Rabbi Elchanan Halpern | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | December 26, 1921 Košice, Czechoslovakia |
| Died | February 18, 2015 (aged 93) London |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Synagogue | Beis Shmuel |
| Buried | Israel |
| Residence | Golders Green, London |
Elchanan Halpern (December 26, 1921 – February 18, 2015) was the Rabbi of the Golders Green neighbourhood of London[1][2] and President of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.[2] He was also known as the Av Beit Din of Radomishl[1][2] after the town of his maternal grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel Engel, Rav of Radomishl.
He was born in Košice, Czechoslovakia. Both of his parents were descendants of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam.[3]
In his youth, he studied several years under his grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel Engel,[2] until the death of the latter, who was formally eulogised by Halpern,[3] then aged 13. At age 14, Halpern corresponded with Rabbi Joseph Rosen.[1][3][4][5]
After his marriage, he settled in London.[2]
At the time of Halpern's death, He was considered one of the most senior rabbis in the world. He left behind over 1,400 direct descendants, including grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. His five sons and four sons-in-law all hold important rabbinic positions.[1]
