Aharon Lichtenstein

Biography

Aharon Lichtenstein was born to Yechiel Lichtenstein and Bluma née Schwartz in Paris, France, but grew up in the United States, where he studied in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin under Yitzchak Hutner as well as Ahron Soloveichik. He earned a BA at Yeshiva University in 1953, and semicha ("rabbinic ordination") at YU's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary under Joseph B. Soloveitchik, whose daughter, Tovah, he would later marry. He received an M.A. in 1954 and a PhD in English Literature in 1957 at Harvard University, where he studied under Douglas Bush.

Lichtenstein married Tovah Soloveitchik on January 26, 1960. They had six children: Mosheh, Yitzchak, Meir, Esti, Shai and Tonya.

After serving as Rosh Yeshiva/Kollel at Yeshiva University for several years, Lichtenstein answered Yehuda Amital's request in 1971 to join him at the helm of Yeshivat Har Etzion, located in Gush Etzion, and moved to Jerusalem. He maintained a close connection to Yeshiva University as a Rosh Kollel for the Gruss Institute in Jerusalem, an affiliate of Yeshiva University and its rabbinical school, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.

In 2005, he and his wife moved to Alon Shvut, where Yeshivat Har Etzion is located.

On January 4, 2006, Yaakov Medan and Baruch Gigi were officially invested as co-roshei yeshiva alongside Amital and Lichtenstein, with an eye toward Amital's intention to retire. On October 28, 2008, Lichtenstein's eldest son, Mosheh Lichtenstein, 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 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, Joseph B. Soloveitchik in line with Centrist Orthodoxy.

Lichtenstein was awarded the Israel Prize for Jewish Literature on Israeli Independence Day: 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 leaders as well as many in the Religious Zionist camp.

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
• Mussar Aviv: Al Mussar, Emuna veChevra: 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)
• A Life Steady and Whole: Recollections and Appreciations of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, zt"l : Edited by Joel B. Wolowelsky and Elka Weber Ktav, 2018
• Return and Renewal: Reflections on Teshuva and Spiritual Growth : Adapted and edited by Michael S. Berger and Reuven Ziegler Maggid Books, 2018

Based on Lichtenstein's Talmud classes at Yeshivat Har Etzion, his students' notes have been edited and published as Shiurei Harav Aharon Lichtenstein on Tohorot, Zevahim, the eighth chapter of Bava Metzia, the third chapter of Bava Batra, the Ramban's pamphlet on Dinah DiGarmi, the first chapter of Pesahim, Masechet Horayot, and several critical chapters of Gittin.

Family Tree

References

References

1. Fischer, Elli. [https://ideas.tikvah.org/mosaic/observations/who-is-aharon-lichtenstein?queryID=b031bfd65051813d5d9568679f008684 "Who Is Aharon Lichtenstein? Introducing the extraordinary rabbi who next week will receive Israel’s highest honor."] ''Mosaic Magazine''. April 30, 2014. Accessed June 2, 2014.
2. Goldberg, Jeffrey. [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/12/a-bit-of-good-news-on-the-dont-sell-to-the-arabs-controversy/67977/ "A Bit of Good News on the Don't-Sell-to-the Arabs Controversy."] ''The Atlantic''. December 14, 2010. Accessed June 2, 2014.
3. "A Life Steady and Whole".
4. Registrar, Office of the. (1957). "Stern College for Women • 1957-1959".
5. "My Education and Aspirations: Autobiographical Reflections of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l".
6. "Pictures of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein Throughout the Years".
7. (20 April 2015). "Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l". Matzav.
8. (Apr 20, 2015). "YU Mourns Passing of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l".
9. [http://www.haretzion.org/faculty/roshei-yeshiva Yeshivat Har Etzion Roshei Yeshiva] {{webarchive. link. (March 20, 2012)
10. "Rashei Yeshiva".
11. [http://blogs.yu.edu/news/tag/aharon-lichtenstein/ An Interview with Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein]
12. [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177767#.Uwvbc-M7sk0 ''Israel National News''.]
13. . (April 20, 2015). ["Renowned Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein dies at 81"](http://www.timesofisrael.com/renowned-rabbi-aharon-lichtenstein-dies-at-81/). *[[The Times of Israel]]*.
14. See, for example, [https://web.archive.org/web/20060510205655/http://edah.org/backend/JournalArticle/5_1_Brill.pdf "An Ideal Rosh Yeshiva"]. Edah Journal 5:1 (Tammuz, 2005) ([[PDF]]), by Dr. [[Alan Brill]] (stating, "Orthodox Jews of all leanings, myself included, have the deepest respect for, even awe of, R. Lichtenstein's piety, learning, and humanity. He is the ideal rosh yeshivah—erudite, humble, and moral.").
15. ''FIRST THINGS, the Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life'', "For Torah and Culture" by Dr. David Singer (April 20, 2005)