Adin Steinsaltz: Encyclopedia - Adin Steinsaltz

Adin Steinsaltz

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz or Even Yisrael (born 1937) is a teacher, philosopher, social critic and prolific author who has been hailed by Time magazine as a "once-in-a-millennium scholar." His lifelong work in Jewish education earned him the Israel Prize, his country’s highest honor. He is affiliated with the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic sect.

Born in Jerusalem in 1937 to secular parents, Rabbi Steinsaltz studied physics and chemistry at the Hebrew University. Following graduation, he established several experimental schools and, at the age of 24, became Israel’s youngest school principal.

In 1965, he founded the Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications and began his monumental Hebrew translation and commentary on the Talmud. To date, he has published 38 of the anticipated 46 volumes. While not without criticism (e.g. by Neusner, 1998), the Steinsaltz edition is widely used throughout Israel, the United States and the world. Over 2 million volumes of the Steinsaltz Talmud have been distributed to date.

The translation of the Talmud from Aramaic to Hebrew increased the amount of people who are able to study its content. His translation opened the door for women who traditionally are not taught Talmud, and are therefore not proficient in Aramaic, to study the Talmud. Modern Orthodox High Schools and Seminaries teach women Talmud using his translation. The amount of men who are capable of studying Talmud increased as a result of Steinzalts' work.

Regarding the access that his work provides, Steinsaltz says “I never thought that spreading ignorance has any advantage, except for those who are in a position of power and want to deprive others of their rights and spread ignorance in order to keep them underlings. My gemmarot are surely used, if they are used anywhere, in Matan [a yeshiva for Orthodox women in Jerusalem], from beginning to end. Why? Because they help skip the elementary school level of training. That makes learning Talmud for them possible, and if it is possible then it is challenging and some of the men don’t want that challenge.”

The Rabbi’s classic work of Kabbalah, The Thirteen Petalled Rose, was first published in 1980 and now appears in eight languages. In all, Rabbi Steinsaltz has authored some 60 books and hundreds of articles on subjects including Talmud, Jewish mysticism, religious thought, sociology, historical biography, and philosophy.

Continuing his work as a teacher and spiritual mentor, Rabbi Steinsaltz established a network of schools and educational institutions in Israel and the former Soviet Union. He has served as scholar in residence at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. and the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University. His honorary degrees include doctorates from Yeshiva University, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Bar Ilan University, Brandeis University, and Florida International University. Rabbi Steinsaltz is also Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hesder Tekoa, and, controversially, functions as Nasi in the "new Sanhedrin".

Rabbi Steinsaltz and his wife have three children and ten grandchildren. He lives in Jerusalem.

Adin Steinsaltz - External link

• Steinsaltz.org - The official website of The Aleph Society and Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
• Some articles written by Rabbi Adin Even-Yisrael Steinsaltz

Categories: 1937 births | Israeli people | Orthodox rabbis | Prominent Lubavitchers

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Adin Steinsaltz", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki