years later.

In September 1924 on the advice of his mother he emigrated, together with his entire family, to the U.S. In the years to come he would repeatedly praise his mother for this sagely piece of advice.

Upon their arrival in the U.S. they settled in the Bronx on the lower east side of New York City. They remained there until 1926, during which time he served as the Rov in one of the local shuls (Possibly they had been the ones who had served as guarantors on his papers to be allowed entry into the U.S.). 

In 1926 he was appointed as a Rov in one of the local shuls in Burlington, Vermont. He served in this capacity until 1936
In 1936 he was appointed as the Rov of the larger Southwest Talmud Torah Congregation as well as the head of the Agudas Hakehilos of Washington D.C. He was to remain in this position until his passing 17 years later.

Rabbi Klavan died on July 28 , 1956 and was buried in National Capitol Hebrew cemetery after the year of his death his earthy remains were removed and reburied in Har HaMenuhot ,Jerusalem, Israel on Mon, 26 July 1954 = 25th of Tamuz, 5714 , כ״ה בְּתַמּוּז תשי״ד

Memorial Number : 258230175* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 18 2024, 16:50:56 UTC

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Rabbi Yehoshua Klavan's Timeline

1884
August 24, 1884
Joniškis, Joniškis District Municipality, Šiauliai County, Lithuania
1908
1908
Zaskevits, Lituania
1912
December 25, 1912
Zaskevichi, Lithuania
1913
July 23, 1913
Zaskevichi, Lithuania
1915
June 9, 1915
Zaskevichi, Lithuania
1924
January 8, 1924
Kovno, Lithuania
1924
Age 39
1930
1930
Age 45
Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, USA
1930
Age 45
Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, United States
1953
July 28, 1953
Age 68
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States