Yosef Blau
Encyclopedia
Yosef Blau is an Orthodox
rabbi
. He currently serves as the Mashgiach ruchani
at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
. He is also the president of the Religious Zionists of America
.
. He earned a Masters of Science degree at Yeshiva University
's Belfer Graduate School of Science in 1960, and was ordained at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
in 1961 by Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik
.
in Brookline, Massachusetts
, principal at the Hebrew Theological College
in Skokie, Illinois
, and principal at the Jewish Educational Center
in Elizabeth, New Jersey
.
In communal life, Blau served as national president of Yavneh, the National Religious Jewish Students Association, and as a member of that organization's National Advisory Board. He also served as vice president of the National Conference of Yeshiva Principals.
Blau is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America
and serves on the executive board of the Orthodox Caucus, a national task force addressing practical issues challenging the Jewish world. He is also on the executive commission of the Orthodox Forum and the rabbinic advisory board of USSR, (Students Serving Soviet Jewry). He has lectured and taught Torah
around the world.
Blau previously served on the executive board of directors of The Awareness Center.
He recently( December 22, 2009 )was the moderator on a panel in Yeshiva University dealing with homosexual men in the Orthodox Jewish community.
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...
. He currently serves as the 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...
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...
. He is also the president of the Religious Zionists of America
Religious Zionists of America
The Religious Zionists of America is an American based organization that serves as the official body for those, mostly Modern Orthodox Jews who identify with Religious Zionism and support the goals of the general Mizrachi movement in America, Europe and Israel.Most rabbis...
.
Education
Blau earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 from Yeshiva College studying MathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. He earned a Masters of Science degree 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...
's Belfer Graduate School of Science in 1960, and was ordained 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...
in 1961 by Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik
Joseph 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....
.
Career
In the past, he served as the assistant principal at the Maimonides SchoolMaimonides School
Maimonides School is a coeducational, Modern Orthodox, Jewish day school located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The school was founded in 1937 by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik and his wife Tonya Soloveitchik...
in Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, principal at the Hebrew Theological College
Hebrew Theological College
The Hebrew Theological College, known as "Skokie Yeshiva," is a Yeshiva in Skokie, Illinois which also functions as a private university on campus. The primary focus of the Yeshiva is to teach Torah and Jewish traditions...
in Skokie, Illinois
Skokie, Illinois
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
, and principal at the Jewish Educational Center
Jewish Educational Center
The Jewish Educational Center is a fifteen-year yeshiva school located in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in Prekindergarten through 12th grades. Throughout the day students learn a mixture of Judaic and secular studies. JEC, as it is commonly known, is run...
in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
.
In communal life, Blau served as national president of Yavneh, the National Religious Jewish Students Association, and as a member of that organization's National Advisory Board. He also served as vice president of the National Conference of Yeshiva Principals.
Blau is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America
Rabbinical Council of America
The Rabbinical Council of America is one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union, or OU...
and serves on the executive board of the Orthodox Caucus, a national task force addressing practical issues challenging the Jewish world. He is also on the executive commission of the Orthodox Forum and the rabbinic advisory board of USSR, (Students Serving Soviet Jewry). He has lectured and taught Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
around the world.
Blau previously served on the executive board of directors of The Awareness Center.
He recently( December 22, 2009 )was the moderator on a panel in Yeshiva University dealing with homosexual men in the Orthodox Jewish community.