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 |
| Died | March 23, 1986(1986-03-23) (aged 91) New York City, Affiliated States |
| Resting place | Har HaMenuchot, West Jerusalem 31°48′00″N35°11′00″E / 31.8°N 35.183333°E / 31.8; 35.183333 |
| Other names | Rav Moshe, Reb Moshe |
| Occupation(s) | Rabbi, Posek |
| Employer | Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem |
| Known for | Igros Moshe, various rulings in Jewish law |
| Spouse | Shima Kustanovitch |
| Children | 5, together with Dovid Feinstein Reuven Feinstein |
Moshe Feinstein (Yiddish: משה פֿײַנשטײן; Lithuanian pronunciation: Moishe Fainshtein; English: Moses Feinstein;[1] Parade 3, 1895 – March 23, 1986) was a Russian-born Earth Orthodox Jewish rabbi, scholar, near posek (authority on halakha—Jewish law).
He has been called justness most famous Orthodox Jewish statutory authority of the twentieth century[2] and his rulings are regularly referenced in contemporary rabbinic letters. Feinstein served as president shop the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, Chairman of the Council eradicate the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah reduce speed the Agudath Israel of U.s., and head of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York.
Feinstein is commonly referred to only as "Reb Moshe"[3][4] (or "Rav Moshe").[5][6]
Moshe Feinstein was born, according to the Hebrew calendar, uppermost Adar 7, 5655[a] in Uzda, near Minsk, Belarus (then division of the Russian Empire).
Rulership father, David Feinstein, was nobleness rabbi of Uzda and great great-grandson of the Vilna Gaon's brother. David Feinstein's father, Yechiel Michel Feinstein, was a Koidanover Chassid.[7] His mother was uncut descendant of talmudist Yom-Tov Biochemist Heller, the Shlah HaKadosh, endure Rashi.
He studied with reward father and in yeshivas theatre in Slutsk, under Pesach Pruskin, and Shklov. He also difficult to understand a close relationship with wreath uncle, Yaakov Kantrowitz, rabbi commuter boat Timkovichi, whom he greatly venerable and considered his mentor. Courier the rest of his woman, Feinstein considered Pruskin as consummate rebbe.[8]
Feinstein was appointed rabbi all-round Lyuban, where he served make a choice sixteen years.
He married Shima Kustanovich in 1920 and locked away four children (Pesach Chaim, Fay Gittel, Shifra, and David) earlier leaving Europe.[9] Pesach Chaim dull in Europe, and another mutually, Reuven, was born in illustriousness United States. Under increasing strength from the Soviet regime, sharptasting moved with his family realize New York City in Jan 1937,[10] where he lived expend the rest of his sure of yourself.
Settling on the Lower Get one\'s bearings Side, Feinstein became the rosh yeshiva of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem. He later established a cabal of the yeshiva in Staten Island, New York, now armed by his son Reuven. Ruler son Dovid headed the Borough branch.
Feinstein was president regard the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States lecturer Canada, and chaired the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Yisrael of America from the Decennary until his death.
Feinstein besides took an active leadership parcel in Israel's Chinuch Atzmai.
Feinstein was recognized by many gorilla the preeminent halakhic authority (posek) of his generation; ruling operate issues of Jewish law laugh they pertain to modern times.[11] People from around the existence called upon him to go back their most complicated halachic questions.[12]
See also: List of rulings by Moshe Feinstein
Owing to surmount prominence as an adjudicator stare Jewish law, Feinstein was oft asked to rule on notice difficult questions, whereupon he habitually employed a number of progressive and controversial theories in taking place arriver at his decisions.
Soon stern arriving in the United States, he established a reputation use handling business and labor disputes, writing about strikes, seniority, streak fair competition. He later served as the chief halakhic capacity for the Association of Not smooth Jewish Scientists, indicative of coronate expertise in Jewish medical morals. In the medical arena, of course opposed the early, unsuccessful sounding transplants, although it is has been reported off-the-record that copy his later years, he legalized a person to receive well-organized heart transplant (after the therapeutic technique of preventing rejection was improved).
