Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Kalmanson, longtime Rosh Yeshiva of the Lubavitch Yeshiva of New Haven, and the author of the seforim Reshimos Shiurim on Gemara, passed away suddenly on the first day of Rosh Hashana, 5786.

He was 70 years old.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Kalmanson was born in Montmorency, a suburb of Paris, to his parents, Rabbi Yekusiel Dovber and Bas Sheva Kalmanson, together with a twin brother, Rabbi Yechiel Menachem Mendel Kalmanson, later Rosh Yeshiva in Brunoy.

From his youth, he was educated in the Brunoy yeshiva, under the guidance of the famous mashpia Reb Nissan Nemanov and Rosh Yeshiva Reb Yosef Goldberg. His class in Brunoy included many serious and learned bochurim who went on to become Roshei Yeshiva around the world.

As a young bochur in Brunoy, Rabbi Kalmanson later recalled, they would eagerly await the arrival of tapes from the farbrengens in 770, which reached France weeks later. When the first live hookup was arranged — through a telephone call to Eretz Yisroel during the farbrengen of Yud Shvat 5730 — they listened through the night, relaying the Rebbe’s words from the handset to the entire dormitory.

In Tishrei 5731, at the age of fifteen, Rabbi Kalmanson merited his first trip to the Rebbe. He described that Tishrei as “a dream that never ended,” with tefillos, farbrengens, and Simchas Torah hakafos.

In yechidus, the Rebbe answered each of his questions with fatherly warmth, giving him brachos for Torah, avodah, and yiras Shomayim. When he asked how to ensure that a hachlata should last, the Rebbe instructed him to share his resolutions with a friend and that would strengthen his commitment.

Rabbi Kalmanson learned in Brunoy until 5735, after which he remained for two years as a shliach in the yeshiva. Along with his fellow shluchim, he reported regularly to the Rebbe, and merited to receive numerous letters in response. For Yud Beis Tammuz 5735, he was chosen by raffle to present a golden key for a newly organized mitzvah tank as a gift to the Rebbe.

In 5737 (1977), Rabbi Kalmanson was called upon by the hanhala of 770 to establish a yeshiva in New Haven. After receiving the Rebbe’s bracha, he arrived in Cheshvan 5738 together with a group of talmidim.

Generations of talmidim passed through his shiurim, guided by his clarity in learning and imbued with his chassidishe warmth. Under his leadership, the yeshiva expanded from being a yeshiva for talmidim to a mesivta and a zal.

In 5748, following the Rebbe’s call to publish one’s Torah, Rabbi Kalmanson began to print his pilpulim. The Rebbe responded warmly, and gave him a bracha for success in hafatzas haTorah. The volumes of Reshimos Shiurim were well received in yeshivos of all backgrounds, and are held in high esteem for their clarity and approach.

On erev Rosh Hashana, Rabbi Kalmanson visited the Ohel and stood in line together with thousands of Chassidim. On Rosh Hashana, shortly after the onset of Yom Tov, he felt unwell and passed away shortly thereafter.

He is survived by his wife Hindy, and children, Mrs. Chani Altein (Pittsburgh, PA), Mrs. Nechama Hendel (Yerushalayim, EY), Mrs. Menucha Shochet (Los Angeles, CA), Rabbi Mendel Kalmanson (London, UK), Rabbi Yekusiel Kalmanson (Hancock Park, CA), Rabbi Moishy Kalmenson (Rockwell, TX).

He is also survived by his siblings: Rabbi Yechiel Menachem Mendel Kalmanson (Brunoy, France), Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmanson (Crown Heights), Mrs. Doba Raiza Vorst (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Mrs. Chaya Uminer (Crown Heights), Mrs. Baila Goldstein (Crown Heights), and Mrs. Shterna Shpritzer (Crown Heights).

The levaya began Motzei Yom Tov in New Haven, and will pass 770 on Thursday at 3:30 PM, with kevurah near the Ohel at 4:15 PM.

Kalmenson Shiva Schedule
114 Colony Rd New Haven CT 06511

Friday
Shacharis 9:30 (3 Minyanim)
Followed by visiting hours from 10 -12.
Break from 12-1:15. Kindly respect the family’s privacy at this time.
Mincha 1:15 (3 Minyanim)
Visiting ends at 2:30

Motzei Shabbos
8:30-10:00

Sunday-Monday
Shacharis 9:30 (3 Minyanim)
Followed by visiting hours from 10 -12.
Break from 12-2:00. Kindly respect the family’s privacy at this time.
Visiting hours 2:00-5:00
Break from 5-6:30. Kindly respect the family’s privacy at this time.
Mincha and Maariv-6:30 (3 Minyanim)
Visiting ends at 9:00

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes