Memory Lane: Rav Dovid Kviat zt”l

A Ga’on, whose Torah (primarily through the monumental Sukkas Dovid, on the yeshivishe masechtos) is still learned throughout the yeshiva world—a staple of countless maggidei shiur in their transmission of chiddush and amkus in Torah—Rav Dovid was an “alter Mirer” in every sense of the word, even as he kept one foot within the Slonimer chassidus. He served as the beloved and revered rov of Agudas Yisroel of Eighteenth Avenue for close to half a century. 

Biyalistok 

Rav Dovid was born in 1920 in the Polish town of Biyalistok—the center of the world of Beis Yosef-Novaradok, and a stronghold of Slonimer chassidim, among whom his father Rav Avrohom Eliezer counted himself. On account of their exceptional middos and caliber in avodas Hashem, the Kviat family were highly regarded in Slonim—and to the end of his days, Rav Dovid was a walking textbook in anavah, respect for young and old, and a deep eidelkeit. 

He later transffered to the Mirer Yeshiva. In an interview years later, Rav Dovid recalled the harrowing times of getting out of Vilna with the yeshiva: “[Rav] Leib Malin, my landsman from Biyalistok, and [Rav] Chaim Visoker were the senior bachurim, leading the effort to stamp the passports, so we could leave for Japan. 

During their years in Shanghai, Rav Dovid was drawn close to Rav Chaskel Levenstein and Rav Chaim Shmulevitz, especially because he was from younger talmidim. 

Bridging Worlds 

In 1962, he was called by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, zt”l, to begin saying a shiur in his alma mater, the reestablished Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush—beginning as first year Beis Medrash maggid shiur. For his talmidim over these decades, Rav Dovid was a true demus, and a deeply beloved figure of whom they saw themselves as lifelong talmidim. He would eventually be named a Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir. 

In addition to his incredible shiurim in the yeshiva masechtos, he delivered many Chumash shiurim. It began with his unassumingly keeping a small notebook with him, and jotting down his chiddushim and insights in Torah and hashkofoh as they came to him. The margins of his chumashim were likewise filled to overflowing with his notations. And then there were his Shabbos and Yom Tov droshos, and shalosh seudos Torah. Eventually, these were compiled into well-received seforim. These comprise the close-to-forty volumes of Sukkas Dovid—which continue to occupy a prominent place on bookshelves in the yeshivos. 

Agudas Yisroel Snif Chofetz Chaim 

On Eighteenth Avenue in Boro Park stands a storefront shtiebel that has been here for close to a century—remarkably kept up by dedicated mispalelim. It has borne the name Chofetz Chaim since its inception, since it was founded by a Radiner talmid. At some point it became affiliated with the Agudah, and upon the urging of Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, Rav Dovid was appointed rov of the shul (by unanimous consent)—a position that he would fulfill with utmost dedication. To this day, the years of Rav Dovid’s tenure are looked upon with great pride by the mispalelim. 

His highest ideal was sholom, and this was the first consideration when it came to any decisions in the shul, or interpersonal interactions. Around 1990, Rav Kviat was appointed the leader of the Vaad of Agudas Yisroel Shuls in the United States. When one of the senior Gedolim was told about this appointment, he smiled, and said: “Who better to serve in such a position than Rav Kviat, who is such an embodiment of sholom.” 

Being part of his kehillah gave the mispalelim of the Agudah of Eighteenth Avenue—like all those who were zoche to bask in his glow—a front-row seat to exceptional avodas hatefillah, tzidkus, zehirus b’mitzvos, ahavas habriyos, and to a figure who emerged from the prewar worlds of Torah and chassidus to illuminate and inspire a resurgent postwar Klal Yisroel in Boro Park of yesteryear.