Yaakov Yitzchak Neumann

Neumann's tombstone in the Kiryas Pupa Cemetery in Ossinning

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak Neumann or Neimann (1920, Pápa, Hungary – 2007, Montreal), also known as "Pupa Rav," was the rabbi of Montreal's Belzer hasidim from 1953 until his death in 2007.

Life

Neumann was born in Pápa, Hungary. His father Yosef ben Benzion Neuman was also a rabbi.

Rabbinical career

After surviving the Holocaust, in which his wife and only son, Nuchem, was killed, Neumann served as head of the remaining Hungarian Pápa community (abt. 1948), from which he gained the title, Puper Rav.

He then emigrated to Australia and then in 1953 to Montreal where there was a Belzer community.

He died in 2007, at the age of 87 without children.

Sources

• Bauer, Julien, “Les communautés hassidiques de Montréal.” Dans P. Anctil et I. Robinson (dir.), Les communautés juives de Montréal, Sillery, Septentrion, 2011, p. 216-233.
• Gutwirth, Jacques. "Hassidism and Urban Life." Jewish Journal of Sociology 38, 1996, p. 107-15.
• Gutwirth, Jacques. "The Structure of a Hassidic Community in Montreal." The Jewish Journal of Sociology 14, 1972, p. 43-62.
• Lapidus, Steven. "The Forgotten Hassidim: Rabbis and Rebbes in Prewar Canada." Canadian Jewish Studies Journal/Revue d’études juives canadiennes, vol. 12, 2004, p. 1-30.
• Shaffir, William. "Chassidic Communities in Montreal." The Canadian Jewish Mosaic. Eds. Morton Weinfeld, Irwin Cotler, William Shaffir ed. Rexdale, Ont.: J. Wiley & Sons Canada, 1981, p. 273-86. Print.
• Tannenbaum, Gershon. "Rabbi Koppelman Visits Australia." Jewish Press: Americas Largest Independent Jewish Weekly. Web. 01 Nov. 2010.
• Besser, Yisroel. "Posek, Father, Friend" in Mishpacha Magezine: issue 145 February 2007