Rabbi Ralph Pelcovitz, z’l: An Appreciation

The March 16, 2018 issue of the Five Towns Jewish Times places Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz on its front cover and opens Rabbi Yair Hoffman’s tribute, “Rabbi Ralph Pelcovitz, z’l: An Appreciation.” The article continues on page 16. This archive entry identifies the original publication and offers an editorial summary; the complete continuation has not yet been reproduced here.

Hoffman remembers a Torah scholar whose warmth was inseparable from his leadership. He describes Rabbi Pelcovitz’s education at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas under Rav Shlomo Heiman, his decades at the White Shul in Far Rockaway, and his work as an author and translator. His appreciation singles out the Sforno translation and its explanatory notes as evidence of considerable scholarship.

The tribute also recalls a teacher who encouraged people to reconsider their lives through persuasive words and an inviting smile. His unpublished Shabbos parsha notes, Hoffman writes, preserve material beyond the published sermons. These recollections complement the interviews, books, and community histories collected throughout this library.