HARAV HAGAON R. SHIMON YEHUDAH HACOHEN SHKOP ZT”L
1860-1939
Rabbi
Shkop was born in Toretz, Minsk. At age 12, he studied in the yeshiva
in Mir for two years. He then traveled to Volozhin and studied with the
Netziv zt”l. He was part of an extraordinary group of students with whom
Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik zt”l interacted.
In 1884, he became a ram at the yeshiva in Telshe, where he taught
Torah for 18 years and became well-known for hi s style and distinctive
chiddushim. In 1903, he was appointed rabbi of Meltch, replacing the
gaon Rabbi Zalman Sander zt”l (who became rabbi in Krinki). In 1907, he
became the rabbi of Breinsk, where he founded a yeshiva known as
Yeshivat Rav Shimon Breinsker.
During World War I he remained in Breinsk, which was captured by the
Germans, and helped assiduously to look after his townspeople. Since his
yeshiva was forced to close during the war, he used his spare time to
arrange his chiddushim and shiurim in a sefer. This is the popular
Sharei Yosher, which was published in 1928.
In 1920, Rabbi Shkop was urged by the leading rabbis of the time, led
by Rabbi Chaim Ozer zt”l of Vilna, to accept the position of rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivat Sharei Torah in Grodna. Rabbi Shkop was successful
in turning the yeshiva into one of the largest and most popular in
Europe.
In 1928, he traveled to America in order to alleviate the difficult
financial situation of his yeshiva and was received there with the
highest honor. After the passing of the Meitscheter Illui, Rabbi Shlomo
Polachek zt"l, he became a rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary, where he taught for one year.
Although he wanted to remain, the leading rabbis of Europe, led by
the Chofetz Chaim zt”l and Rabbi Chaim Ozer zt”l, felt it imperative for
him to return to Grodna and to his yeshiva there. Rabbi Shkop answered
their call, albeit with some misgivings. When World War II broke out, he
moved with his yeshiva to Vilna, where he died shortly thereafter.