Zevulun Charlop

Zevulun Charlop (December 14, 1929 – January 16, 2024) was an American rabbi, who served as dean of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), an affiliate of Yeshiva University (YU). He was also president of several major Jewish organizations, in the United States and Israel.

Education and career

Early life Charlop was born in 1929 the Bronx His father was ordained at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), the same institution his son would later administer. The elder Charlop served in pulpits around the United States in the early 1920s, but had come back to New York City to be rabbi of the Bronx Jewish Center several years before the younger Charlop was born.

Zevulun Charlop attended Yeshiva Salanter (later merged into SAR Academy) in the Bronx for elementary school, and Talmudical Academy for high school.

Charlop was admitted to Yeshiva University in the 1940s, when its seminary's religious leadership was primarily Eastern European. of more than 35 years, the seminary experienced enormous growth, graduating thousands of rabbis, educators, and Jewish scholars.

In September 2008, Charlop was honored for his extraordinary achievement in Torah learning and leadership as the seminary's dean at YU's RIETS Annual Dinner of Tribute. Sefer Zeved Tov, a collection of essays by Roshei Yeshiva and students in his honor, was published for this occasion. Additionally, Sefer Shefa Yamim, a collection of many of Charlop's essays, was published in limited release for this occasion. As Dean Emeritus, Charlop continued to serve as one of RIETS’ masmichim — conferring semikhah on rabbinical candidates – and giving exit bechinos (academic exams), and maintained his special relationship with the Kollelei Elyon. He also served as special advisor to the YU President on yeshiva affairs with cabinet rank.

After his retirement, Charlop remained dean emeritus and formally a special advisor on seminary affairs to the university’s president. He started there is 1966 with a lifetime contract.

In addition to his role as dean of the religious seminary, Charlop also taught American history at the college. He wrote articles for Encyclopedia Judaica and Yeshiva University's Torah U-Madda Journal.

Among his duties outside the pulpit and the university, Charlop president of the American Committee for the United Charities in Israel, Jerusalem's General Israel Orphans Home for Girls, and the National Council of Young Israel Rabbis.

Works Charlop wrote the Encyclopedia Judaica article, The Making of Orthodox Rabbis.

He had eight children with his wife Judith, who died in 1999, including two sons and six daughters. His sons are Alexander Ziskind Charlop and Zev Charlop, who are also rabbis. His daughters are Peshi Neuburger, Leebee Rochelle Becher, Annie Riva Prager, Shoshana Schneider, Zipporah Raymon and Miriam Reiss. he lived near his children in Monsey, NY. Charlop died on January 16, 2024, at the age of 94.