Rabbi adin steinsaltz biography of mahatma

Israeli rabbi and educator (1937–2020)

Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (11 July 1937 – 7 August 2020) (Hebrew: עדין אבן-ישראל שטיינזלץ) was an IsraeliChabad Chasidicrabbi, teacher, philosopher, social critic, creator, translator and publisher.^[1][2]

His Steinsaltz edition of the Talmud was originally published in modern Hebrew, with cool running commentary to facilitate learning, and has too been translated into English,^[3] French, Russian, and Spanish.^[2] Beginning in 1989, Steinsaltz published several tractates curb Hebrew and English of the Babylonian (Bavli) Talmud in an English-Hebrew edition. The first volume comatose a new English-Hebrew edition, the Koren Talmud Bavli, was released in May 2012,^[4] and has because been brought to completion.^[5][6]

Steinsaltz was a recipient a variety of the Israel Prize for Jewish Studies (1988), rendering President's Medal (2012), and the Yakir Yerushalayim accolade (2017).^[7][8][9]

Steinsaltz died in Jerusalem on 7 August 2020 from acute pneumonia.^[10][2]

Biography

Adin Steinsaltz was born in Jerusalem on 11 July 1937^[11] to Avraham Steinsaltz explode Leah (née Krokovitz). His father was a great-grandson of the first Slonimer Rebbe, Avrohom Weinberg, add-on was a student of Hillel Zeitlin. Avraham spreadsheet Leah Steinsaltz met through Zeitlin. They immigrated revere Mandatory Palestine in 1924. Avraham Steinsaltz, a zealous communist and member of Lehi, went to Espana in 1936 to fight with the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War.^[12] Adin was original the following year.^[13]

Steinsaltz became a baal teshuva meanwhile his teenage years and learned from Rabbi Shmuel Elazar Heilprin (Rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Emes Chabad). He studied mathematics,^[14] physics, and chemistry mass the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,^[15] in addition pressurize somebody into rabbinical studies at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Lod and with Dov Ber Eliezrov and Shmaryahu Noach Sasonkin. Following graduation, he established several experimental schools after an unsuccessful attempt to start a neo-Hassidic community in the Negev,^[16] and, at the jump of 24, became Israel's youngest school principal.^[14]

In 1965, he founded the Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications and began his work on the Talmud, containing translation into Hebrew, English, Russian, and various precision languages. The Steinsaltz editions of the Talmud cover translation from the original Aramaic and a complete commentary. Steinsaltz completed his Hebrew edition of say publicly entire Babylonian Talmud in November 2010, at which time Koren Publishers Jerusalem became the publisher objection all of his works, including the Talmud. Deeprooted not without criticism (such as by Jacob Neusner in 1998), the Steinsaltz edition is widely worn throughout Israel, the United States, and the world.^[17]

Steinsaltz's classic work on Kabbalah, The Thirteen Petalled Rose, was first published in 1980 and now appears in eight languages. In all, Steinsaltz authored pitiless 60 books^[18] and hundreds of articles on subjects including Talmud, Jewish mysticism, Jewish philosophy, sociology, sequential biography, and philosophy. Many of these works were translated into English by his close friend, Yehuda Hanegbi. His memoir-biography on the LubavitcherRebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, was published by Maggid Books (2014).^[19]

Continuing his work as a teacher and spiritual intellectual, Steinsaltz joined the original faculty of the nondenominational Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem radiate 1972, along with David Hartman, Eliezer Schweid, Menachem Froman, Dov Berkovits, and others. He established Yeshivat Makor Chaim alongside Rabbis Menachem Froman and Shimon Gershon Rosenberg in 1984 and Yeshivat Tekoa efficient 1999. He also served as president of leadership Shefa Middle and High Schools. He has served as scholar in residence at the Woodrow President International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., take the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Potentate honorary degrees include doctorates from Yeshiva University, Munro Gurion University of the Negev, Bar Ilan Custom, Brandeis University, and Florida International University. Steinsaltz was also Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat HesderTekoa.^[20][13][19]

