GAW: “Besides, in all honesty, what are the chances that any one of the titular Roshei Yeshiva would be a “Rosh Yeshiva” in Lakewood had they not been a grandson or grandson in law? Halacha says they get the title, but nothing else.”
The yeshiva belongs to the Kotler family, obviously a relative would be named Rosh Yeshiva. And would R’ Aron Kotler have been chosen as CEO had he not been a grandson?
“I’ll take Rav Shach over an anonymous internet person any day.”
This is not just an anonymous internet person deciding who is R”Y. It seems everyone but you refers to R’ Aron as the CEO, and R’ Malkiel, R Shustal, R’ Olshin and R’ Neumann (sorry about the original mistake, I meant to write R’ Neumann all long, I don’t know how it came out wrong…) as the Roshei Yeshiva.
I don’t know the psak that you are referring to, but based on what you wrote, it would not apply to R’ Aron Kotler (the second), since he did not create the yeshiva. And if only one condition applies, based on what you wrote, that would mean that the fundraiser is automatically the Rosh Yeshiva in any yeshiva.
Traditioanlly, the one who opens the yeshiva is the Rosh Yeshiva and is responsible for raising the funds. But, and especially as the yeshiva grows, this can become an impossible task and is often delegated to a fundraiser. Does that mean he relinquishes his position as R”Y when he does this?
The Richard Joel comparison is not so precise- he is the president of Yeshiva University, which puts him in charge of RIETS and every undergrad and grad program in YU. RIETS is the yeshiva division of the university, and has its own Roshei Yeshiva. And by the way, Joel is actually stepping down, to be replaced by R’ Ari Berman.