Rabbi Dr. Gilbert Klaperman

Rabbi Dr. Gilbert Klaperman z'l

Rabbi Dr. Gilbert Klaperman, Esq. was the founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in 1950. He served the Congregation until 1988 when he became Rabbi Emeritus. Previously he served in pulpits in Charleston, S.C., West New York, N.J., Kingston, and Ontario, Canada. Rabbi Klaperman was ordained in 1941 at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary where he received Semicha from Dr. Samuel Belkin and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. He earned his B.A. and Doctorate at Yeshiva University, his Master's degree at the University of Iowa and his law degree at Hofstra Law School. Rabbi Klaperman was President of the Rabbincal Council of America, the New York Board of Rabbis, and head of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry.  Author of The Story of Yeshiva University, Rabbi Klaperman co-authored The Story of The Jewish People with his wife Libby z''l, a teacher and author of  children's books.  Together they raised four children in the Beth Sholom community.  Since his retirement from Congregation Beth Sholom, Rabbi Klaperman had been an Officer and General Counsel of Rapitech Systems, Inc., a computer software company, Assistant District Attorney in Kings County and General Counsel of the Department of Business Services of the City of New York. He was a member of the Law Department of the New York City Housing Authority. Rabbi Klaperman lived in Lawrence, New York, with his second wife, former New York City Councilwoman, Susan Alter.