Yechiel Perr

Yechiel Yitzchok Perr (1935^[1]– May 3,^[2] 2024) was an American rabbi. He was the founder and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Ayson (Yeshiva of Far Rockaway) in Far Rockaway, New York.

Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchok Perr
Personal life
Born	1935 South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.
Died	May 3, 2024(2024-05-03) (aged 88–89)
Nationality	American
Spouse	Shoshana Nekritz
Parent	Menachem Mendel Perr
Alma mater	Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia Lakewood Yeshiva
Occupation	Rosh yeshiva
Religious life
Religion	Judaism
Denomination	Orthodox
Yeshiva	Yeshiva Derech Ayson (Yeshiva of Far Rockaway)
Organization	Founder and rosh yeshiva
Main work	Shoshanas Ha'amakim: Parsha Lessons, Life Lessons (2019), Tzidkus Stands Forever (2011)

Biography

Yechiel Yitzchak Perr was born and raised in South Ozone Park, Queens, where his father, Menachem Mendel Perr served as a rabbi for over 50 years.^[3] He attended high school at Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. After completing high school, he studied at the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and then at Lakewood Yeshiva in Lakewood, New Jersey, under Aharon Kotler from 1954 to 1962.^[4][1]

Personal life and death

Rabbi Perr married Shoshana Nekritz, daughter of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Nekritz, granddaughter of Rabbi Avraham Yoffen, and great-granddaughter of 'the Alter of Novardok', Rabbi Yosef Yozel Horwitz. After his marriage he came into contact with the Novardok tradition. He went on to study at Yeshivat Beis Yosef-Novardok in Brooklyn, New York. In 1969, he established the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, which also runs a high school and an accredited rabbinical studies program.^[4] Rabbi Perr died on May 3, 2024, at the age of 89.^[5]

Published works

• "Reb Yisroel – Who Was He?" The Jewish Observer, June 1969.
• Tzidkus Stands Forever: The Life and Lessons of Rabbi Menachem M. Perr zt”l, September 2011.
• Shoshanas Ha'amakim: Parsha Lessons, Life Lessons, 2019.
• מגילות רות ואסתר עם פירוש שושנת העמקים, ‎2020. A commentary on the books of Esther and Ruth, in Hebrew.
• שושנת העמקים על מועדי השנה, ‎2021. Lectures on the festivals, in Hebrew.

Additionally, Yehuda Keilson published two books, Mind Over Man and Faith Over Fear, based on Rav Perr's Mussar lectures on Madreigas Ha’adam.

On July 20, 2022, David Jemal published Choosing Not To Choose, based on Rav Perr's Mussar lectures on the Tekufos Ha'Olam section of the Madreigas Ha'adam.

A series of Rav Perr's conversations on Mussar are described in the following books by Alan Morinis:

• Climbing Jacob's Ladder. Broadway, 2002. ISBN 0-7679-0645-4.
• Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar. Trumpeter Books, 2007. ISBN 1-59030-368-7.