A Tribute to My Rebbe Hagaon Harav Yaakov Dovid Spivak zt”l (Rosh Kollel Ayshel Avraham / President RAA/ Igud HaRabbonim), a Giant in Torah & Chessed

By: Rabbi Moish Schmerler

I sit here writing this tribute to a man who was larger than life and yet so humble. I can’t help but cry knowing that he is no longer physically with us. The last time I spoke with Rebbe zt”l was Monday night and we discussed the Igud. We had a nice conversation and at the end I told Rebbe, “You know sometimes I am harsh with you, but you know I love you.” He responded, “You know I love you too.” Those were the last words we ever said to each other. Chazal teach us that a person should have a relationship with Hashem like a brother. Although Rebbe was my teacher he treated me as an equal and always showed me more respect than I ever deserved. This is who he was. He was a man of action who spoke for and defended the Jewish people, whether it was on his blog for the NY Daily News or facing down Al Sharpton. Perhaps he was on TV, the radio or even addressing thousands of rabbis. He always spoke respectfully and firmly. His adherence to true Torah Judaism was apparent and no one could stand in the way of his service to Hashem.

My journey with Rabbi Spivak began after he battled his first serious illness. Rabbi Saul Eisner zt”l introduced me to this gentle giant. Rabbi Eisner zt”l told me that Rabbi Spivak was a master in learning and in middos. He was a man who talked the talk and walked the walk. When I first spoke with him, he told me, “Moish I almost died, and I do not have the strength to learn with you.” I cried and told him that Rabbi Eisner had told me that he would learn with me. He gave in, and thus began a close relationship. Gradually we started learning together and he taught me many different lessons. I saw how he treated his Rebbetzin Merrill, and learned how to truly appreciate my wife. He taught me that sometimes I must do the hard things for the sake of Torah, and even be called evil, but never be a truly bad guy. Most importantly when my mother was dying, he taught me how to care for another human being. Rabbi Spivak took Rabbi Mendy Mirczonik and I under his wing and he never let go.

At the 7th Chag Hasemicha of Kollel Ayshel Avraham, I was quoted as saying, “Rabbi Spivak told me that semicha from this kollel is not just a certificate to be hung on the wall, or something to use for pomp and circumstance. He told me that semicha is for me to go out to Klal Yisroel and do HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s work.” He didn’t only preach this message he lived it . He was a lion who fought for true Torah Judaism and what was right. There was no one who could stand up to him and tell him he was wrong if he believed what he was doing was Lshem Shaymim.

At my Chag Hasmicha, Rebbe said, “Our Torah tells us that trumpets were sounded to gather the people, and every time a new leader arose there were new trumpets made in place of the previous ones. Trumpets call people to do great things, and every generation responds to its own particular trumpet sound. These men receiving semicha today know how to sound the new trumpets for their generation. They know how to relate to those who are challenged by the tribulations of today’s world. They will go forth with the courage and determination it takes to champion the cause of our people and, please G-d, our world will be infinitely better for it.” He concluded, “It is not only that I am giving you semichah tonight, but it is also that you are giving me your pledge that you will be going out to your brothers and sisters in need.”

Rebbe, I know you are now standing in front of Hashem the ultimate judge and yet again you are advocating for His children. He is telling you, “Spivak, stop it already.” And as you did in this world, I know you are doing in the Olam Ha’emes. You are standing up for your children, Talmidim, family, your kollel & RAA family, and all of Klal Yisroel .

בלע המות לנצח ומחה ה׳ אלוקים דמעה מעל כל־פנים וחרפת עמו יסיר מעל כל הארץ כי ה׳ דבר

Your loving talmid, Rabbi Moish Schmerler

(Originally published in the Baltimore Jewish Life)

Remembering the Majestic Life & Legacy of HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Spivak, zt’l

By: Fern Sidman

Baruch Dayan Emes. Rabbi Yaakov Spivak, zt’l will be sorely missed. He was a true mensch in every way and lived his life emulating the gadlus of HaShem. The example he set of being an erliche yid at all times, a renowned Talmid Chocham and remarkable mechanech will be remembered for posterity.

I first remember meeting Rabbi Spivak in the late 1970s when he, along with Zev Brenner did their Sunday night talk show on 1330 AM on the radio. Always passionate about Jewish causes and fighting for the rights of his people, Rabbi Spivak went on to become a columnist in the Jewish Press and other publications. As a member of the JDL, he and I would often share memories of Rabbi Meir Kahane, ztk’l and the nascent days of Jewish activism. Rabbi Spivak spoke with palpable emotion when recalling the demonstrations we had attended for Soviet Jewry, for Israel and for religious rights throughout the world.

Rabbi Spivak would often say that we lived in the shadow of the Holocaust and that contemporary anti-Semitism could never be dismissed but rather must be confronted. He was a man who cleaved to HaShem and taught others that a life without Torah was devoid of anything redeemable. I distinctly remember the numerous conversations that we had about a seemingly infinite of subjects and there was nary a time that he did not hearken back to his youth as he consistently expressed hakoras hatov to his family, his rebbeim and all that he was able to accomplish with Hashem’s help.

As a young boy growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, he told me what life was like there for frum yidden and how nervous he was when he first arrived at yeshiva in Baltimore. His rebbeim took him under their wing and gave him the confidence that he needed to become an outstanding bochur in so many ways. He often attributed his desire to start Kollel Aishel Avraham ( in memory of his beloved father, of blessed memory) because of the love of learning and the love of being a true Eved Elokim that he learned from HaRav Ruderman, zt’l and others who made such a profound impact on his life.

Rabbi Spivak learned yomim v’layla and his unwavering dedication to his precious seforim not only inspired others but led him to write his own responsa and his own seforim.

As an intrepid progenitor of the Jewish media scene he knew all too well the power that radio, TV and years later social media could have in shaping hearts, minds and neshomas.

Until his last days he wanted to expand his YouTube channel so that he could reach out and educate others. My greatest regret is that I did not have the time to be more involved in his work. He always had my tremendous respect and admiration and he knew that. The last time we talked, he had interviewed the actor Jon Voight on his radio program right before the presidential election of 2020, at my request.

Rabbi Spivak’s sheer brilliance, erudition and breadth of knowledge was beyond astonishing in every way and I learned so very much from him as did practically everyone who knew him.  I am deeply grieved on his passing and I know I will miss him terribly.

Rabbi Spivak’s passing has left an aching void in our lives here in this mortal world, but I know that Shamayim is a much happier place right now with him sitting next to the Kisey HaKavod, beseeching Hashem for his people.

May Rabbi Spivak’s  precious neshoma have an aliya in Gan Eden and may his memory be for a special blessing. May he always be a melitz yoshor for his beloved family and all of Klall Yisroel and may he have a lichtige Gan Eden.

Rabbi Spivak, goodbye my dear friend.  Let us meet again very soon at the coming of Moshiach Tzidkenu Bimheyrah v’Yameinu.