Memory Lane: Yitzchok Dovber Ushpol

Congregation Anshei Lubavitch of Boro Park, incorporated in 1914, had at its helm a rov by the name of Rav Yitzchok Dovber Ushpol, an ardent Lubavitcher chossid and giant talmid chochom and educator. 

We begin the story when the Ushpols were fortunate to be in Vilna in September of 1939.  Their escape was extremely harrowing, and they came face-to-face with death a Number of times. Finally, they made it to the United States 

His first teaching position was in Boro Park, in Yeshiva Toras Emes, which had recently been established. His teaching career would continue over the next four decades. 

Before educational consultants were an item—Rav Ushpol was widely recognized for his expertise, and often called upon to share his chinuch wisdom with others in the field. “Discipline is the basis of education,” he wrote. “Through discipline YouTube can succeed in the Classroom, without it, you cannot. But there is no reason to obtain discipline imperiously. Rather, it is by the student recognizing the importance of discipline and the recognition that one needs to control their impulses to disturb or hurt others.” 

“The teacher must speak to the heart of the child, without accusing or screaming, and always speaking calmly and patiently,” he taught. His care for the spiritual development of his students was only matched by his concern for their material well-being. He would say: “Boys, you must be healthy, rested, and happy.” He also had a fund through which he supported students in need. 

Rabbonus

In 1957, he accepted the position as the rov of Anshei Lubavitch in Boro Park in which he would gain the love and admiration of his congregants–many of whom were simple, brokenhearted Holocaust survivors–and bring vitality to this community. 

The job was a difficult one. There were challenges both internal and external, with the neighborhood undergoing changes in demographics during that time. But Rav Ushpol’s wisdom and sincerity endeared him to the congregation. “Everybody loved him,” recalls his nephew, R’ Yosef Goldberg. 

He would deliver many shiurim, during the week, but especially on Shabbos. And the droshos given by this talmid chochom of stature–a fusion of the Torah of the Lita and the chassidic tradition–drew in many from beyond the pews of the shul. 

In 1969, a dinner was tendered in his honor–which brought together 500 people. The dais featured such distinguished personalities as Rav Moshe Bick, and the onetime rov of the Shul (back in the 1920’s) Rav Eliyahu Simpson, who had gone on to open his own shul, Tzemach Tzedek, elsewhere in Boro Park. At this event, Rav Ushpol was awarded lifetime rabbonus. 

In addition to his rabbonus, Rav Ushpol published articles for Torah periodicals, and authored Darkei Chessed on halachos and minhogim for Chevra Kaddisha, in which he was himself involved for many years. 

Rav Simcha Elberg, likewise a legend of old Boro Park, would later write: “What splendor it was to see him contemplating, with his thoughtful eyes expressing wisdom and awe, while seldom requesting to speak–because he had no need for his opinion to be heard.” 

Rav Ushpol was niftar on 12 Adar of 1983, following a lifetime of teaching and leading. 

Much material for this article was culled from the book “Footprints” by Dovid Zaklikowsky. 

Photo credits: Lubavitch archives.