The official title of Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Ausband, fondly known as “Rav Avremel,” was rosh yeshivah, and he led his yeshivah in Riverdale, New York, for almost 44 years. But for his thousands of talmidim, he was much more than that. Their deep relationships with him continued long after they left the physical walls of the yeshivah. A common theme echoed by his students was that “Rav Avremel was a rebbi for life.”
Rav Ausband was a scion of a very distinguished dynasty. His father, Rav Eizik Ausband, was the son-in-law of the last Telsher Rav, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Bloch, grandson of Rav Yosef Leib Bloch, the previous rav and rosh yeshivah of Telshe, and great-grandson of Rav Eliezer Gordon, the founder of Telshe. Rav Eizik Ausband himself served as a rosh yeshivah in Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland for decades. Rav Avremel’s mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Ausband, a”h, led the famed Yavne Seminary for many years, where she raised scores of talmidos who lovingly knew her simply as “Morah.”
As a member of the Telsher family, Rav Avremel embodied the Telsher middah of “malchus.” His son-in-law, Rav Betzalel Busel, explained that this regal quality manifested itself in his complete control over every aspect of himself. His entire essence was royal, with every action, word and movement being deliberate and well-thought-out. Furthermore, he was never swayed by “what the world says,” confidently following his own sense of right and wrong, a mesorah passed down from his lofty ancestors.
Despite his regal and noble bearing, Rav Avremel was approachable and friendly to all. He forged close relationships not only with his own students but also with Yidden of all types and backgrounds. He maintained strong ties with many Modern Orthodox members of the Riverdale community and shared an especially warm relationship with Rav Mordechai Willig, the rosh yeshivah of Yeshiva University and rav of the Young Israel of Riverdale. Rav Ausband would deliver a shiur there every Yom Tov when the yeshivah was not in session.
Rav Avremel’s genius was evident from a very young age. He entered Telshe High School before the age of ten, learning there for many years and becoming exceptionally close to the roshei yeshivah, including Rav Boruch Sorotzkin, Rav Mordechai Gifter, Rav Chaim Stein and his own father. His devotion to his parents was remarkable; even after becoming a rosh yeshivah, he would always consult them for advice at every stage of life.
While in Telshe, Rav Avremel gained a vast knowledge of Torah, distinguishing himself as a rising star in this bastion of talmidei chachamim. He later went to Eretz Yisrael and studied in Brisk under Rav Berel Soloveitchik, who greatly enjoyed discussing learning with him. Rav Berel would say that Rav Avremel has “seichel hayashar,” and it was a pleasure for him to converse with a young man who was fluent in all of Shas.
This dedication to learning on the highest level continued throughout Rav Avremel’s life. He was constantly seen learning. His childhood friend and cousin, Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, referred to him as “a living sefer Torah.”
After marrying his wife, a daughter of Rav Binyomin Zeilberger, rosh yeshivas Bais Hatalmud, Rav Avremel expanded his expertise in the Torah of Telshe by delving deeply into the works of the famed Mirrer mashgiach, Rav Yerucham Levovitz, his wife’s great-grandfather (Rav Zeilberger was the son-in-law of the mashgiach, Rav Yisroel Chaim Kaplan, who was Rav Yerucham’s son-in-law). This gave him a unique combination of two branches of the Litvishe yeshivah world.
While still a young man, Rav Avremel took on the monumental task of publishing the previously unprinted works of the Ohr Somei’ach, Rav Meir Simchah Hakohen of Dvinsk. Working tirelessly from handwritten notes, he helped publish Rav Meir Simchah’s chiddushim on Shas, as well as his sh’eilos u’teshuvos, both of which have become staples in Torah libraries around the world.
In his early 30s, Rav Avremel began his over four-decade career as a rosh yeshivah when he cofounded a yeshivah in Westwood, New Jersey, together with Rav Yaakov Reisman. Although he had a clear vision for how the yeshivah should be run, he always consulted daas Torah. Before opening the yeshivah, he traveled to Eretz Yisrael to consult Rav Shach on various matters, and he constantly quoted Rav Shach’s guidance.
Rav Avremel was not only open to the advice of gedolei Yisroel but he also valued the input of his staff. “During staff meetings, he would ask each person for their opinion and would often follow their advice, even if it differed from his initial inclination.”
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