Aharon Lichtenstein (May 23, 1933 – April 20, 2015) was a noted

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...

rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

and rosh yeshiva. He was an authority in Jewish law (''

Halakha ''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...

'').

Biography

Aharon Lichtenstein was born to Rabbi Dr. Yechiel Lichtenstein and Bluma née Schwartz in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, but grew up in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, where he studied in

Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin or ''Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin'' ( he, יְשִׁיבַת רַבֵּינוּ חַיִּים בֶּרלִין) is an American Haredi Lithuanian-type boys' and men's yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York. Chaim Berlin consis ...

under Rabbi

Yitzchak Hutner Yitzchak (Isaac) Hutner ( he, יצחק הוטנר; 1906–1980) was an American Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean). Originally from Warsaw, Hutner first studied the Torah in Slabodka. He then traveled to Mandatory Palestine where he became ...

as well as Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik. He earned a BA and ''

semicha Semikhah ( he, סמיכה) is the traditional Jewish name for rabbinic ordination. The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 C ...

'' ("rabbinic ordination") at

Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a private Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City."About YU
on the Yeshiva Universi ...

under Rabbi

Joseph B. Soloveitchik Joseph Ber Soloveitchik ( he, יוסף דב הלוי סולובייצ׳יק ''Yosef Dov ha-Levi Soloveychik''; February 27, 1903 – April 9, 1993) was a major American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist, and modern Jewish philosopher. He was a scion ...

, whose daughter, Tovah, he would later marry, and a PhD in English Literature at

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

, where he studied under

Douglas Bush John Nash Douglas Bush (1896–1983) was a literary critic and literary historian. He taught for most of his life at Harvard University, where his students included many of the most prominent scholars, writers, and academics of several generation ...

. Lichtenstein married Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik in 1960. They had six children: Mosheh,

Yitzchak Yitzhak( ()) is a male first name, and is Hebrew for Isaac. Yitzhak may refer to: People * Yitzhak ha-Sangari, rabbi who converted the Khazars to Judaism *Yitzhak Rabin (1922–1995), Israeli politician and Prime Minister *Yitzhak Shamir (1915– ...

, Meir, Esti, Shai and Tonya. After serving as Rosh Yeshiva/Kollel at Yeshiva University for several years, Lichtenstein answered Rabbi

Yehuda Amital Yehuda Amital ( he, יהודה עמיטל, born Yehuda Klein; 31 October 1924 – 9 July 2010) was an Orthodox rabbi, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, and a member of the Israeli cabinet. The concept of a Hesder Yeshiva is attributed to ...

's request in 1971 to join him at the helm of

Yeshivat Har Etzion Yeshivat Har Etzion (YHE; ), commonly known in English as "Gush" and in Hebrew as "Yeshivat HaGush", is a hesder yeshiva located in Alon Shvut, an Israeli settlement in Gush Etzion. It is considered one of the leading institutions of advanced Tor ...

, located in

Gush Etzion Gush Etzion ( he, גּוּשׁ עֶצְיוֹן, ' Etzion Bloc) is a cluster of Israeli settlements located in the Judaean Mountains, directly south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the West Bank. The core group includes four Jewish agricultural v ...

, and moved to

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

. He maintained a close connection to Yeshiva University as a

Rosh Kollel A kollel ( he, כולל, , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim (lectures) and learning ''sedarim'' (sessions); ...

for th
Gruss Institute
in

, an affiliate of Yeshiva University and its

rabbinical school A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are stud ...

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS ) is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University (YU). It is located along Amsterdam Avenue in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Named after Yitzchak Elchanan ...

. In 2005, he and his wife moved to

Alon Shvut Alon Shvut ( he, אַלּוֹן שְׁבוּת) is an Israeli settlement located southwest of Jerusalem, one kilometer northeast of Kfar Etzion, in the West Bank. Established in June 1970 in the heart of the Etzion bloc, Alon Shvut became the ...

, where

is located. On January 4, 2006, Rabbi

Yaakov Medan Yaaqov Medan (sometimes spelled, Yaakov or Ya'acov) ( he, יעקב מדן) (born 1950) is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi, co- Rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, a respected leader in the Religious-Zionist community, and a lecturer in Tanakh, Gemara, ...

and Rabbi

Baruch Gigi Official picture of rav Baruch Gigi Baruch Gigi ( he, ברוך גיגי) is a co-Rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion. Biography Baruch Gigi was born in Morocco and immigrated to Israel at the age of 11. He first attended Yeshivat ...

were officially invested as co-

roshei yeshiva Rosh yeshiva ( he, ראש ישיבה, pl. he, ראשי ישיבה, '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primar ...

alongside Amital and Lichtenstein, with an eye toward Amital's intention to retire. On October 28, 2008, Lichtenstein's eldest son, Rabbi

Mosheh Lichtenstein Mosheh Lichtenstein ( he, משה ליכטנשטיין; born July 7, 1961) is a co-rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion located in Alon Shvut. He is the eldest son of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein and Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik. Biography Mosheh Lichtenst ...