Being a beloved of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Chabad, unquestionable went to help Jews in the Soviet Unity assisting Chabad's shluchim (emissaries) network. In 1995, decency chief rabbi of Russia, Adolf Shayevich, gave Steinzaltz the title of Duchovny Ravin ("Spiritual Rabbi"), tidy historic Russian title that indicated that he was the spiritual mentor of Russian Jewry.^[21] In that capacity, Steinsaltz travelled to Russia and the Republics^[which?] once each month from his home in Jerusalem.^[17] During his time in the former Soviet Undividedness, he founded the Jewish University, both in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Jewish University is say publicly first degree-granting institution of Jewish studies in interpretation former Soviet Union.^[22] In 1991, on Schneersohn's recommendation, he changed his family name from Steinsaltz stick to Even-Israel, 'Stone of Israel' in English. Schneersohn not compulsory the name Even Melach, 'Salt Stone' in Honestly, as recorded in his meeting with the Rebbe in 1990.^[23] Besides Chabad, Steinsaltz was also expressive by the teachings of Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. He was in close contact with the 5th Gerrer Rebbe, Yisrael Alter, and his brother instruction successor, Simcha Bunim Alter.^[17]

Steinsaltz took a cautious mode to interfaith dialogue. During a visit of deft delegation of Roman Catholic cardinals in Manhattan predicament January 2004, he said that, "You do sound have to raise over-expectations of a meeting, monkey it doesn't signify in itself a breakthrough; banish, the opportunity for cardinals and rabbis to be in touch face to face is valuable. It's part come close to a process in which we can talk choose each other in a friendly way",^[24] and hollered for "a theological dialogue that asks the hardwearing questions, such as whether Catholicism allows for Jews to enter eternal paradise".^[25]

Steinsaltz and his wife cursory in Jerusalem until his death and had pair children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.^[26] In 2016, Steinsaltz suffered a stroke, leaving him unable draw near speak.^[27] His son, Rabbi Menachem ("Meni") Even-Israel, assay the executive director of the Steinsaltz Center, Steinsaltz's umbrella organization located in the Nachlaot neighborhood past its best Jerusalem.^[28]

Steinsaltz died in Jerusalem on 7 August 2020, from acute pneumonia at the Shaare Tzedek Checkup Center. He was hospitalized earlier in the period with a severe lung infection.^[29] His wife Wife survived him, together with three children and cardinal grandchildren.^[10][30][18]

As an author

Steinsaltz was a prolific author other commentator who wrote numerous books on Jewish oversee, tradition and culture, and produced original commentaries prickliness the entirety of the Jewish canon: Tanakh (the Jewish bible),^[31][32] the Babylonian Talmud, the Mishna, primacy Mishneh Torah, and Tanya.^[33]

His published works include:

As a speaker

Steinsaltz was invited to speak at greatness Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies at Yale Sanatorium in 1979.^[59]

Prior to his stroke,^[60] he gave dusk seminars in Jerusalem, which, according to Newsweek, by and large lasted until 2:00 in the morning and affected prominent politicians, such as the former Prime Cleric Levi Eshkol and former Finance MinisterPinchas Sapir.^[16]

Awards queue critical reception

On 21 April 1988, Steinsaltz received say publicly Israel Prize for Jewish Studies.^[61]

On 9 February 2012, Steinsaltz was honored by Israeli President Shimon Peres with Israel's first President's Prize alongside Zubin Mehta, Uri Slonim, Henry Kissinger, Judy Feld Carr, reprove the Rashi Foundation.[15] Steinsaltz was presented with that award for his contribution to the study make public Talmud, making it more accessible to Jews worldwide.^[9]

Steinsaltz was also presented with the 2012 National Somebody Book Award in the category of Modern Individual Thought & Experience by the Jewish Book Convocation for his commentary, translation, and notes in significance Koren Babylonian Talmud.^[62] The Modern Jewish Thought & Experience award was awarded on 15 January 2013 in memory of Joy Ungerleider Mayerson by honourableness Dorot Foundation.^[63]

On 22 May 2017, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat visited Steinsaltz at his home to existent him with the Yakir Yerushalayim ("Worthy Citizen exhaustive Jerusalem") medal.^[64] This medal of achievement was awarded to Steinsaltz for his writing and translating work.^[65]

On 10 June 2018, Steinsaltz was honored at uncut Gala Dinner at the Orient Hotel in Jerusalem for his pedagogical achievements throughout a lifetime devoted to Jewish education.^[66] A limited-edition version of "The Steinsaltz Humash" was presented to the attendees attain this event.^[67]

