Rabbi Moshe Heinemann is 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...

 and 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....

 who heads the Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Baltimore

Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...

 synagogue

Synagogue

A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...

 and is the rabbinical supervisor of the Star K kashrus certification agency. He studied for many years in Beis Midrash Govoha

Beth Medrash Govoha

Beth Medrash Govoha is a Haredi yeshiva located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It is commonly known as BMG, or Lakewood Yeshiva....

 under 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...

 Aharon Kotler

Aharon Kotler

Aharon Kotler was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania, and later the United States, where he built Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.- Early life :...

, and was ordained by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein

Moshe Feinstein

Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...

.

Rabbi Heinemann is widely consulted for rulings in matters of Halacha, often where complicated technology is involved. He is an expert Mohel

Mohel

A mohel is a Jewish person trained in the practice of brit milah "covenant of circumcision."-Etymology of the Hebrew and Aramaic term:...

, Shochet, and Sofer, and has trained and certified numerous people in these areas of practical Halacha. Rabbi Heinemann is also an expert on the construction of Eruv

Eruv

An Eruv is a ritual enclosure around most Orthodox Jewish and Conservative Jewish homes or communities. In such communities, an Eruv is seen to enable the carrying of objects out of doors on the Jewish Sabbath that would otherwise be forbidden by Torah law...

in and mikvehs, and is frequently consulted regarding these complicated areas of Halacha.

Shabbos Mode Ovens

Rabbi Heinemann has ruled for over a decade that, on Yom Tov, one may raise or lower the temperature on Sabbath Mode ovens. In June 2008, a number of prominent Poskim signed a Kol Koreh (public pronouncement) stating that this was unequivocally forbidden. The Kol Koreh referred to the lenient opinion as a Daas Yachid (a minority opinion that should not be relied upon - literally: the opinion of an individual). After the Kol Koreh was released, it was rumored by some that Rabbi Heineman retracted his opinion regarding this issue and ruled like the Israeli Poskim. However, no written record of his retraction exists, and the website of the Star-K, the Supervision Agency that is governed by rabbi Heinemann's rulings, continues to promote Rabbi Heinemann's view.

It has been noted, however, that Rabbi Heinemann's opinion is consistent with the rulings of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach

Shlomo Zalman Auerbach

Shlomo Zalman Auerbach , was a renowned Orthodox Jewish rabbi, posek, and rosh yeshiva of the Kol Torah yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel...

 regarding electricity

Electricity on Shabbat in Jewish law

Many Jews who observe Shabbat , especially within Orthodox Judaism, have the practice of refraining from turning electricity on or off during Shabbat. In most cases they also abstain from making adjustments to the intensity of an electrical appliance as well.Authorities of Jewish law have disagreed...

. Rabbi Auerbach was not only one of the greatest Poskim of his generation, but his understanding of electricity and technology was probably unparalleled among any of his peers. Indeed, none of Rabbi Auerbach's sons or sons-in-law, including Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach

Shmuel Auerbach

Shmuel Auerbach is a prominent Haredi rabbi in Jerusalem, Israel. He is regarded as one of the leading non-Hasidic Lithuanian poskim for Haredi Ashkenazi Jews living in Israel, whose views and declarations are regarded as authoritative...

, Rabbi Ezriel Auerbach

Ezriel Auerbach

Rabbi Ezriel Auerbach is a prominent Haredi rabbi and Posek. He is the son of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, two world-renowned Poskim. He is considered Rabbi Elyashiv's right-hand man in matters of halakha.Auerbach married Leah Elyashiv , daughter of...

, and Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg

Zalman Nechemia Goldberg

Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg is a rabbi, posek, and Rosh Yeshiva in Israel. The scion of a Lithuanian Jewish family, Rabbi Goldberg is also a son-in-law of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach....

, all prominent Poskim in their own right, participated in the Kol Koreh.

External links

• Free MP3 Lectures by Rabbi Moshe Heinemann