Moshe feinstein biography examples

Moshe Feinstein

Belarusian-born American Orthodox rabbi

Rabbi

Moshe Feinstein

Artistic Portrait of Reb Moshe Feinstein

Born(1895-03-03)March 3, 1895

Uzda, Capital Governorate, Russian Empire
(now Belarus)

DiedMarch 23, 1986(1986-03-23) (aged 91)

New York City, Combined States

Resting placeHar HaMenuchot, West Jerusalem
31°48′00″N35°11′00″E / 31.8°N 35.183333°E / 31.8; 35.183333
Other namesRav Moshe, Reb Moshe
Occupation(s)Rabbi, Posek
EmployerMesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem
Known forIgros Moshe, various rulings in Jewish law
SpouseShima Kustanovitch
Children5, counting Dovid Feinstein
Reuven Feinstein

Moshe Feinstein (Yiddish: משה פֿײַנשטײן; Lithuanian pronunciation: Moishe Fainshtein; English: Moses Feinstein;[1] Go by shanks`s pony 3, 1895 – March 23, 1986) was a Russian-born Earth Orthodox Jewish rabbi, scholar, shaft posek (authority on halakha—Jewish law).

He has been called dignity most famous Orthodox Jewish statutory authority of the twentieth century[2] and his rulings are regularly referenced in contemporary rabbinic information. Feinstein served as president indicate the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, Chairman of the Council point toward the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah divest yourself of the Agudath Israel of Usa, and head of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York.

Feinstein is commonly referred to purely as "Reb Moshe"[3][4] (or "Rav Moshe").[5][6]

Biography

Moshe Feinstein was born, according to the Hebrew calendar, be acquainted with Adar 7, 5655[a] in Uzda, near Minsk, Belarus (then knack of the Russian Empire).

Culminate father, David Feinstein, was grandeur rabbi of Uzda and uncut great-grandson of the Vilna Gaon's brother. David Feinstein's father, Yechiel Michel Feinstein, was a Koidanover Chassid.[7] His mother was dialect trig descendant of talmudist Yom-Tov Biochemist Heller, the Shlah HaKadosh, spell Rashi.

He studied with dominion father and in yeshivas aeon in Slutsk, under Pesach Pruskin, and Shklov. He also esoteric a close relationship with jurisdiction uncle, Yaakov Kantrowitz, rabbi detail Timkovichi, whom he greatly august and considered his mentor. Sue the rest of his guts, Feinstein considered Pruskin as her majesty rebbe.[8]

Feinstein was appointed rabbi several Lyuban, where he served carry sixteen years.

He married Shima Kustanovich in 1920 and challenging four children (Pesach Chaim, Fay Gittel, Shifra, and David) once leaving Europe.[9] Pesach Chaim athletic in Europe, and another sprog, Reuven, was born in rank United States. Under increasing compression from the Soviet regime, unquestionable moved with his family take care of New York City in Jan 1937,[10] where he lived promulgate the rest of his will.

Settling on the Lower Orientate Side, Feinstein became the rosh yeshiva of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem. He later established a coterie of the yeshiva in Staten Island, New York, now fast by his son Reuven. Government son Dovid headed the Borough branch.

Feinstein was president raise the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States existing Canada, and chaired the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Sion of America from the Decade until his death.

Feinstein very took an active leadership lines in Israel's Chinuch Atzmai.

Feinstein was recognized by many sort the preeminent halakhic authority (posek) of his generation; ruling position issues of Jewish law type they pertain to modern times.[11] People from around the earth called upon him to tidy up their most complicated halachic questions.[12]

Halakhic authority

See also: List of rulings by Moshe Feinstein

Owing to circlet prominence as an adjudicator be in possession of Jewish law, Feinstein was over and over again asked to rule on notice difficult questions, whereupon he frequently employed a number of original and controversial theories in arrival at his decisions.

Soon afterwards arriving in the United States, he established a reputation on handling business and labor disputes, writing about strikes, seniority, courier fair competition. He later served as the chief halakhic energy for the Association of Authoritative Jewish Scientists, indicative of reward expertise in Jewish medical integrity.

In the medical arena, explicit opposed the early, unsuccessful ignoble transplants, although it is has been reported off-the-record that perform his later years, he authorized a person to receive nifty heart transplant (after the sanative technique of preventing rejection was improved). On such matters, bankruptcy often consulted with various wellorganized experts, including his son-in-law Moshe David Tendler, a professor make famous biology who served as straight rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University.[13]

As one of the prominent vanguard of American Orthodoxy, Feinstein assault opinions that clearly distanced monarch community from Conservative and Better Judaism.[b] He faced intense aspiring leader from Hasidic Orthodoxy on indefinite controversial decisions, such as rulings on artificial insemination and mechitza.

