Moshe Meiselman
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Moshe Meiselman is the rosh yeshiva
of Yeshiva
s Toras Moshe, a small American yeshiva in Jerusalem, a former principal of Yeshiva University High Schools of Los Angeles, and the author of Jewish Women in Jewish Law. A student of Dr. Donald Anderson, he received a doctorate in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1967 for his thesis The Operation Ring for Connective K-Theory. He is a son-in-law of the previous Ziditshoiver
Rebbe
of Chicago (Rabbi Avrohom Eichenstein). His mother, Shulamit Soloveitchik Meiselman, was the author of the widely acclaimed "The Soloveitchik Heritage: A Daughter's Memoir". [she died July 2009. Source: http://matzav.com/mrs-shulamith-meiselman-a%E2%80%9Dh/ ]
in New York
, to which Rabbi Soleveitchik commuted from Boston
and gave his lectures. Instead, Meiselman spent long hours of intensive private study with Rabbi Soloveitchik at Rabbi Soloveitchik's home while he attended Harvard University
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Boston
, until the completion of his Ph.D.
Rabbi Meiselman subsequently cast Rabbi Soloveitchik in the role of a traditional haredi Rosh Yeshiva. Meiselman professes that Rabbi Soloveitchik's Zionism and secular studies were solely for the purpose of outreach and as a response to the assimilation of American Jews
. This professed belief has led him to attract the ire of many Modern Orthodox and Mizrachi
thinkers.
's book, The Camel, The Hare, and The Hyrax, Rabbi Meiselman gave a series of four lectures at Yeshivas Toras Moshe criticizing both Rabbi Slifkin (calling him an "incompetent nincompoop") and his work specifically his suggestion that the Sages of the Talmud were mistaken in certain scientific matters. Rabbi Slifkin sent a letter to Rabbi Meiselman rebutting the critiques of his work, calling the lectures "factually incorrect and extremely defamatory." Rabbi Slifkin subsequently posted audio of the lectures on his website, with a note that he did receive a request that to remove the lectures from his website on the grounds that 'they were only intended for his yeshivah.'"
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s Toras Moshe, a small American yeshiva in Jerusalem, a former principal of Yeshiva University High Schools of Los Angeles, and the author of Jewish Women in Jewish Law. A student of Dr. Donald Anderson, he received a doctorate in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1967 for his thesis The Operation Ring for Connective K-Theory. He is a son-in-law of the previous Ziditshoiver
Zidichov (Hasidic dynasty)
Ziditshov is a Hasidic dynasty originating in town Ziditshoyv , in Galicia . It was founded by Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh of Ziditshov...
Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
of Chicago (Rabbi Avrohom Eichenstein). His mother, Shulamit Soloveitchik Meiselman, was the author of the widely acclaimed "The Soloveitchik Heritage: A Daughter's Memoir". [she died July 2009. Source: http://matzav.com/mrs-shulamith-meiselman-a%E2%80%9Dh/ ]
Rabbi Meiselman and Rabbi Soloveitchik
Rabbi Meiselman is one of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's nephews. He formed a particularly close relationship with his uncle during their daily studying sessions from the time he was 18 until he was 29 years old. Meiselman never attended Yeshiva UniversityYeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to which Rabbi Soleveitchik commuted from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and gave his lectures. Instead, Meiselman spent long hours of intensive private study with Rabbi Soloveitchik at Rabbi Soloveitchik's home while he attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, until the completion of his Ph.D.
Rabbi Meiselman subsequently cast Rabbi Soloveitchik in the role of a traditional haredi Rosh Yeshiva. Meiselman professes that Rabbi Soloveitchik's Zionism and secular studies were solely for the purpose of outreach and as a response to the assimilation of American Jews
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
. This professed belief has led him to attract the ire of many Modern Orthodox and Mizrachi
Mizrachi (Religious Zionism)
The Mizrachi is the name of the religious Zionist organization founded in 1902 in Vilnius at a world conference of religious Zionists called by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov Reines. Bnei Akiva, which was founded in 1929, is the youth movement associated with Mizrachi...
thinkers.
Rabbi Meiselman and Rabbi Slifkin
After a disagreement over the use of his name in the acknowledgments section of Rabbi Natan SlifkinNatan Slifkin
Natan Slifkin , also popularly known as the "Zoo Rabbi", is an ordained but non-pulpit serving Orthodox rabbi best known for his interest in zoology, science and for his books on these topics, which are controversial in the Haredi world.-Biography:Natan Slifkin was born and raised in Manchester,...
's book, The Camel, The Hare, and The Hyrax, Rabbi Meiselman gave a series of four lectures at Yeshivas Toras Moshe criticizing both Rabbi Slifkin (calling him an "incompetent nincompoop") and his work specifically his suggestion that the Sages of the Talmud were mistaken in certain scientific matters. Rabbi Slifkin sent a letter to Rabbi Meiselman rebutting the critiques of his work, calling the lectures "factually incorrect and extremely defamatory." Rabbi Slifkin subsequently posted audio of the lectures on his website, with a note that he did receive a request that to remove the lectures from his website on the grounds that 'they were only intended for his yeshivah.'"