13 Av 5744
Harav Yosef Greenwald was born in 5663 in the city of Tzehlem to his father, Harav Yaakov Yechezkiyahu of Pupa, author of Vayaged Yaakov. As a child he still knew his great grandfather, the Arugas Habosem. As a bochur, he traveled to Satmar to learn in the yeshivah of his uncle, the Keren LeDovid, and after his marriage, he was appointed as a dayan in the city of Satmar.
After the passing of his father in 5701, Rav Yosef was appointed to succeed him as Rav and Rosh Yeshivah in Pupa. During his time, the number of talmidim in the yeshivah swelled to a peak of more than 400.
In 5704, he was taken by the Nazis to a labor camp, and his Rebbetzin and ten children were killed al Kiddush Hashem. After the war, he worked tirelessly to rebuild the Torah world, and also remarried. In 5711, he arrived in New York and rebuilt the Pupa dynasty.
He illuminated American Jewry for thirty-three years, leading his community and drawing masses to hear his holy words. He authored a series of seforim entitled Vayechi Yosef on Torah and Moadim, and Shu"t Vaya’an Yosef, a six-volume set.
He passed away on Friday night Parashas V’eschanan, 13 Av, 5744, and was buried in the Pupa cemetery in Williamsburg.
