Aharon Lichtenstein

Template:Short description Template:Infobox person Aharon Lichtenstein (Template:Langx; May 23, 1933 – April 20, 2015) was an Orthodox rabbi, Israel Prize laureate<ref name=":0" /> and rosh yeshiva<ref>Fischer, Elli. "Who Is Aharon Lichtenstein? Introducing the extraordinary rabbi who next week will receive Israel’s highest honor." Mosaic Magazine. April 30, 2014. Accessed June 2, 2014.</ref> who was an authority in Jewish law (Halakha).<ref>Goldberg, Jeffrey. "A Bit of Good News on the Don't-Sell-to-the Arabs Controversy." The Atlantic. December 14, 2010. Accessed June 2, 2014.</ref>

Biography

Aharon Lichtenstein was born to Yechiel Lichtenstein and Bluma née Schwartz in Paris, France, but grew up in the United States, where he studied in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin under Yitzchak Hutner as well as Ahron Soloveichik.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He earned a BA at Yeshiva University in 1953, and semicha ("rabbinic ordination") at YU's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary under Joseph B. Soloveitchik, whose daughter, Tovah, he would later marry. He received an M.A. in 1954 and a PhD in English Literature in 1957 at Harvard University, where he studied under Douglas Bush.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lichtenstein married Tovah Soloveitchik on January 26, 1960.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They had six children: Mosheh, Yitzchak, Meir, Esti, Shai and Tonya.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After serving as Rosh Yeshiva/Kollel at Yeshiva University for several years, Lichtenstein answered Yehuda Amital's request in 1971 to join him at the helm of Yeshivat Har Etzion, located in Gush Etzion, and moved to Jerusalem. He maintained a close connection to Yeshiva University as a Rosh Kollel for the Gruss Institute in Jerusalem, an affiliate of Yeshiva University and its rabbinical school, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.

In 2005, he and his wife moved to Alon Shvut, where Yeshivat Har Etzion is located.

On January 4, 2006, Yaakov Medan and Baruch Gigi were officially invested as co-roshei yeshiva alongside Amital and Lichtenstein, with an eye toward Amital's intention to retire.<ref>Yeshivat Har Etzion Roshei Yeshiva Template:Webarchive</ref> On October 28, 2008, Lichtenstein's eldest son, Mosheh Lichtenstein, was officially invested as co-Rosh Yeshiva, simultaneous with Amital's official retirement, this time with an eye toward Aharon Lichtenstein's eventual plan to retire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He was committed to intensive and original Torah study and articulated a bold Jewish worldview embracing elements of modernity within the framework of a Torah life, reflecting the tradition of his teacher and father-in-law, Joseph B. Soloveitchik in line with Centrist Orthodoxy.<ref>An Interview with Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein</ref>

Lichtenstein was awarded the Israel Prize for Jewish Literature on Israeli Independence Day: May 6, 2014.<ref name=":0">Israel National News.</ref> He died on April 20, 2015.<ref name = "ToI Obit">Template:Cite news</ref> He was a source of inspiration for a wide circle of Jewry, for both his educational attainments and his intellectual and spiritual leadership.<ref>See, for example, "An Ideal Rosh Yeshiva". Edah Journal 5:1 (Tammuz, 2005) (PDF), by Dr. Alan Brill (stating, "Orthodox Jews of all leanings, myself included, have the deepest respect for, even awe of, R. Lichtenstein's piety, learning, and humanity. He is the ideal rosh yeshivah—erudite, humble, and moral.").</ref> He was especially admired by many centrist Modern Orthodox leaders as well as many in the Religious Zionist camp.<ref>FIRST THINGS, the Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life, "For Torah and Culture" by Dr. David Singer (April 20, 2005)</ref>

Works

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein

• Henry More: The Rational Theology of a Cambridge Platonist, (PhD Dissertation) Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1962.
• By His Light: Character and Values in the Service of God, based on Lichtenstein's addresses and adapted by Reuven Ziegler Template:ISBN revised edition (Maggid Books, 2016)
• Leaves of Faith (vol. 1): The World of Jewish Learning
• Leaves of Faith (vol. 2): The World of Jewish Living
• Varieties of Jewish Experience
• Minchat Aviv: Chiddushim veIyyunim baShas: Edited by Elyakim Krumbein, Maggid Books, 2014 Template:ISBN
• Mussar Aviv: Al Mussar, Emuna veChevraTemplate:Dead link: Edited by Aviad Hacohen and Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2016 Template:ISBN
• Halakha and Humanism: Essays on the Thought and Scholarship of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, by Yitzchak Blau (Editor), Alan Jotkowitz (Editor), Reuven Ziegler (Editor)
• A Life Steady and Whole: Recollections and Appreciations of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, zt"l Template:Webarchive: Edited by Joel B. Wolowelsky and Elka Weber Ktav, 2018 Template:ISBN
• Return and Renewal: Reflections on Teshuva and Spiritual Growth Template:Webarchive: Adapted and edited by Michael S. Berger and Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2018 Template:ISBN

Based on Lichtenstein's Talmud classes at Yeshivat Har Etzion, his students' notes have been edited and published as Shiurei Harav Aharon Lichtenstein on Tohorot, Zevahim, the eighth chapter of Bava Metzia, the third chapter of Bava Batra, the Ramban's pamphlet on Dinah DiGarmi, the first chapter of Pesahim, Masechet Horayot, and several critical chapters of Gittin.

External links

• Developing a Torah Personality - Series of shiurim based on addresses by Harav Aharon Lichtenstein, posted by The Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash of Yeshivat Har Etzion
• "An Ideal Rosh Yeshiva" Template:Webarchive. "a broad overview of the recent volumes of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein's thought. "Edah Journal 5:1 (Tammuz, 2005)] (PDF), Dr Alan Brill
• Bibliography of Harav Aharon Lichtenstein - Posted by the Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash of Yeshivat Har Etzion
• "In Search of the Moderate Voice", Jewish Ideas Daily
• Lichtenstein, A., Kurzweil, A., Haber, S., Leor, D., & Samuels, B. (1994). A Rabbinic Exchange on Baruch Goldstein’s Funeral. Tradition, 28(4), 59–63.
• Tribute to Rabbi Lichtenstein
• An archive of eulogies, in written, audio and video format
• Several views of Rabbi Lichtenstein