Nachman Bulman
Encyclopedia
Nachman Bulman was an American rabbi
associated with Orthodox Judaism
. He was born to Rabbi Meir and Etil Bulman after a blessing from the Rebbe
of Ger
, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter
. He grew up on the Lower East Side, Manhattan
, and was, for a brief period, part of the circle of the Rebbe of Modzitz
, remaining close to the Rebbe until the latter's death.
He studied at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
(RIETS), where obtained his semicha
("rabbinical ordination"). Turning down offers from various communities because of inadequate standards, he eventually accepted a position in Danville, Virginia
, which had a small Jewish community that he served for three years. Subsequently he served as a synagogue
rabbi and Jewish educator in number of cities in the United States
for most of his life. In 1975 he moved to northern Israel
and served as rabbi in Migdal HaEmek. During the last few years of his life he served as rabbi of the Nachliel Synagogue in Neve Yaakov
, Jerusalem, where he resided at the time of his death.
at Yeshiva University
where he received his rabbinic ordination
. However, in terms of religious ideology, Bulman chose to follow and be identified with Agudath Israel of America
, one of Haredi Judaism
's largest movements. He referred to himself as a disciple of Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov
. At a later stage in his life, Bulman sometimes dressed in the style typical of Gerrer Hasidim, even donning a spodik
in his later years, on the Sabbath and holidays.
He was a popular teacher, lecturer, writer, translator of Hebrew language
works into English
, and builder of Jewish communities in both America and Israel.
In the late 1970s, he taught in Israel
at Yeshivat Ohr Somayach
in Jerusalem serving as its mashgiach ruchani
and continued to serve in that capacity after he established a community in Migdal HaEmek. He was seen as a great visionary and was known for understanding modern political events througn the lens of timeless Torah wisdom. Often he would compare the events of the weekly Haftorah with current events in his sermons.
He was also a great student of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's teachings and would sometimes incorporate those teachings into his lectures.
After leaving Migdal HaEmek, Bulman lived in Maalot Dafna, Jerusalem and taught at Ohr Sameyach. In 1996 he founded a Beis Midrash, Nachlas Tzvi, in Telzstone, named after the writings of R. Hirsch. He strove to teach immigrants and others how to function within Israeli Haredi society without losing their individual identities. During the final three years of his life he lived in Neve Yaakov
, a northern neighborhood of Jerusalem, where he founded Bais Medrash Nachliel, and where Kollel Nachmani was established in his memory.
He translated the books The Book of Our Heritage, Jew and His Home and Rite and Reason to English. His name was often written as Nathan Bulman in English.
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...
associated with Orthodox Judaism
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...
. He was born to Rabbi Meir and Etil Bulman after a blessing from the 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 Ger
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter
Avraham Mordechai Alter
Avraham Mordechai Alter , also known as the Imrei Emes after the works he authored, was the third Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1905 until his death in 1948. He was one of the founders of the Agudas Israel in Poland and was influential in establishing a network of...
. He grew up on the Lower East Side, Manhattan
Lower East Side, Manhattan
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, and was, for a brief period, part of the circle of the Rebbe of Modzitz
Modzitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Modzitz or Modzhitz is the name of a Hasidic group within Orthodox Judaism that derives its name from Modrzyce, one of the boroughs of the town of Dęblin, Poland, located on the Vistula River...
, remaining close to the Rebbe until the latter's death.
He studied at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary , or Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University, located in Washington Heights, New York. It is named after Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who died the year it was founded, 1896...
(RIETS), where obtained his semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
("rabbinical ordination"). Turning down offers from various communities because of inadequate standards, he eventually accepted a position in Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
, which had a small Jewish community that he served for three years. Subsequently he served as a 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...
rabbi and Jewish educator in number of cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for most of his life. In 1975 he moved to northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and served as rabbi in Migdal HaEmek. During the last few years of his life he served as rabbi of the Nachliel Synagogue in Neve Yaakov
Neve Yaakov
Neve Yaakov also Neve Ya'aqov, , is a neighborhood located in northeastern Jerusalem, north of Pisgat Ze'ev and south of al-Ram. Established in 1924 during the period of the British Mandate, it was abandoned during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
, Jerusalem, where he resided at the time of his death.
Ideology and impact
Rabbi Bulman was a student of Rabbi Joseph SoloveitchikJoseph Soloveitchik
Joseph Ber Soloveitchik was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. He was a descendant of the Lithuanian Jewish Soloveitchik rabbinic dynasty....
at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva 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...
where he received his rabbinic ordination
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
. However, in terms of religious ideology, Bulman chose to follow and be identified with Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of America , is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel.-Functions:...
, one of Haredi Judaism
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
's largest movements. He referred to himself as a disciple of Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov
Eliyahu Kitov
Avraham Eliyahu Mokotow , better known as Eliyahu Kitov, was a Rabbi, educator, and community activist. He was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1912 as Abraham Eliyahu Mokotowski.-Biography:...
. At a later stage in his life, Bulman sometimes dressed in the style typical of Gerrer Hasidim, even donning a spodik
Spodik
A spodik is a tall fur hat worn by some Hasidic Jews, particularly members of sects originating in Congress Poland. Spodiks are to be distinguished from shtreimels, which are a similar type of fur hat worn by Hasidim...
in his later years, on the Sabbath and holidays.
He was a popular teacher, lecturer, writer, translator of Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
works into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and builder of Jewish communities in both America and Israel.
In the late 1970s, he taught in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at Yeshivat Ohr Somayach
Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem
Ohr Somayach was founded in 1970. It is a yeshiva based in Jerusalem, Israel, catering mostly to young Jewish men, usually of college age, who are already interested in learning about Judaism...
in Jerusalem serving as its mashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives.The position of mashgiach ruchani arose with the...
and continued to serve in that capacity after he established a community in Migdal HaEmek. He was seen as a great visionary and was known for understanding modern political events througn the lens of timeless Torah wisdom. Often he would compare the events of the weekly Haftorah with current events in his sermons.
He was also a great student of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's teachings and would sometimes incorporate those teachings into his lectures.
After leaving Migdal HaEmek, Bulman lived in Maalot Dafna, Jerusalem and taught at Ohr Sameyach. In 1996 he founded a Beis Midrash, Nachlas Tzvi, in Telzstone, named after the writings of R. Hirsch. He strove to teach immigrants and others how to function within Israeli Haredi society without losing their individual identities. During the final three years of his life he lived in Neve Yaakov
Neve Yaakov
Neve Yaakov also Neve Ya'aqov, , is a neighborhood located in northeastern Jerusalem, north of Pisgat Ze'ev and south of al-Ram. Established in 1924 during the period of the British Mandate, it was abandoned during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
, a northern neighborhood of Jerusalem, where he founded Bais Medrash Nachliel, and where Kollel Nachmani was established in his memory.
He translated the books The Book of Our Heritage, Jew and His Home and Rite and Reason to English. His name was often written as Nathan Bulman in English.