Elya Svei


Rabbi Elya Svei – March 26, 2009 ) was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia together with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, and was internationally known for his incisive, brilliant and clear shiurim, and his ability to offer sage advice to thousands of Jews worldwide. Rav Svei was born in Slabodka, died in Philadelphia, and was buried in Jerusalem.
He attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, graduating its Hebrew Parochial High School division in 1941. He was described as being a genuine Beis Medrash talmid, and "not the average Mesifta boy."
Rav Svei was a primary student of Rabbi Aharon Kotler. Until his illness in the period before his death, he was regarded as one of the leaders of Charedi Jewry, and was a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and chairman of the Rabbinic Administrative Board of Torah Umesorah, until he resigned from both in June 2002, reportedly due to an ideological dispute with his colleagues.
Rabbi Svei's father was a member of the Kovno Kollel in Slabodka and spent his early years there.
Rabbi Svei was a son-in-law of Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz, the founder of the Brooklyn branch of the Mir Yeshiva, and was the brother-in-law of Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum.
His advice was sought after by the leading Roshei Yeshiva in America - including the deans of his own alma mater - Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood. He was the leading force behind the establishment of Sinai Academy in Brooklyn, a middle school and high school catering to the children of primarily non-observant Russian Jewish immigrants.
Rav Elya is also known to be the Rebbe Muvhak of Hagoan Rav Shaye Portnoy, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Letorah in Yerushalayim.