Memory Lane: Rav Shlomo Polatchek, zt”l, The Maitcheter Iluy

By Yehuda Alter

As a bachur, the sefer stood out from the bookshelves in the yeshiva’s library; “Chidushei Ha’iluy Mimaitchet.” It would decades before we learned that the iluy—who was a legend back in the greatest Torah centers of the European yeshiva world—resided right here in our backyard, on Boro Park’s 60th Street, although he taught Torah at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon, on the Lower East Side.

Although the iluy had a storied life in in the European Torah world—with his rebbi, rav Chaim Soloveitchik saying that he had never seen such a genius—today we will deal with the Meitcheter Iluy’s years in America. 

In 1922, Rav Shlomo arrived in America—on the invitation of the leaders of RIETS. On his application to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, we find his address at 6610 19th Avenue, and from a the Sefer Hayovel of Agudas Harabonim, as well as a Shana Tova greeting, in 1927 and 1928 respectively, we learn that the Polatchek’s moved to 1954 60th Street, and from the 1925 State Census, we learn that they were already there in that year.    

Where would the Iluy have davened in this neighborhood (which was then not like today, when the area is heavily orthodox, with dozens of shtieblach)?  

One possibility is the Shul of Rav Shepsel Friedman of Stavisk (Boro Park of Yesteryear, July 2019), Nahar Shalom, which was located two blocks away at 2032 62nd Street. They were a year apart in age, and grew up 200 kilometers from each other. Presumably, he made his way by train to the Lower East Side to teach at RIETS—where he stood out for his brilliance in Torah as well as in character. 

Among his talmidim at RIETS were America’s future Torah leaders; Rav Moshe Bick, Rav Scheineberg, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, Rav Menachem Perr, Rav Mordechai Shapiro  and Rabbi Mordechai Stern, among others. 

Sadly, this bliss was not to last; for the iluy was niftar at the shockingly young age of 50.

The New York Times reported on the massive levaya which drew masses to the yeshiva on the Lower East Side. Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz, who was then in America, was maspid, as did the leaders of RIETS, and other rabbonim. 

A year after the petirah, a sefer was published in tribute to the great ga’on. Among the tributes of the great Roshei Yeshiva in Lita—for whom the Maitcheter was a sheim davar—was a long article by his very mentor, Rav Aaron Rabinowitz, zt”l, Hy”d, who related many details from the time he found the obscure genius, bringing him to Rav Chaim, and to Lida. 

Among his descendants are numerous rabbonim and upstanding Yidden who follow the path forged by their illustrious patriarch, which came to an untimely end close to one century ago in Boro Park of yesteryear.