Gedaliah Anemer

Orthodox Jewish Rabbi (1932–2010)

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Rav

Gedaliah Anemer

Personal life
Born|

Gedaliah Anemer

(1932-03-19)19 March 1932

Akron, Ohio

Died| 15 April 2010(2010-04-15) (aged 78)

Kemp Mill, Maryland

Nationality| American
Alma mater| Telshe Yeshiva
Religious life
Religion| Judaism
Denomination| Orthodox Judaism
Position| Rabbi
Synagogue| Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
Position| Rosh Yeshiva
Yeshiva| Yeshiva of Greater Washington
Position| Rav Av Bet Din
Organisation| Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington
Yahrtzeit| 1 Iyar
Buried| Har HaMenuchot
Semikhah| Rav Eliyahu Meir Bloch

Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer, also known as Rav Gedaliah Ben Zev HaKohen (March 19, 1932 – April 15, 2010), was an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and founder of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, where he served as Rosh Yeshiva (dean) for 45 years. He was a disciple of Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch. Anemer headed the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington and led the Vaad HaKashrus.

## Early life

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Gedaliah Anemer was born in Akron, Ohio.[1] At a time when it was uncommon for Jews in middle America to be shomer Shabbos, his father declined an offer to own a Coca-Cola franchise because it would’ve required him to work on Shabbos. After his father was killed by a drunk driver, his mother Rivkah raised Anemer and his siblings on her own.[2]

Anemer received his early education at Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York, where he formed a close bond with Moshe Feinstein at whose home Anemer often had his Shabbat dinner. From 1944 to 1956, he studied at Telshe Yeshiva, where he distinguished himself in Shas and Shulchan Aruch. He was a close talmid of Eliyahu Meir Bloch.[1] Years after leaving Telshe, Anemer remained close to Mordechai Gifter.[2]

## Career

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Anemer received his semikhah (rabbinical ordination) in 1952 and soon after became the Rosh Yeshiva of the Boston Rabbinical Seminary, a collaborative effort between Lakewood Yeshiva and Telshe Yeshiva.[1] Soon after, Anemer and his rebbetzin moved to Washington, D.C, where he worked as the rabbi of Young Israel Shomrai Emunah. He later relocated the congregation to the Kemp Mill area of Silver Spring, Maryland, laying the foundation for a new Jewish community.[2][3]

In the early days of Washington and Silver Spring, the Jewish community was too small to support a fully kosher business, and hiring a mashgiach was not economically viable. As the community grew, the demand for kosher establishments increased, and so Anemer was asked to lead the Vaad HaKashrus of Washington. Anemer declined the salary that came with the role and chose to allocate the funds towards hiring a supervisor for the mashgichim instead.[2] In 1963, Anemer founded the Yeshiva of Greater Washington.[4]

## Death and burial

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Anemer died of a stroke on Thursday, April 22, 2010. He was 78.[3] To ensure Anemer could reach Israel in time to be buried there before Shabbat began, state troopers escorted his body to the airport. When it arrived in Israel, Anemer's students lined the streets to pay their respects.[2]

## References

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1. ^ a b c Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer zt"l, The Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington, retrieved 20 June 2024
2. ^ a b c d e Weber, Gitty (2011-05-11), "Golden Returns in Silver Spring", Mishpacha Magazine, retrieved 20 June 2024
3. ^ a b "Gedaliah Anemer, leading Washington-area rabbi, dies". Jewish Journal. 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
4. ^ "YGW Leadership, Divisions, Biographies". www.yeshiva.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-08.[non-primary source needed]