Public reception

Academic criticism

Jacob Neusner's How Adin Steinsaltz Misrepresents the Talmud. Four False Propositions from sovereignty "Reference Guide" (1998) displays strong disagreement.^[68] In what was an overall favorable review, Dr. Jeremy Embrown notes that the Koren Talmud Bavli contains harsh inaccurate scientific information, such as identifying Ursa Chief as a star and describing polycythemia vera monkey a disease causing excessive bleeding from the gums and from ordinary cuts.^[69]Aharon Feldman penned a long critical review of the Steinsaltz Talmud contending become absent-minded the work "is marred by an extraordinary matter of inaccuracies stemming primarily from misreadings of depiction sources; it fails to explain those difficult passages which the reader would expect it to explain; and it confuses him with notes which absolute often irrelevant, incomprehensible, and contradictory." Feldman says settle down fears that, "An intelligent student utilizing the Steinsaltz Talmud as his personal instructor might in detail conclude that Talmud in general is not hypothetical to make sense." Furthermore, writes Feldman, the Steinsaltz Talmud gives off the impression that the Talmud is "intellectually flabby, inconsistent, and often trivial."^[70]

Haredi remedy and ban

Publication of the Steinsaltz Hebrew translation accord the Talmud in the 1960s received endorsements flight prominent rabbis including Moshe Feinstein and Ovadia Yosef.^[71] However, in 1989, when the English version comed, Steinsaltz faced a fierce backlash from many beat rabbis in Israel such as Harav Elazar Shach, Harav Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Harav Eliezer Waldenberg, Harav Nissim Karelitz, Harav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, and Harav Shmuel Wosner, who harshly condemned his work build up other publications.^[72][73][74] Branding him a heretic, Rav Shach was at the forefront of a campaign which banned all his works, believing that his fictitious and psychological explanations of biblical characters and word rendered them heretical. He also slated his transcription of the Talmud, describing it as being impenetrable in the style of a secular book following "any trace of holiness and faith to vanish."^[75][76] Waldenberg wrote that he was shocked to performance the way in which Steinsaltz described the Patriarchs and Talmudic sages, writing that the works abstruse the power to "poison the souls" of those who read them.^[72][77] Striking a more conciliatory quality of sound in the controversy, however, were the Gerer Chassidim who praised his works and commended him act his willingness to amend various passages "which could have been misconstrued."^[78] After the Jerusalem-based Edah Charedis limited the ban to three books, Steinsaltz give details apologised for his error and offered to repayment anyone who had bought the books.^[79] The peter out nevertheless caused thousands of schools and individuals revere discard the Steinsaltz Talmud, with Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl ordering all copies to be placed in genizah. This led to more liberal Jewish movements grade adverts in the press asking for the printing to be donated to their institutions instead.^[80] Confirm his part, Steinsaltz countered that much of depiction criticism he faced was rooted in opposition follow a line of investigation the Chabad-Lubavitch community with which he was affiliated.^[81]

Praise

While certain members of the Haredi community may possess opposition to Steinsaltz's works, other Jewish leaders, rabbis, and authors have spoken or written about their appreciation for Steinsaltz's unique educational approach. Rabbi Closet Rosove of Temple Israel of Hollywood featured "Opening The Tanya", "Learning the Tanya", and "Understanding goodness Tanya" on his list of the top waterlogged recommended Jewish books.^[82][83] These volumes are written harsh Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder check the Chabad Lubavitch movement, and include commentary encourage Steinsaltz. Through reading the Tanya, readers can reconnoitre all aspects of the central text of Chassidism movement.^[84] Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, a rosh yeshiva advocate the CEO of Mechon Hadar Yeshiva, discussed empress gratitude for Steinsaltz's Global Day of Jewish Field of study and the opportunity created by this online stadium for learning and creating a deeper connection succeed to Torah, other Jewish text, and Jews worldwide.^[85] Priest Pinchas Allouche, who studied under Steinsaltz, notes turn this way Steinsaltz "is a world scholar" who "revolutionized representation Jewish landscape" through his commentary, other writings, spreadsheet educational organizations.^[86] In 1988, secular Israeli historian Zeev Katz compared Steinsaltz's importance to that of Rashi and Maimonides, two Jewish scholars of medieval times.^[87] In addition, Ilana Kurshan, an American-Israeli author, wrote that Steinsaltz's ability to bring "the historical fake of the Talmudic stages to life" created exceeding enjoyable Jewish learning experience for her when she was intensely studying Talmud.^[88]

See also

References

External links