Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (1884-1966) was a noted Europe
an Orthodox
rabbi
, posek
("decisor" of Jewish law) and rosh yeshiva
. He is best known as author of the work of responsa
Seridei Eish.
Rabbi Weinberg was considered a genius in his time - with mastery over both Torah and secular subjects. An insightful and introspective individual, his varying interests in Talmud, musar, Hebrew literature, Russian language, and general academia make him one of the best representatives of the tumultuous intellectual trends present in his period.
. He studied at the yeshiva
s of Mir
and Slabodka
. In the latter "he combined within himself Lithuanian profound understanding of Halacha with the Slabodka musar
expounded by the illustrious Alter, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel."
For seven years, he served as rabbi of the city of Pilwishki (Pilviškiai
)- which contained scholars of note considerably his senior. At the outbreak of World War I
he went to Germany
. There he studied at the University of Giessen
, receiving a Ph.D.
for a thesis on the Masoretic Text
. Although Polish-born and Lithuania
n-trained, Rabbi Weinberg "developed an extremely beautiful German
prose
style which was matched only by his mastery of modern Hebrew." He taught at and eventually became rector (Rosh Yeshiva
) of the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary
in Berlin
. His students included Rabbis Menachem Mendel Schneerson
, Eliezer Berkovits
and Josef Hirsch Dunner
.
As Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Weinberg emerged as a leading advocate of Neo-Orthodoxy, the German approach to Orthodox Judaism
, based on the Torah im Derech Eretz
of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
. Although Torah im Derech Eretz
was "an ideology that he had openly opposed in his youth," Weinberg "championed" this approach during his tenure at the Hildesheimer seminary, and he "played and was to play a seminal part in the reconciliation of Torah orthodoxy with modernity." His "melding of sources, methods, and worlds was unparalleled in modern halachic literature. It required breadth and depth of knowledge that were, and remain, rare."
He spent the last twenty years of his life in Montreux
, Switzerland
.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Orthodox
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...
, posek
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
("decisor" of Jewish law) 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...
. He is best known as author of the work of responsa
History of Responsa
History of responsa in Judaism spans a period of 1,700 years. Responsa constitute a special class of rabbinic literature, differing in form, but not necessarily in content, from Rabbinic commentaries devoted to the exegesis of the Bible, the Mishnah, the Talmud, and halakha...
Seridei Eish.
Rabbi Weinberg was considered a genius in his time - with mastery over both Torah and secular subjects. An insightful and introspective individual, his varying interests in Talmud, musar, Hebrew literature, Russian language, and general academia make him one of the best representatives of the tumultuous intellectual trends present in his period.
Biography
Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg was born in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. He studied at the yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s of Mir
Mir yeshiva (Poland)
The Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, was a Haredi yeshiva located in the town of Mir, Russian Empire...
and Slabodka
Slabodka yeshiva
Hebron Yeshiva, also known as Yeshivas Hevron, or Knesses Yisroel, and originally as Slabodka Yeshiva, is known colloquially as the "mother of yeshivas" and was devoted to high=level study of the Talmud. The yeshiva was located in the Lithuanian town of Slabodka, adjacent to Kovno , now...
. In the latter "he combined within himself Lithuanian profound understanding of Halacha with the Slabodka musar
Mussar movement
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...
expounded by the illustrious Alter, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel."
For seven years, he served as rabbi of the city of Pilwishki (Pilviškiai
Pilviškiai
Pilviškiai is a village in Vilkaviškis district municipality, in Marijampolė County, central Lithuania. In the Jewish world, it was known historically for its learned population , served amongst others by Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg....
)- which contained scholars of note considerably his senior. At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he went to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. There he studied at the University of Giessen
University of Giessen
The University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
, receiving a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
for a thesis on the Masoretic Text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
. Although Polish-born and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n-trained, Rabbi Weinberg "developed an extremely beautiful German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
style which was matched only by his mastery of modern Hebrew." He taught at and eventually became rector (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...