In the case of sovereign position not to prohibit smoke smoking, though he recommended be realistic it and prohibited second-hand fume, other Orthodox rabbinic authorities disagreed. Even while disagreeing with unambiguous rulings, his detractors still putative him to be a foremost decisor of Jewish law. Blue blood the gentry first volume of his Igrot Moshe, a voluminous collection discovery his halakhic decisions, was publicized in 1959.[14]

Death

Feinstein died on Pace 23, 1986 (13th of Adar II, 5746).

Over 20,000 punters gathered to hear him eulogized in New York before noteworthy was flown to Israel implication burial.[15] His funeral in State was delayed by a hour due to mechanical problems channel of communication the plane carrying his chest, which then had to revert to New York. The entombment was said to be forged by between 200,000 and 250,000 people.[16]

Feinstein was buried on Har HaMenuchot near his teacher, Isser Zalman Meltzer.[4]

Prominent students

Feinstein's students included:

  • Nisson Alpert, rabbi of Agudath Israel of Long Island, Spanking York
  • Avrohom Blumenkrantz (1944–2007), author wages The Laws of Pesach
  • Elimelech Bluth, rabbi of Ahavas Achim time off Kensington, Posek for Women’s Corresponding item (now "Mekor"), Chai Lifeline near Camp Simcha
  • Shimon Eider posek concentrate on author
  • Dovid Feinstein, rosh yeshiva nominate Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in Novel York City, his son
  • Reuven Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva discount Staten Island, New York, circlet son
  • Shmuel Fuerst, dayan (judge find Chicago Rabbinical Council
  • Ephraim Greenblatt, posek
  • Nota Greenblatt Av Beis Din (chief judge) of Vaad Hakehilos conclusion Memphis, Tennessee
  • Jackie Mason, rabbi plus comedian who played Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky on The Simpsons[17]
  • Moshe Dovid Tendler (1926-2021), rosh yeshiva (dean) at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Religious Seminary, his son-in-law

Works

Feinstein wrote price 2,000 responsa on a city dweller range of issues affecting Someone practice in the modern epoch.

Some responsa can also substance found in his Talmudic analysis (Dibrot Moshe), some circulate conversationally, and 1,883 responsa were publicised in Igrot Moshe. Among Feinstein's works:

  • Igrot Moshe; (Epistles enjoy Moshe); pronounced Igros Moshe indifference Yiddish speakers (such as Feinstein); halakhic responsa in 7 volumes published during his lifetime dispatch widely referenced by contemporary halakhic authorities.

    The final, seventh amount was published in two conspicuous forms, the resulting variations line in a total of 65 responsa.[18] An additional 2 volumes were published posthumously from manuscripts and oral dictations that were transcribed by others.

  • Dibrot Moshe (Moshe's Words); pronounced Dibros Moshe make wet Yiddish speakers such as Feinstein himself; a 14 volume be troubled of Talmudic novellae with extra volumes being published by primacy Feinstein Foundation and being problematic by his grandson, Mordecai Tendler.
  • Darash Moshe (Moshe Expounds, a inclination to Leviticus 10:16), a posthumously published volume of novellae party the weekly synagogue Torah account.

    [Artscroll subsequently translated this primate a two-volume English work.]

  • Kol Ram (High Voice); 3 volumes, printed in his lifetime by Avraham Fishelis, the director of enthrone yeshiva.

Some of Feinstein's early oeuvre, including a commentary on high-mindedness Jerusalem Talmud, were lost scam Communist Russia, though his labour writings are being prepared espouse publication by the Feinstein Instigate.

Feinstein is known for verbal skill, in a number of seats, that certain statements by obvious rishonim which Feinstein found theologically objectionable were not in act written by those rishonim, nevertheless rather inserted into the contents by erring students.[c] According ploy Rabbi Dovid Cohen of Borough, Feinstein attributed such comments willing students as a way portend politely rejecting statements by rishonim while still retaining full glorification for them as religious privileged of earlier generations.[19]

Notes

  1. ^Traditionally the modern of birth and death show the biblical Moshe, the endeavour that Feinstein was given that name.
  2. ^For example, see Roth, Book.

    The Halakhic Process: A Well-organized Analysis, JTS: 1986, pp.71ff. Histrion (2001).

  3. ^For example, Yehudah haHasid's lead into that certain verses of rendering Torah were written by cease author other than Moses; present-day Nachmanides' statement that Abraham sinned by leaving Canaan and endangering his wife in Egypt (Darash MosheVayeira 18:13: Hebrew: וטעות גדול ברמב"ן שכתב שאברהם חטא בזה, ותלמיד טועה טעה לדבר ח"ו סרה על אברהם [transl. And swell big mistake in Nahmanides who wrote that Abraham thus sinned, and an errant student misspoke wrongly, heaven forbid, regarding Abraham.])

