Rabbi & Rosh Yeshiva
Aharon Lichtenstein (Hebrew :אהרון ליכטנשטיין ; May 23, 1933 – April 20, 2015) was anOrthodox rabbi ,Israel Prize laureate[ 1] rosh yeshiva [ 2] Halakha [ 3]
Aharon Lichtenstein was born to Yechiel Lichtenstein and Bluma née Schwartz inParis ,France , but grew up in theUnited States , where he studied inYeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin underYitzchak Hutner as well asAhron Soloveichik .[ 4] BA atYeshiva University in 1953, andsemicha Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary underJoseph B. Soloveitchik , whose daughter, Tovah, he would later marry. He received anM.A. in 1954 and aPhD inEnglish Literature in 1957 atHarvard University , where he studied underDouglas Bush .[ 5] [ 6]
Lichtenstein married Tovah Soloveitchik on January 26, 1960.[ 7] Mosheh ,Yitzchak , Meir,Esti , Shai and Tonya.[ 8] [ 9]
After serving as Rosh Yeshiva/Kollel at Yeshiva University for several years, Lichtenstein answeredYehuda Amital 's request in 1971 to join him at the helm ofYeshivat Har Etzion , located inGush Etzion , and moved toJerusalem . He maintained a close connection to Yeshiva University as aRosh Kollel for theGruss Institute inJerusalem , an affiliate of Yeshiva University and itsrabbinical school ,Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary .
In 2005, he and his wife moved toAlon Shvut , whereYeshivat Har Etzion is located.
On January 4, 2006,Yaakov Medan andBaruch Gigi were officially invested as co-roshei yeshiva alongside Amital and Lichtenstein, with an eye toward Amital's intention to retire.[ 10] 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.[ 11]
He was committed to intensive and originalTorah 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 withCentrist Orthodoxy .[ 12]
Lichtenstein was awarded theIsrael Prize for Jewish Literature onIsraeli Independence Day : May 6, 2014.[ 1] [ 13] [ 14] Modern Orthodox leaders as well as many in theReligious Zionist camp.[ 15]
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 byReuven Ziegler ISBN 9781592644698 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 :ISBN 9789655261714 Mussar Aviv: Al Mussar, Emuna veChevra [permanent dead link Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2016ISBN 9789655261905 Halakha and Humanism: Essays on the Thought and Scholarship of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein , byYitzchak Blau (Editor), Alan Jotkowitz (Editor),Reuven Ziegler (Editor)A Life Steady and Whole: Recollections and Appreciations of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, zt"l Archived 2018-10-03 at theWayback Machine :ISBN 9781602802933 Return and Renewal: Reflections on Teshuva and Spiritual Growth Archived 2018-10-03 at theWayback Machine :Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2018ISBN 9781592645077 Based on Lichtenstein'sTalmud classes atYeshivat Har Etzion , his students' notes have been edited and published asShiurei Harav Aharon Lichtenstein onTohorot ,Zevahim , the eighth chapter ofBava Metzia , the third chapter ofBava Batra , theRamban 's pamphlet onDinah DiGarmi , the first chapter ofPesahim , MasechetHorayot , and several critical chapters ofGittin .
Brisker family tree
RabbanitEsti Rosenberg , director ofMigdal Oz (seminary) RabbiYitzchok Lichtenstein , Co-Rosh Yeshiva ofYeshiva Torah Vodaas ; Rabbi Bais Avrohom, Monsey, NY RabbiYosef Dov (Reb Berel) Soloveichik RabbiAvrohom Yehoshua Soloveichik RabbiMosheh Lichtenstein , Co-Rosh Yeshiva ofYeshivat Har Etzion RabbiMeshulam Dovid (Reb Dovid) Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveichik Rabbi Mayer Lichtenstein, Rabbi Ohel Menachem Bet Shemesh RabbiYosef Dov (HaLevi) Soloveichik Beis HaLevi RabbiChaim Soloveichik "Reb Chaim Brisker " RabbiYitzchak Zev (Reb Velvel) Soloveichik "The GRIZ "The Brisker Rov Lifsha Soloveitchik Feinstein Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik Lichtenstein RabbiJonathan Rosenblatt RabbiRefael Shapiro , Rosh Yeshiva ofVolozhin yeshiva Lifsha Shapiro Rabbi Refoel Soloveichik Rabbi Dr.Aharon Lichtenstein Tzipporah Rosenblatt Rabbi Meir Soloveichik Dr. Atarah Soloveitchik Twersky Rabbi Mosheh Twersky z"l, Maggid Shiur atYeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Dr.Joseph B. (Yosef Dov) Soloveitchik "The Rav " Rabbi Dr.Isadore Twersky , Talner Rebbe of Boston RabbiMayer Twersky , Rosh Yeshiva atRabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary RabbiMoshe Soloveichik RabbiAhron Soloveichik Rabbi Dr.Haym Soloveitchik Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk (Chicago); Rav of Kehilas Beth Sholom Ahavas Achim Peshka Feinstein Soloveichik Dr.Samuel Soloveichik Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshiva atLander College 's Beis Medrash L'Talmud RabbiMeir Yaakov Soloveichik Shulamit Soloveitchik Meiselman RabbiMoshe Meiselman , Rosh Yeshiva ofYeshiva Toras Moshe Rabbi Yosef Soloveichik Sarah Orenshein Anne Soloveitchik Gerber Rabbi Chayim Soloveichik, Maggid Shiur at Yeshivat Reishit; Morah D’Asrah of Kehillat Ohr Shalom, RamatBeit Shemesh Moshe Soloveichik Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Soloveichik Rabbi Yitzchok Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Soloveichik Rabbi Yisroel Gershon Soloveichik RabbiMoshe Soloveichik Rabbi Boruch Soloveichik Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Soloveichik Daughter Soloveichik
Notes:
^a b Israel National News .^ 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. ^ 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. ^ "A Life Steady and Whole" . Archived fromthe original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved2018-10-03 .^ Registrar, Office of the; Women, Stern College for (1957)."Stern College for Women • 1957-1959" . {{cite journal }}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help ) ^ "My Education and Aspirations: Autobiographical Reflections of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l" .Yeshivat Har Etzion . Retrieved2024-11-28 .^ "Pictures of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein Throughout the Years" (PDF) .YUTorah.org . Archived fromthe original (PDF) on 20 Jan 2023.^ "Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l" .Matzav . 20 April 2015.Archived from the original on 23 Apr 2015.^ "YU Mourns Passing of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l" .Yeshiva University . Apr 20, 2015. Retrieved2025-06-01 .^ Yeshivat Har Etzion Roshei Yeshiva Archived March 20, 2012, at theWayback Machine ^ "Rashei Yeshiva" .www.haretzion.org . Retrieved2025-06-25 .^ An Interview with Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein ^ "Renowned Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein dies at 81" .The Times of Israel . RetrievedApril 20, 2015 .^ 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."). ^ FIRST THINGS, the Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life , "For Torah and Culture" by Dr. David Singer (April 20, 2005)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" Archived 2006-05-10 at theWayback Machine . "a broad overview of the recent volumes of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein's thought. "Edah Journal 5:1 (Tammuz, 2005)] (PDF ), DrAlan Brill Bibliography of Harav Aharon Lichtenstein - Posted by the Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash ofYeshivat 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
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