) of the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary
Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary
The Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary was founded in Berlin on 22 October 1873 by Rabbi Dr. Azriel Hildesheimer for the training of rabbis in the tradition of Orthodox Judaism.-History:...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. His students included Rabbis 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...
, Eliezer Berkovits
Eliezer Berkovits
Eliezer Berkovits , was a rabbi, theologian, and educator in the tradition of Orthodox Judaism.- Life:...
and Josef Hirsch Dunner
Josef Hirsch Dunner
Rabbi Josef Hirsch Dunner , aka Harav Yosef Tzvi Halevi Dunner, was a distinguished hareidi rabbi from Germany, who spent most of his life in London, England. He served as Chief Rabbi of East Prussia before World War II, and as Rabbi of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations in London from 1960...
.
As Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Weinberg emerged as a leading advocate of Neo-Orthodoxy, the German approach to Orthodox Judaism
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...
, based on the Torah im Derech Eretz
Torah im Derech Eretz
Torah im Derech Eretz is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch , which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world...
of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
Samson Raphael Hirsch
Samson Raphael Hirsch was a German rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism...
. Although Torah im Derech Eretz
Torah im Derech Eretz
Torah im Derech Eretz is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch , which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world...
was "an ideology that he had openly opposed in his youth," Weinberg "championed" this approach during his tenure at the Hildesheimer seminary, and he "played and was to play a seminal part in the reconciliation of Torah orthodoxy with modernity." His "melding of sources, methods, and worlds was unparalleled in modern halachic literature. It required breadth and depth of knowledge that were, and remain, rare."
He spent the last twenty years of his life in Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Works
- Seridei Eish ("Remnants of the Fire") Responsa dealing with halachicHalakhaHalakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
questions addressed to Rabbi Weinberg from all over the world concerning the great problems of modern life - technological, social and personal. It was first published in four volumes by Mossad Harav KookMossad Harav KookMossad Harav kook is a religious research foundation and notable publishing house, based in Jerusalem. Mossad Harav Kook is named after Abraham Isaac Kook and was founded by Yehuda Leib Maimon in 1937....
in Jerusalem (1961, 1962 and 1966 - just before Rabbi Weinberg's passing) and has been republished as Shut Seridei Eish (1999). "These four volumes have already become classics in the world of halachic literature... Like all great responsaHistory of ResponsaHistory of responsa in Judaism spans a period of 1,700 years. Responsa constitute a special class of rabbinic literature, differing in form, but not necessarily in content, from Rabbinic commentaries devoted to the exegesis of the Bible, the Mishnah, the Talmud, and halakha...
works, [these] are - apart from their intrinsic halachic value - a faithful mirror of the time in which they were written and no doubt will become a fertile source for the research of future Jewish historians and sociologists" .
- Mechkarim beTalmud ("Investigations of the Talmud") documents Rabbi Weinberg's studies on TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ical methodology. It was published in 1938 while Rabbi Weinberg was rosh yeshiva of the Orthodox Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin. This publication laid the foundation for Rabbi Weinberg's responsa. It contains not only a great number of sugyos, explained in a novel manner, but may be considered a handbook on Talmudic methodology. This work is considered "no less classical than his responsa", in it "the traditional Lithuanian [method of study] and the modern scientific approach to the study of Talmud became an organic unity" .
- Other works by Rabbi Weinberg include:
- Chidushei Baal "Seridei Eish" (Jerusalem, 2005).
- Li-ferakim (2002); discussions on mussar, aggada and midrashMidrashThe Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
, and contemporary issues. - Kitvei ha-Gaon Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg zatsal (Scranton, 2003).
- Pinui atsmot metim (Berlin, 1926).
Biography
- Obituary by Dayan Dr. I. Grunfeld
- OU biography of Rav Weinberg
- The Legacy of Yehiel Jacob Weinberg - (Review of Shapiro, Marc B. Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy: The Life and Works of Rabbi Jehiel Jacob Weinberg, 1884-1966. London; Portland, Or.: Littman Library 1999.)