Shneur Kotler

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shneur Kotler (1918–1982) was a Lithuanian-tradition Torah scholar who led the Lakewood yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, from 1962 until his death. Born in Slutsk, he was the son of Rabbi Aharon Kotler and a grandson, on his mother's side, of Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer. He pursued his early studies in Kletzk and Kamenitz, learning under Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz. When the war reached Lithuania he made his way through Vilna and reached Mandatory Palestine, continuing in Jerusalem under his grandfather at the Etz Chaim yeshiva. He immigrated to the United States in 1947 to join his father in Lakewood, later succeeding him as rosh yeshiva. During his two decades of leadership the institution expanded considerably, and he helped found affiliated kollelim in many communities. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler.