Chaim Dov Keller

Chaim Dov Keller (1930 – August 17, 2020) was an American Haredi rabbi,

With the passage of time, and as a relatively significant number of alumni graduated from the Telshe yeshiva in Chicago, it added to the reputations of its founders in the world of (New York-based) Agudath Israel of America to which they belong. While Levin was elevated to a seat on the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of America, Keller became a member of its "Nesius" (Presidium), a lesser yet still prestigious appointment.^[1] Thus at Agudath Israel's premier event, its annual convention, Keller was frequently one of the official rabbis and rosh yeshivas designated to give official speeches or lectures, such as at the 77th Agudah convention in 1999 (symposium, "Drawing Lines, Drawing Near — Securing The Future Of American Jewry");^[4] the 80th Agudah convention in 2002 (plenary session, "What in the World is Going On? — Searching for Meaning in the Maelstrom");^[5] and the 83rd Agudah convention in 2005 ("Shabbat speakers").^[6] He frequently wrote articles for the Agudah magazine The Jewish Observer as well.^[1]

Personal life and death

Keller's first wife died in the 1990s; his son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Schechter, also died in the 2000s.^[1] Keller was prone to weakness and poor health in his later years.^[1]

He became ill from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois in March 2020.^[7] He never recovered and died on August 17, 2020.^[7]

Bibliography

Keller authored Sefer Chidekel on weekly portions of the Torah.

The following is a short list of subjects and articles to which Keller has addressed his critiques:

• Criticism of Modern Orthodox Judaism^[8]
• Criticising Chabad Messianists^[9]
• Opposing female rabbis^[10]
• Attacking the existence of a gay club at Yeshiva College^[11]
• A Torah perspective attacking the decision in the Dover case on intelligent design^[12]

Keller also wrote a widely published obituary on Rabbi