Memory Lane: Rav Yehuda Stamm

On the outskirts of Boro Park, at 6510 17th Avenue, there stood a Shul by the name of Congregation Bnai Jacob of Mapleton Park. There, Rav Yudel Stamm, a product of the Lithuanian Torah world, served as the rov for more than half a century. His story is one of Torah and mussar, and transplanting that spirit to American shores. 

Born and raised in Kelm of yore, around 1940, Rav Yudel came to American to join his parents, Rav Yisroel and Devorah Stamm. 

Soon thereafter, he married Chaya Reizel, the daughter of Rav Moshe Leib Halevi Lusky, the rov of the Lithuanian shtetl of Svintzian, a great ga’on who was fortunate to make it to America. Like the rest of his brethren, he endured a terrible life under the Russians, the Ukrainians, and the Lithuanians, depending on where they were wandering at the time. 

Rabbonus in America 

His brother-in-law, Rav Shimon Scher (whom we have profiled as the longtime rov of the nearby Congregation Kesser Israel) learned about the vacant Rabbinic position at Bnai Jacob, and in 1942, Rav Yudel became the rov there. He would continue to serve in this position for more than half a century.  

His children recall how he was a unique kind of rov. Able to relate to the mispalelim, and at the same time unafraid to preach the mussar of Kelm. 

“Rabbi and Rebbitzen Yehuda Stamm were immediately accepted by the mispalelim of the Shul. Within a short time this young Rabbinical couple gained the respect of the diverse community, Jews and non-Jews, observant and non-observant alike. In Rav Stamm, they found a warm hearted and compassionate, yet a strong leader who was not afraid to preach the type of mussar that he learned from his father and from his rebbeim. He believed very strongly in upholding Torah and mitzvos to the highest degree without any compromise, no matter what the consequences,” wrote his son, Reb Moshe Leib Stamm, z”l. 

Simultaneously, his ahavas Yisroel was incredible. Guests who visited his Shul were amazed at his ability to remember who they were. He made certain that those in need were provided for. His shiurim reflected his emphasis on middos and derech eretz, and his powerful desire to see only good in people. He was an extremely gentle person who never said a bad word about anyone.  He could not and would not tolerate any dishonesty. He always had a kind word for everyone. He was extremely makpid on loshon horoh, and would never allow anyone else to speak ill of others, his son related. 

Rav Stamm would personally drive his sons there on many occasions, and would take a deep interest in their progress. Rabbi Elias Schwartz, the longtime dean of the Yeshiva, recalls those days and Rav Yehuda Stamm. In an interview with me he recalled Rav Stamm as always being a soft-spoken person. “I never heard him raise his voice,” he said. “He was very proud of his children, he was very proud of his shul on 17th Avenue,” Rabbi Schwartz related. 

“He felt that as long as he was there it will always be a shul (which turned out to be the case), and he left a deep impression upon people!  He was able to get American Yidden to close their businesses on Shabbos! He was indeed a very quiet person but was able to influence people.” 

Impacting People 

Rav Stamm also had a good sense of humor, and would use this quality to make his way into the hearts of his mispalelim and his family. He loved learning with children, and capturing the hearts of his children with the magic of Torah. 

His avodas hamidos was truly rooted in his Kelmer origins. For fifty years, he lived in utter peace and tranquility with his shvigger, Rebbetzin Lusky. Once, a group of people banded together to take over the board, and make the shul more liberal. Rav Stamm fought tooth and nail to preserve the character of the Shul. When the ordeal was over, the leader of the revolt fell ill. The first one to visit him was none other than Rav Yehuda Stamm, zt”l, to the utter amazement of even his family. 

Once, a relative of Rav Stamm, a sofer by trade, was repairing sifrei Torah in the city of Syracuse. There he befriended a high-ranking retired military official who related on one occasion the bar mitzvah lessons that he received as a boy in Brooklyn, and the inspiration that remained with him for a lifetime. The Rabbi turned out to be none other than Rav Yehuda Stamm who inspired people every day of his life through his passion and dedication in Boro Park of yore.