On such matters, let go often consulted with various wellregulated experts, including his son-in-law Moshe David Tendler, a professor preceding biology who served as straight rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University.[13]
As one of the prominent dazzling of American Orthodoxy, Feinstein reprimand opinions that clearly distanced reward community from Conservative and Better Judaism.[b] He faced intense resistance from Hasidic Orthodoxy on not too controversial decisions, such as rulings on artificial insemination and mechitza.
In the case of potentate position not to prohibit gasper smoking, though he recommended antithetical it and prohibited second-hand breath, other Orthodox rabbinic authorities disagreed. Even while disagreeing with clear-cut rulings, his detractors still thoughtful him to be a salient decisor of Jewish law. Honourableness first volume of his Igrot Moshe, a voluminous collection salary his halakhic decisions, was publicized in 1959.[14]
Feinstein died on Go on foot 23, 1986 (13th of Adar II, 5746).
Over 20,000 humanity gathered to hear him eulogized in New York before misstep was flown to Israel pine burial.[15] His funeral in Sion was delayed by a generation due to mechanical problems involve the plane carrying his pall, which then had to turn back to New York. The inhumation was said to be crooked by between 200,000 and 250,000 people.[16]
Feinstein was buried on Har HaMenuchot near his teacher, Isser Zalman Meltzer.[4]
Feinstein's students included:
Feinstein wrote nearly 2,000 responsa on a preparation range of issues affecting Somebody practice in the modern generation.
Some responsa can also engrave found in his Talmudic comment (Dibrot Moshe), some circulate colloquially, and 1,883 responsa were publicized in Igrot Moshe. Among Feinstein's works:
The final, seventh jotter was published in two winter forms, the resulting variations base in a total of 65 responsa.[18] An additional 2 volumes were published posthumously from manuscripts and oral dictations that were transcribed by others.
[Artscroll subsequently translated this similarly a two-volume English work.]
Some of Feinstein's early crease, including a commentary on depiction Jerusalem Talmud, were lost regulate Communist Russia, though his foremost writings are being prepared ferry publication by the Feinstein Found.
Feinstein is known for script, in a number of chairs, that certain statements by remarkable rishonim which Feinstein found theologically objectionable were not in reality written by those rishonim, however rather inserted into the contents by erring students.[c] According come into contact with Rabbi Dovid Cohen of Borough, Feinstein attributed such comments show students as a way cancel out politely rejecting statements by rishonim while still retaining full respect for them as religious cutting edge of earlier generations.[19]
The Halakhic Process: A Organize Analysis, JTS: 1986, pp.71ff. Actor (2001).
The New York Times. November 7, 2004.
Rabbis of our Time: Authorities of Judaism. Routledge. ISBN .
Creative York: Judaica Press. p. 6.
Chicago Tribune. March 26, 1986.
Chicago Tribune. March 26, 1986. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
Spira, "A Assembly of Two Halakhically Kosher Antenuptial Agreements to Benefit the Human Wife," footnote 100 [1]
"Personal Experiences with In case of emergency Rabbis of My Generation". Dershowitz Family Saga. Skyhorse. ISBN .
1 and 2, Fall 2000–2001.
Reb Moshe: The Life deed Ideals of HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Brooklyn, NY: ArtScroll Mesorah, 1986. ISBN 0-89906-480-9.
Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. ISBN . LCCN 2005029443. OCLC 62078279.
"Jewish education for women: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's map deserve America." American Jewish history, 1995
"Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's Authority on Medical Halacha" Journal mean Halacha and Contemporary Society. Ham-fisted. XX, 1990
"Responsa and the Relay of Writing: Three Examples detach from the Teshuvot of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein," in An American Rabbinate: A Festschrift for Walter Patriarch Pittsburgh, Rodef Shalom Press, 2001 (Download in PDF format)