Aharon Feldman
Encyclopedia
Aharon Feldman is an Orthodox Jewish
rabbi
and rosh yeshiva
(dean) of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel (Ner Israel Rabbinical College) in Baltimore, Maryland. He has held this position since 2001.
He is the son of Rabbi Joseph H. Feldman (d. 1992), who was the last rabbi to formally serve as chief rabbi
of Baltimore, Maryland. The Feldman family is a prominent rabbinic family. His elder brother Rabbi Emanuel Feldman
is the former editor of Tradition
and was a prominent pulpit rabbi in Atlanta, Georgia
. His younger brother, Rabbi Joel Feldman, was the dean of Talmudical Academy of Baltimore.
A close disciple of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
, the founder of Ner Yisroel, Feldman moved to Bnei Brak in his twenties and studied in the Kollel Chazon Ish
under Rabbis Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
and Elazar Shach
.
In 2005, he was one of 15 Jewish educators invited to an informal discussion on Jewish education in the White House's Roosevelt Room
.
saying that there could be "no justification", and describing the actions as "way beyond the pale".
Feldman was interviewed in the 2001 documentary film Trembling before G-d
about young orthodox Jewish gay men.
In 2003, in response to a question from Gil Student
, Feldman issued a ruling regarding Chabad messianists
. He drew a distinction between what he terms the "meshichists" (those who believe the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
is the messiah
) and the "elokists" (those who believe he was a part of God or God "clothed in a body"). He rules that it is forbidden to associate with elokists under any circumstances due to their heresy
and they cannot be counted for a minyan
. He rules it is also forbidden to support the meshichists in any way that lends credence to their messianic beliefs though they are not strictly heretics.
In 2005, he wrote a critique of Rabbi Natan Slifkin
, upholding the 2004 ban issued against Slifkin's books.
to English
) several books dealing with Jewish law and life.
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
(dean) of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel (Ner Israel Rabbinical College) in Baltimore, Maryland. He has held this position since 2001.
He is the son of Rabbi Joseph H. Feldman (d. 1992), who was the last rabbi to formally serve as chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Baltimore, Maryland. The Feldman family is a prominent rabbinic family. His elder brother Rabbi Emanuel Feldman
Emanuel Feldman
Emanuel Feldman is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Jacob of Atlanta, Georgia. During his nearly 40 years as a congregational rabbi, he nurtured the growth of the Orthodox community in Atlanta from a community small enough to support two small synagogues to a...
is the former editor of Tradition
Tradition Journal
Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought is a quarterly Orthodox academic journal published by the Rabbinical Council of America in association with Yeshiva University in New York City...
and was a prominent pulpit rabbi in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. His younger brother, Rabbi Joel Feldman, was the dean of Talmudical Academy of Baltimore.
A close disciple of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman was a prominent Talmudic scholar and Rabbi who founded and served as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Yisroel in Baltimore....
, the founder of Ner Yisroel, Feldman moved to Bnei Brak in his twenties and studied in the Kollel Chazon Ish
Kollel Chazon Ish
Kollel Chazon Ish is an elite group of married Rabbis who study the Talmud. The Kollel is located in Bene Barak, Israel. It is located on Rashbam street.The Kollel was originally established by Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, who was known as the "Chazon Ish"...
under Rabbis Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky
Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as The Steipler or The Steipler Gaon , was a rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and posek .-Biography:...
and Elazar Shach
Elazar Shach
Elazar Menachem Man Shach also spelt Eliezer Schach, was a leading Lithuanian-born and educated Haredi rabbi in Bnei Brak, Israel. He also served as one of three co-deans of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak along with Rabbis Shmuel Rozovsky and Dovid Povarsky...
.
In 2005, he was one of 15 Jewish educators invited to an informal discussion on Jewish education in the White House's Roosevelt Room
Roosevelt Room
The Roosevelt Room is a meeting room in the West Wing of the White House, the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located almost in the center of the West Wing, and near the Oval Office the room is named for two related U.S. presidents, Theodore Roosevelt...
.
Public positions
In 1994, he spoke publicly against the actions of Baruch GoldsteinBaruch Goldstein
Baruch Kopel Goldstein was an American-born Jewish Israeli physician and mass murderer who perpetrated the 1994 Cave of the Patriarchs massacre in the city of Hebron, killing 29 Palestinian Muslim worshipers and wounding another 125....
saying that there could be "no justification", and describing the actions as "way beyond the pale".
Feldman was interviewed in the 2001 documentary film Trembling before G-d
Trembling Before G-d
Trembling Before G-d is an 2001 American documentary film about gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews trying to reconcile their sexuality with their faith. It was directed by Sandi Simcha DuBowski, an American who wanted to compare orthodox attitudes to homosexuality with his own upbringing as a gay...
about young orthodox Jewish gay men.
In 2003, in response to a question from Gil Student
Gil Student
Gil Ofer Student is the Managing Editor of Orthodox Union Press, and an Orthodox Jewish blogger who writes about the interface between different facets of Judaism, specifically Orthodox Judaism and Modern Orthodox Judaism, including modern, controversial topics...
, Feldman issued a ruling regarding Chabad messianists
Chabad messianism
Chabad messianism, or Lubavitch messianism, is a term used to describe a spectrum of beliefs within the Chabad Hasidic movement regarding their late leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and his purported position as the Messiah...
. He drew a distinction between what he terms the "meshichists" (those who believe the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
is the messiah
Jewish Messiah
Messiah, ; mashiah, moshiah, mashiach, or moshiach, is a term used in the Hebrew Bible to describe priests and kings, who were traditionally anointed with holy anointing oil as described in Exodus 30:22-25...
) and the "elokists" (those who believe he was a part of God or God "clothed in a body"). He rules that it is forbidden to associate with elokists under any circumstances due to their heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
and they cannot be counted for a minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
. He rules it is also forbidden to support the meshichists in any way that lends credence to their messianic beliefs though they are not strictly heretics.
In 2005, he wrote a critique of Rabbi Natan Slifkin
Natan Slifkin
Natan Slifkin , also popularly known as the "Zoo Rabbi", is an ordained but non-pulpit serving Orthodox rabbi best known for his interest in zoology, science and for his books on these topics, which are controversial in the Haredi world.-Biography:Natan Slifkin was born and raised in Manchester,...
, upholding the 2004 ban issued against Slifkin's books.
Published works
Feldman has authored and translated (from HebrewHebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) several books dealing with Jewish law and life.
External links
- http://torahlectures.com/s-Harav-Aaron-Feldman.aspx Short Bio & Free MP3 Lectures by Harav Aaron Feldman