Memory Lane: Rav Nachum Tzvi Josephy

For many years, Rav Nachum Tzvi Josephe served the Boro Park community as the Rov of Beis Hamedrash Hagodol of Boro Park on 58th Street. 

He was born in the Bronx in the spring of the year 1940. His father, R’ Chaim, was a public school teacher—a profession he chose because it allowed him to keep Shabbos. His mother worked as a legal assistant, a position that likewise enabled her to retain the sanctity of the holy day. Thus, Nachum Tzvi was raised on tradition of mesirus nefesh for Torah and mitzvos. 

He married Rebbetzin Malka Manuel, the daughter of Rav Zvi Nosson Manuel, who was by then a prominent rov in the Bronx, and Rav Nachum Tzvi began his career as a rov in the Bronx.  

In the early 1970’s, the Josephy’s relocated to Boro Park, where a new chapter of askonus and leadership would be written by them.  

Rabbinical Alliance of America 

In 1974, Rav Josephy was elected the Executive Vice-President of the Igud Harabanim of America, also known as the Rabbinical Alliance of America. He would serve in a leadership capacity of the organization for the remainder of his life. The Herald Voice noted his appointment in the following: 

‘The Igud Harabonim – Rabbinical Alliance of America – has appointed Rabbi Nachum Zvi Josephy as its executive vice president, to administrate and coordinate its 500 member rabbinical organization. Rabbi Josephy, while being a third generation American, has a unique Chassidic flavor, said Rabbi David Hollander, R.A.A. president. He was raised in the Bronx, attended yeshivos, and received his ordination from the Biyalistoker-Njovaradoker Beth Joseph Rabbinical Seminary in Brooklyn, and an M.A. from Loyola University, Los Angeles, California. 

“He is known as a dynamic rabbi and educator, and was once the national vice president of the Young Israel youth movement.” 

In Boro Park, Rabbi Josephy became a sort of spokesman for the community—thanks to his oratory and charisma. He would bring together police brass when there was a crisis in the community, and was at the forefront of many initiatives, including being active in the Boro Park Jewish Community Council. 

“Throughout all of his activities, it was his exceptional lev tov that enabled him to seek out and find the good in each and every individual, his colleague at R.A.A., Rabbi Yaakov Klass, recalled. 

A Center of ‘Greatness’

For all of his liaising, and representing Jewry to the outside, Rav Josephy most ardently represented the Torah and Yiddishkeit to scores of unaffiliated Jews. He founded Beis Hamedrash Hagodol in the ‘Infants Home’ on 56th Street, as we read in the New York Daily News: 

The Infants Home has undergone many changes since, bit helping children has always been its purpose. On January 5, 1976, it began its program of providing care for emotionally disturbed children. 

“The program was made possible by a merger with the Jewish board of Guardians and the affiliation with the Board of Education. There are 50 children enrolled in the program. Thirty-Five are day students, while 15 boys most in need of supervision reside in the home… Lessons in Hebeew and bible are given Wednesday nights by community volunteers, said Rabbi Nachum Josephy, the religious director. “We want the community to know that there is a place they can turn to,” Rabbi Josephy said. 

This was the beginning of the famed “Mishkan” organization that operates in Beis Medrash Hagodol building to this very day. But the building held so much more than that. 

Rabbi Zvi Mandel, a longtime kiruv activist, remembers well the welcoming atmosphere in Rabbi Josephy’s shul. “You could see yidden of all stripes, and of course, a sizable Bucharian community, which Rabbi Josephy so greatly aided. Hundreds of Russian 

He forged close relationships with many Rabbonim and Admorim, and he was exceptionally close with the Munkatcher Rebbe. When he became ill in the late 90’s, he journeyed with the Rebbe to the kever of the Minchas Elozor. Upon the next exam, the cancer was gone. Illness returned in 2001, and Rav Nosson was niftar on 14 Tammuz of 2003, following a quarter-century of Rabbonus in Boro Park of yore.