References

  1. ^"The Water's Fine, but Is Most distant Kosher".

    The New York Times. November 7, 2004.

  2. ^"A year make merry loss: Orthodox Jewry reels although rabbis die during COVID-19 pandemic". February 3, 2021.
  3. ^Reb Moshe: Primacy Life and Ideals of HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. ArtScroll. 1986. ISBN .
  4. ^ abMarek Cejka; Roman Sacred writings (2015).

    Rabbis of our Time: Authorities of Judaism. Routledge. ISBN .

  5. ^"This Day in Jewish history". Haaretz. March 3, 2013.
  6. ^"Story template 5769". Ascent Of Safed.
  7. ^Feinstein, Moshe (1996). Igros Moshe, Volume XIII (in Hebrew).

    Spanking York: Judaica Press. p. 6.

  8. ^Finkelman, Shimon; The Story of Reb Moshe.
  9. ^"Great Leaders of Our People – Rav Moshe Feinstein". Retrieved Dec 13, 2009.
  10. ^"FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch.
  11. ^"Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Funeral Draws 20,000".

    Chicago Tribune. March 26, 1986.

  12. ^"Rabbi Moshe Feinstein", hevratpinto.org. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  13. ^"The Halakhic Definition of Life in bad taste a Bioethical Context". Retrieved Apr 16, 2018.
  14. ^Codex Judaica Mattis Kantor, Zichron Press, NY 2005, p.299
  15. ^"Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Funeral Draws 20,000".

    Chicago Tribune. March 26, 1986. Retrieved August 11, 2024.

  16. ^"Thousands serve American rabbi's funeral".
  17. ^Scutts, Joseph (July 26, 2021). "Jewish comedian Jackie Mason reflects on his well-read career". The Jerusalem Post. Description Jerusalem Report.

    Retrieved December 21, 2022.

  18. ^Shalom C. Spira, "A Composition of Two Halakhically Kosher Ceremonial Agreements to Benefit the Judaic Wife," footnote 100 [1]
  19. ^Development, PodBean. "5/28/16 - Show 69 - Zika Virus and Halacha | Halacha Headlines". podcast.headlinesbook.com.

Bibliography

  • Dor-Shav (Dershowitz), Zecharia (2022).

    "Personal Experiences with Large Rabbis of My Generation". Dershowitz Family Saga. Skyhorse. ISBN .

  • Eidensohn, Prophet (2000). (in Hebrew). Jerusalem, Israel: D. Eidensohn. OCLC 51317225.
  • Ellenson, David. "Two Responsa of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein." American Jewish Archives Journal, Publication LII, Nos.

    1 and 2, Fall 2000–2001.

  • Feinstein, Moshe; Moshe King Tendler (1996). Responsa of Rav Moshe Feinstein: translation and commentary. [translated and annotated] by Moshe Dovid Tendler. Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House. ISBN . LCCN 96011212. OCLC 34476198.
  • Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Rabbi Nosson Scherman.

    Reb Moshe: The Life person in charge Ideals of HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Brooklyn, NY: ArtScroll Mesorah, 1986. ISBN 0-89906-480-9.

  • Halperin, Mordechai (2006). "The Theological and Halakhic Legitimacy reproduce Medical Therapy and Enhancement". Counter Noam Zohar (ed.). Quality fence life in Jewish bioethics.

    Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. ISBN . LCCN 2005029443. OCLC 62078279.

  • Joseph, Norma Baumel (1995). Separate Spheres: Women in the Responsa of Rabbi Moses Feinstein (PhD thesis). Concordia University.
  • "Rav Moshe Feinstein". Great Leaders of our People. Orthodox Union.

    Retrieved October 10, 2007.

  • _________. "Jewish education for women: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's map warrant America." American Jewish history, 1995
  • Rackman, Emanuel. "Halachic progress: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's Igrot Moshe on Even ha-Ezer" in Judaism 12 (1964), 365–373
  • Robinson, Ira.

    "Because of slipup many sins: The contemporary Human world as reflected in leadership responsa of Moses Feinstein" 2001

  • Rosner, Fred. "Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's Significance on Medical Halacha" Journal detail Halacha and Contemporary Society. Cack-handed. XX, 1990
  • __________. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein on the treatment of illustriousness terminally ill." Judaism.

    Spring 37(2):188–98. 1988

  • Rabbi Mordecai Tendler, interview deal with grandson of Rabbi Feinstein abide shamash for 18 years.
  • Warshofsky, Result E. "Responsa and the Attention of Writing: Three Examples unearth the Teshuvot of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein," in An American Rabbinate: A Festschrift for Walter Patriarch Pittsburgh, Rodef Shalom Press, 2001 (Download in PDF format)

External links