Yosef Heller
Yosef Avraham haLevi Heller is an American Orthodox rabbi and a member of the Chabad Hasidic movement. Rabbi Heller serves as an emeritus member of the Bais Din Tzedek of the Chabad community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; he is an authority on Halacha and Hasidic philosophy. Rabbi Heller holds the additional position of Rosh Kollel, head of the community's kollel, a yeshiva for married men.
Rabbi of Crown Heights
As a member of the Crown Heights Beth Din (rabbinical court), Rabbi Heller is one of the community's Marah D'Asra. The rabbinical court is the spiritual and religious body governing the Crown Heights Chabad community. There are currently three rabbis serving on the Beth Din:- Rabbi Avraham Osdoba
- Rabbi Yosef Heller
- Rabbi Yosef Braun
The Crown Heights rabbinical court is funded by the Va'ad Hakohol of Crown Heights, a religious corporation representing the Jewish community of Crown Heights.
Appointment
Rabbi Heller, along with Rabbis Yehuda Kalmen Marlow and Avraham Osdoba, was elected to the rabbinical court in a communal election, following the passing of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin, the community's previous chief rabbi. After the passing of his wife Rabbi Heller stopped most public rabbinic activities, he still however answers rabbinic questions privately, as well as in the Kolel.Rosh Kollel
Rabbi Heller holds the additional position of Rosh Kollel, head of the community's kollel, a yeshiva for married men.In Orthodox Judaism, it is customary for every community to establish a communal institution where a group of adult men study during the day. The men are in turn supported financially by the community.