Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer (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 for 45 years. He was a close disciple of Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch. Rav Anemer was respected nationally as a halachic authority and headed the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington. He played a pivotal role in establishing kosher infrastructure in Washington, D.C. through his leadership of the Vaad HaKashrus, and is remembered for his profound influence on Maryland Jewry and his unwavering commitment to Orthodox Torah education.
Rav Gedaliah Anemer | |
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| Born | Gedaliah Anemer March 19, 1932 |
| Died | April 15, 2010 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Founder of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington |
He helped lay the groundwork for the Kemp Mill Orthodox Jewish community, founding various institutions and serving as the community's spiritual leader until his death in 2010. As of 2024, Kemp Mill has grown to become the largest Orthodox Jewish community on the East Coast between Baltimore and Miami.
Early life
editRabbi Gedaliah Anemer was born in 1932 in Akron, Ohio, the son of an orthodox Rabbi.[1] At a time when it was uncommon for Jews in middle America to be shomer Shabbos, his father, Reb Zev, declined a lucrative offer to own a Coca-Cola franchise because it would’ve required him to work on Shabbos. Tragically, his father was killed by a drunk driver while delivering soda to a customer, leaving his mother, Rivkah, to raise their three young children, all under the age of twelve, on her own.[2]
Rav Anemer received his early education at Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York, where he formed a close bond with Reb Moshe Feinstein. During that period, the yeshivah did not offer Shabbos meals, so Rav Anemer often dined at Reb Moshe's home.[2]
Reb Moshe had a tradition of giving a dollar to any student who memorized a blatt of Gemara. Eager to visit his mother, young Gedaliah memorized numerous blatt and saved the money to purchase train tickets home.[2]
From 1944 to 1956, he studied at Telshe Yeshiva, where he distinguished himself as an exceptional student with expertise in all areas of Shas and Shulchan Aruch. He was a close talmid of Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch.[1]
Years after leaving Telshe, Rav Anemer remained close to Rav Mordechai Gifter. Following a Telshe dinner where Rav Anemer was honored, he visited Rav Gifter to bid him farewell. By then, Rav Gifter was battling Parkinson’s disease. Rav Gifter, with great emotion, told him,
“Reb Gedaliah, you're the Kohen Gadol of America. Daven for me.”
They embraced, both shedding tears.[2]
Career
editRabbi Anemer received his semikhah in 1952 and soon after became the Rosh Yeshiva of the Boston Rabbinical Seminary, a collaborative effort between Lakewood Yeshiva and Telshe Yeshiva.[1] Not long after, he decided to interview for the rabbinic position at a synagogue in Washington, D.C.—a decision that would profoundly influence the future of American Jewry.
In 1956, Rabbi Anemer and his rebbetzin moved to D.C, where he assumed the position of Rabbi at Young Israel Shomrai Emunah. Recognizing the potential for growth, Rav Anemer soon relocated the congregation to Kemp Mill, Maryland, laying the foundation for what would become the Kemp Mill Jewish community. It was the first Orthodox Jewish synagogue to be opened in Montgomery County.[2][3]
In the early days of Washington and Silver Spring, kosher restaurants and bakeries were nonexistent. While local store owners were open to selling kosher products, 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, but there was no kashrus infrastructure to meet this need.[2] Rav Anemer, known for his unwavering principles and deep understanding of human nature, was asked to lead the Vaad HaKashrus of Washington.[1] This role was demanding and came with a fitting salary. However, despite the additional burden on his already busy schedule, Rav Anemer declined the extra pay. He believed it was essential to remain unbiased and chose to allocate the funds towards hiring a supervisor for the mashgichim instead.[2]
In 1963, Rabbi Anemer founded the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, comprising separate divisions for boys and girls. Throughout his 45-year tenure as Rosh Yeshiva, he delivered daily advanced Gemara shiurim at the Boys' High School and taught various classes at the Girls' High School. His guidance and teaching left an indelible mark on countless students, who held him in high esteem and deep affection.[4]
Today, the Yeshiva of Greater Washington offers a Mesivta Progam, a Yeshiva Gedolah (Tiferes Gedaliah) and a Kollel (Zichron Amram).[4]
Rav Aaron Lopiansky, a renowned Talmudic scholar who joined the Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Washington in 1995 as Rosh Yeshiva, described Rav Anemer's method of teaching.
“His shiur was harder than the others, but his talmidim had a kavod and appreciation for him; they didn't want to let him down. The style of his shiur reflected how he was as a person. He made sure that his talmidim truly understood the concepts they were talking about — one could not give a rote answer.”[2]
Death and burial
editRav Anemer died of a stroke on April 22, 2010. He was 78.[3] To ensure Rav Anemer could be buried in Israel before Shabbos, there was a critical window to transport his aron to Newark. As the procession departed from his synagogue, state troopers provided an escort to expedite the journey.[2]
Upon arrival in Israel, the chevra kadisha anticipated a hurried Erev Shabbos burial. However, as the hearse passed Beit Shemesh, Rav Anemer's students lined the streets, paying their final respects. At Har HaMenuchot, hundreds of talmidim and community members accompanied him dressed in their finest attire, honoring his last journey.[2]