Saul Berman
Encyclopedia
Saul J. Berman is a prominent American scholar and leading Modern Orthodox
rabbi
.
As a rabbi, scholar, and educator he has made extensive contributions to the intensification of Jewish education for Jewish women on many levels, to the role of social ethics in synagogue
life, and to the understanding of the applicability of Jewish Law
to contemporary society.
Rabbi Berman was ordained at Yeshiva University
, from which he also received his B.A. and his M.H.L. He completed a degree in law, a J.D., at New York University
, and an M.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley
, where he studied with David Daube
. He spent two years studying mishpat ivri in Israel
at Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and at Tel Aviv University
.
Berman was the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel (Berkeley, California)
from 1963 to 1969, of Young Israel of Brookline from 1969 to 1971, and senior rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue
in Manhattan
, New York from 1984 to 1990. He has been a professor at Yeshiva University
for many years and teaches a seminar at Columbia Law School
.
Berman was the founder and director of the defunct Edah
organization for the promotion of Modern Orthodoxy. Due to financial constraints, Edah was absorbed into the Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
.
He is married to Shellee Berman, they have four children and seven grandchildren, (Shama and Rachel Berman + Shoshana, Adira, Ephraim and Adiv) (Efrath and Gal Levy + Natalie, Gabriel and Abigail) (Akiva) (Esther Golda and Rafi Lefkowitz) From the L.S.S. bulletin July 2011
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
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...
.
As a rabbi, scholar, and educator he has made extensive contributions to the intensification of Jewish education for Jewish women on many levels, to the role of social ethics in 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...
life, and to the understanding of the applicability of Jewish Law
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
to contemporary society.
Rabbi Berman was ordained 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...
, from which he also received his B.A. and his M.H.L. He completed a degree in law, a J.D., at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and an M.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he studied with David Daube
David Daube
David Daube DCL, FBA was the twentieth century's preeminent scholar of ancient law. He combined a familiarity with many legal systems, particularly Roman law and biblical law, with an expertise in Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Christian literature, and used literary, religious, and legal texts to...
. He spent two years studying mishpat ivri 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 Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
and at Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
.
Berman was the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel (Berkeley, California)
Congregation Beth Israel (Berkeley, California)
Congregation Beth Israel is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Berkeley, California. Established in 1924 as the Berkeley Hebrew Center, it traces its origins to the First Hebrew Congregation of Berkeley, founded in 1909. It was Berkeley's first synagogue, and remains its oldest...
from 1963 to 1969, of Young Israel of Brookline from 1969 to 1971, and senior rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue
Lincoln Square Synagogue
The Lincoln Square Synagogue at 200 Amsterdam Avenue at the corner of West 69th Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, was founded as a congregation in 1964 by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York from 1984 to 1990. He has been a professor 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...
for many years and teaches a seminar at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
.
Berman was the founder and director of the defunct Edah
Edah
Edah was a Modern Orthodox Jewish organization, generally associated with the liberal wing of Orthodox Judaism in the United States and with the Religious Zionism movement of Israel. Its headquarters are located in Manhattan, New York City....
organization for the promotion of Modern Orthodoxy. Due to financial constraints, Edah was absorbed into the Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School is a "Modern Open Orthodox" yeshiva founded in 1999 by Rabbi Avi Weiss.Currently located in Riverdale, New York, it seeks to "recruit, professionally train, and place rabbis" who will promote its founder's philosophy...
.
He is married to Shellee Berman, they have four children and seven grandchildren, (Shama and Rachel Berman + Shoshana, Adira, Ephraim and Adiv) (Efrath and Gal Levy + Natalie, Gabriel and Abigail) (Akiva) (Esther Golda and Rafi Lefkowitz) From the L.S.S. bulletin July 2011