Rabbi Mayer Schiller (born June 1951) is an American
chasid based in
Monsey, New York
Monsey (, yi, מאנסי, translit=Monsi) is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of Airmont, east of Viola, south of New Hempstead, and west of Spring Valley. The ...
, who identifies himself as a member of
Skver
Skver (also Skvir, Skvere, or Skwere; yi, סקווירא) is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twersky in the city of Skver (as known in Yiddish; or Skvyra, in present-day Ukraine) during the mid-19th century. Followers o ...
and
Rachmastrivka groups, and is a spokesperson for the Skver community in
New Square
New Square ( yi, שיכון סקווירא, Shikun Skvir) is an all-Hasidic village in the town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of Hillcrest, east of Viola, south of New Hempstead, and west of New Cit ...
. Schiller also maintains active ties to the
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 ...
community. He taught at
Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy
The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy, also known as Yeshiva University High School for Boys (YUHSB), MTA (Manhattan Talmudical Academy) or TMSTA, is an Orthodox Jewish day school (or yeshiva) and the boys' prep school of Yeshiva University (YU) ...
of Yeshiva University, He is a
baal teshuva
In Judaism, a ''ba'al teshuvah'' ( he, בעל תשובה; for a woman, , or ; plural, , , 'master of return God]') is a Jew who adopts some form of traditional religious observance after having previously followed a Jewish secularism, secular lif ...
, having begun practicing Orthodoxy in the spring of 1964 at age 12.
He is a
nationalism, nationalist who criticizes liberal notions of race and the bias against traditional religion in today's media and popular culture. He has been associated with various groups, including the
Third Way (UK) and the
Ulster Third Way
The Ulster Third Way was the Northern Ireland branch of the Third Way and was organised by David Kerr, who had previously campaigned as an 'independent Unionist' (chairing the small North Belfast Independent Unionist Association) as well as for ...
. However, Schiller has also advocated a universalist morality and embrace of the Other, provided that is pursued without loss to group identity.
[Mayer Schiller]
"We Are Not Alone in the World"
''Tikkun'', Vol. 11, No. 2 He is involved with the group
Toward Tradition
Daniel Lapin (born January 1, 1947) is an American Orthodox rabbi, author, and public speaker. xaminer om/article/rabbi-lapin-reveals-prosperity-secrets (URL blocked by Wikipedia) He was previously the founding rabbi of the Pacific Jewish Center ...
, which seeks to advance co-operation between Orthodox Jews and conservative Christians, for example, on issues like abortion, marriage, family, religious schools, and religious freedom.
Schiller is also the author of two books - ''The Road Back: A Discovery of Judaism Without Embellishments'', ''The (Guilty) Conscience of a Conservative'' (under the name Craig Schiller) -and a monograph in defense of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's Torah ''Im Derech Eretz'' philosophy, titled "And They Shall Judge the People With True Righteousness". He is an English teacher at Mesivta Beth Shraga.
References
Works
* Rabbi Mayer Schiller, "Piety, Banality, Scholarship, and Superficiality" ''Jewish Action'' (Fall 1982) p. 16-17. Vol. 43, No. 1
* — "Symposium: The Future of American Orthodoxy" ''Jewish Action'' (Fall 5759/1998) p. 56-59. Vol. 59, No. 1
* — "The New Judaism" ''
American Council for Judaism
The American Council for Judaism (ACJ) is an organization of American Jews. In particular, it is notable for its historical opposition to Zionism, though it is Zionist today. The ACJ has also championed women's rights, including the right for women ...
Issues'' (Summer 1998) p. 5-12.
* — "A Symposium in Divided and Distinguished Worlds" ''Tradition'' Vol. 26 No. 2, (Winter 1992) pp. 5, 58-6
* — "Reflections on the Sixth Day War After Half a Century " ''Tradition'' Vol. 26 No. 4, (Summer 1992) p. 6, 15-1
* — "The Sea Change in Orthodox Judaism: A Symposium" ''Tradition'' Vol. 32 No. 4 (Summer 1998) p. 19, 101-10
* — "Hirschians and Kookians in America: Report on an Endangered Species"'' Jewish Action'' (Winter 5747/1986-1987) p. 9-15. Vol. 47, No. 1
* — "The Forgotten Humanism of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch" ''Jewish Action'' (Summer 5759/1981) pp. 21–26. Vol.49, No. 3
* — "The Academic and/or Man of Faith" ''Jewish Action'' (Spring 1990) p. 28-32. Vol. 50, No. 2
* — "Fun and Relaxation Reexamined"'' Jewish Action'' (Spring 5751/1991) Vol. 51, No. 2
* — "Realities, Possibilities, and Dreams: Reaching Modern Orthodox Youth" ''Ten Da'at'' (Adar 5749) p. 23-26. Vol. 111, No. 2
* — "Torah Ummada and The Jewish Observer Critique: Towards a Clarification of the Issues" ''The Torah u-Madda Journal'' 6 (1995–1996) p. 58-90
* — "Exchange with Rabbi Shlomo Danziger" ''Jewish Action'' (Winter 5760/1999) pp. 30,32,81, Vol. 60, No. 2
* — "Are We Still a Holy Nation? An All-Embracing Kedushah" ''Jewish Action'' (Fall 5762/2001) pp. 32–34 Vol. 62, No.
* — "Can the Death of Ideology Spell the Rebirth of Hasidism?" ''Jewish Action'' (Summer/Fall 1986) p. 48-51. Vol. 45, No. 3
* — "The Unique Village of New Square" ''Jewish Action'' (Spring 5752/1992) pp. 35–39. Vol. 52, No. 2
* — "A Portrait of Moshe 'Gabbai'" ''Jewish Action'' (Fall 5760/1999) p. 39-43. Vol. 60, No.
* — "A Personal God and the Rebbe Who Taught Him: Rabbi Aharon Roth (Reb Arele)" Great Minds of the Twentieth Century in '' Jewish Action'' (Fall 5757/1996) p. 38-41. Vol. 57, No. 1
* — "Separation: Is There an Alternative?" ''
American Renaissance (magazine), American Renaissance'' (February 1995) Vol. 6, No. 2
* — "First Toward Tradition Conference : The Arduous Calling of Religious Conservatives". October 6, 1994
* — "Second Toward Tradition Conference : Conservatism's Death and the West's Hope". September 11, 2000
* — "Third Toward Tradition Conference : The Politics of Kiddush Hashem" September 11, 2000
External links
*
Article on Rabbi Samson Raphael HirschArticle on Judaism and Nationalism
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiller, Mayer
Living people
American Hasidic rabbis
Baalei teshuva
1951 births
People from Monsey, New York
Rachmastrivka (Hasidic dynasty)
Skver (Hasidic dynasty)