Remembering Rabbi Belsky, zt”l
Poignant recollections of the OU Kosher posek for nearly three decades, composed by Rabbi Belsky’s colleagues and friends at the OU.
A Portrait of Greatness
The petirah of Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Belsky was a tragedy for the Jewish world at large as well as for our close-knit OU community. We at OU Kosher had the privilege of having Rabbi Belsky work closely with us over the years, and we had the opportunity to experience first-hand his exceptional gifts.
Rabbi Belsky: The Person and The Posek
Rosh yeshivah, maggid shiur, rav, ba’al tefillah, mohel. Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, held all of these titles as well as one more: posek for OU Kosher. What made Rabbi Belsky such an outstanding posek? Below are a few of the exceptional qualities I merited to observe while working with him.
Kashrut Contributions of Rabbi Belsky
Rabbi Belsky was someone who fought for the truth; he never gave a thought to how popular his position would be, or what others would say.
Below is but a sample of the breadth and scope of Rabbi Belsky’s wide-ranging rulings and how they affect every kosher consumer:
9/11
Lot’s Daughters 
The Ghosts of Rosh Hashana’s Past 
9/11 Ten Years Later
By R. Rosenfeld He asked me “Are you headed north?” I nodded and he followed. The two o
No one spoke. We all moved as if we were underwater. And somehow, then we had to make R
When the terror attack occurred, Avremel was fifty-five; his friend Ed, a quadriplegic,
9/11Lot’s Daughters The Ghosts of Rosh Hashana’s Past 9/11 Ten Years Later
By R. Rosenfeld He asked me “Are you headed north?” I nodded and he followed. The two o
No one spoke. We all moved as if we were underwater. And somehow, then we had to make R
When the terror attack occurred, Avremel was fifty-five; his friend Ed, a quadriplegic,
9/11Lot’s Daughters The Ghosts of Rosh Hashana’s Past 9/11 Ten Years Later
By R. Rosenfeld He asked me “Are you headed north?” I nodded and he followed. The two o
No one spoke. We all moved as if we were underwater. And somehow, then we had to make R
When the terror attack occurred, Avremel was fifty-five; his friend Ed, a quadriplegic,