Passing of Rabbi Gilbert Klaperman

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. Since his retirement from Congregation Beth Sholom, Rabbi Klaperman has 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.

Rabbi Klaperman established Hillel Day School in 1960, which merged with HILI in 1978 to form the current HAFTR school.  He wanted a Zionist School similar to Yeshiva Flatbush, where his children attended.[The Jewish Heritage Society of the Five Towns, by Rabbi Mordechai Kaminetzky]