, 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. He was committed to intensive and original

Torah study Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature, and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is done for the purpose of the '' mitzvah'' ("com ...

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,

in line with

Centrist Orthodoxy ''Torah Umadda'' ( he, תּוֹרָה וּמַדָּע, "Torah and secular knowledge") is a worldview in Orthodox Judaism concerning the relationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish rel ...

. Lichtenstein was awarded the Israel Prize for Jewish Literature on

Israeli Independence Day Independence Day ( he, יום העצמאות ''Yom Ha'atzmaut'', lit. "Day of Independence") is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies ...

: May 6, 2014. He died on April 20, 2015. He was a source of inspiration for a wide circle of Jewry, for both his educational attainments and his intellectual and spiritual leadership. He was especially admired by many centrist

Modern Orthodox Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosoph ...

leaders as well as many in the

Religious Zionist Religious Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת דָּתִית, translit. ''Tziyonut Datit'') is an ideology that combines Zionism and Orthodox Judaism. Its adherents are also referred to as ''Dati Leumi'' ( "National Religious"), and in Israel, the ...

camp.''FIRST THINGS, the Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life'', "For Torah and Culture" by Dr. David Singer (April 20, 2005)

Works

*''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 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 *

'' Edited by Aviad Hacohen and Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2016 *''Halakha and Humanism: Essays on the Thought and Scholarship of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein'', by Yitzchak Blau (Editor), Alan Jotkowitz (Editor), Reuven Ziegler (Editor) *

'' Edited by Joel B. Wolowelsky and Elka Weber Ktav, 2018 *

:'' Adapted and edited by Michael S. Berger and Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2018 Based on Lichtenstein's

Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...

classes at

, his students' notes have been edited and published as ''Shiurei Harav Aharon Lichtenstein'' on

Tohorot ''Tohorot'' (Hebrew: טָהֳרוֹת, literally "Purities") is the sixth and last order of the Mishnah (also of the Tosefta and Talmud). This order deals with the clean/unclean distinction and family purity. This is the longest of the orders in t ...

Zevahim Zevachim ( he, זְבָחִים; lit. "Sacrifices") is the first tractate of Seder Kodashim ("Holy Things") of the Mishnah, the Talmud and the Tosefta. This tractate discusses the topics related to the sacrificial system of the Temple in Jerusale ...

, the eighth chapter of

Bava Metzia Bava Metzia (Talmudic Aramaic: בָּבָא מְצִיעָא, "The Middle Gate") is the second of the first three Talmudic tractates in the order of Nezikin ("Damages"), the other two being Bava Kamma and Bava Batra. Originally all three formed ...

, the third chapter of

Bava Batra Bava Batra (also Baba Batra; Talmudic Aramaic: בָּבָא בַּתְרָא "The Last Gate") is the third of the three Talmudic tractates in the Talmud in the order Nezikin; it deals with a person's responsibilities and rights as the owner of pr ...

, the Ramban's pamphlet on Dinah DiGarmi, the first chapter of

Pesahim Pesachim ( he, פְּסָחִים, lit. "Paschal lambs" or "Passovers"), also spelled Pesahim, is the third tractate of ''Seder Moed'' ("Order of Festivals") of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. The tractate discusses the topics related to the Jewi ...

, Masechet

Horayot Horayot ( he, הוֹרָיוֹת; "Decisions") is a tractate in Seder Nezikin in the Talmud. In the Mishnah, this is the tenth and last tractate in Nezikin; in the Babylonian Talmud the ninth tractate; in the Jerusalem Talmud the eighth. It consi ...

, and several critical chapters of

Gittin Gittin (Hebrew: ) is a tractate of the Mishnah and the Talmud, and is part of the order of Nashim. The content of the tractate primarily deals with the legal provisions related to halakhic divorce, in particular, the laws relating to the ''Get'' ...

Family Tree

References

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"
"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

"In Search of the Moderate Voice"
''Jewish Ideas Daily''
Tribute to Rabbi Lichtenstein

An archive of eulogies, in written, audio and video format

Several views of Rabbi Lichtenstein
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lichtenstein, Aharon 1933 births 2015 deaths Rabbis from Paris French emigrants to the United States Harvard University alumni 20th-century American rabbis 21st-century Israeli rabbis American Orthodox rabbis Modern Orthodox rabbis American emigrants to Israel Israeli Orthodox rabbis Religious Zionist rosh yeshivas Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary semikhah recipients Yeshiva University rosh yeshivas Yeshivat Har Etzion