Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel

Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel (February 18, 1910 - November 21, 1998), born in Lithuania, was the long-time Mashgiach of Beis Medrash Govoha in Lakewood. His father, Rav Moshe Yom Tov was one of the 14 original students of the yeshiva in Slutsk. Another of these students was Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav Wachtfogel himself began his education in the yeshiva in Kelm. When he was fifteen, he came to the United States - his father had accepted a rabbinic post in Montreal - and enrolled in Yeshivat Rabbenu Yitzchak Elchanan (forerunner of the Talmudic division of Yeshiva University). After two years there, he returned to Lithuania to study at the Mir Yeshiva. He also studied under Rav Shimon Shkop, and in Kamenetz, under Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz. Beginning in 1941, Rav Wachtfogel joined with Rav Aharon Kotler to develop the Lakewood Yeshiva.