Rabbi Steinsaltz On New Sanhedrin

A unique ceremony - probably only the second of its kind in the past 1,600 years - is taking place in Tiberias today: The launching of a Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish-legal tribunal in the Land of Israel.

The Sanhedrin, a religious assembly that convened in one of the Holy Temple chambers in Jerusalem, comprised 71 sages and existed during the Tannaitic period, from several decades before the Common Era until roughly 425 C.E. Details of today's ceremony are still sketchy, but the organizers' announced their intention to convene 71 rabbis who have received special rabbinic ordination as specified by Maimonides. . . .

Rabbi Ariel said that the rabbis there included many from the entire spectrum:
"Hareidi, religious-Zionist, Sephardi, Ashkenazi, hassidi, and many others - such as Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, Rabbi Adin Shteinzaltz, and many others... We can't expect a great consensus; that's not how things work here. But sometimes that's how the process goes, from the bottom up."

More here.

Comments

[Sanhedrin]

Rabbi Adin Shteinzaltz shlit"a is known as a Chabad Chassid (although somewhat off-stream). It is well-known and documented the strong opposition of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to the establishment of a "Sanhedrin," which in his view will only lead to breaches in the wall of Halacha, and is generaly supported mainly by those not known for their Yirat-shamayim.

[R Brand]

Chareidi rabbis? Like Gafni, of Protocols fame? This is so silly that it does not warrant serious commentary, but I'm curious who they dug up for this bash. It never ceases to amaze me how unelected, unwanted goons feel they possess the mandate to place themselves in a position of authority over others. No good will come of this, and I can see the potential for misled fools to follow these bozos. Rabbinical opposition shut down the last attempt, but who is strong enough these days to do so?

[D Brand]

Like he said. But it's also interesing to note that the very difference between those who consider themselves to be Yeshivish/Litvish and others. The mainstream Gedolim are declared Gedolim by mutual assent. There are no elections, and they are followed completely voluntarily. As my brother said, this group just took control without consulting anybody. And don't even ask about the Chassidishe method for passing of leadership works. Well, at least outside of Chadad, anyway. The point is that if people don't accept the "Sanhedrin", it's worthless.

[Ladron]

"..... the Lubavitcher Rebbe to the establishment of a "Sanhedrin," which in his view will only lead to breaches in the wall of Halacha, and is generaly supported mainly by those not known for their Yirat-shamayim. "

...yiras shomoyim ? of course was created by chabad !!! they even pattented it ....
and look who is talking of breaches .... nevertheless, I do not think any good will come out of such initiative . I am still incredulous as none of the major Israeli papers even covers the event !

[Zalman Alpert]

Adin Steinsaltz is am an of many identities. He has at least 2 names the other being Even Israel, which is the name the Rebbe gave him.
He claims to be born a secular Jeww never studied limude Kodesh until he was well into his teen age years. etc. But I heard from peh kadsho and in print shachor al gabe lavan as the rebbe was wont to say - that his father although not frum was the son of the Kobriner rebbe and that he Adin studies in a Meah Shearim Cheder etc.
So Streinsaltz can be a Zionist a Chabad hassid, a Charedi a real chameleon, .
I remember him as a visiting faculty at Yale Divinity Seminary a strange appointment for a Chabad Chassid.
What ever it takes to get publicity will se Adin do it.
Finally I admit that his talmud in Hebrew was and remainsa major acheivement for the secular and Modern orthodox israeli Communities, but besides that in terms of hashkofa, Machshevat Yehudith , halachic sourcing etc what has this man ever said that is significant?
Yelamdenu rabbeinu !!

[Ladron]

Dear R' Alpert
Thanks for your comments which I always find educated & useful.

"So Streinsaltz can be a Zionist a Chabad hassid, a Charedi a real chameleon, . I remember him as a visiting faculty at Yale Divinity Seminary a strange appointment for a Chabad Chassid.

Is there any significant difference between him teaching divinities and R Schochet teaching philosophy ?

" What ever it takes to get publicity will se Adin do it."

I attended a few events with him . Once he was asked how can he address a non orthodox audience & he explained very nicely that he wants to reserve the right to be with fellow jews & address them unconditionally . When he does , he would tell them of the obligation to observe the commandments & what ensues to those who wouldn't heed his -Torah- advise .

" Finally I admit that his talmud in Hebrew was and remainsa major acheivement for the secular and Modern orthodox israeli Communities, but besides that in terms of hashkofa, Machshevat Yehudith , halachic sourcing etc what has this man ever said that is significant?
Yelamdenu rabbeinu !! "

I must say that I find his work to be very impressive . He also wrote books on Tanya , Chassidus - as well as 2 books that I regard as very important . Teshuva & a book on Prayer .
Compared to other Sages be they Chassidish or Litvish , at least he addresses his work to all Beis Yisroel , rather than limiting his audience to those who are already sold on the same ideas .
He is not your run of the mill chosid .
At the same time , he does not try to sell to his readers the veneer of sorcellery . As to 'in terms of hashkofa, Machshevat Yehudith , halachic sourcing etc '
Please direct me to who alive in our generation , delivers anything of relevence to the simple yidden at large ? R' Steinsaltz is not a posek .
Regarding Sanhedrin in our days, I find his participation if the report is true to be most perplexing .

[Zalman Alpert]

Thanks for the intellegent comments to my note. As far as Even Israel's teaching at Yale vs. J. Immanuel's teaching in Toronto the distinction is not only the subject matter, but that yale divinity is a semnary to train Christian ministers and pastors.As far as i am aware the U. Of Toronto is a secular university.
Most of his public work relates to himself Steinsaltz . I recall about 20 years ago a hip New York mag called him the greatest scholar since rashi (I think TIME aid the same) it was al clearly coming from Adin or his PR man. After all he claims to be a Lubavitcher chasid
I will put myself on the line in terms of people who have contributed to the world of ideas in contemporary Orthodoxy. I mean people who make people think thus I would include Yeshaya Leibowitz, Norman Lamm, people like Heschel, Eliezer Berkovitts etc.
Even amongst Chasidim people like Moshe Weinberger, mayer schiller, the old rabbiAshlag, Bezalel Naor have a lot more to say in my opinion than Even israelSure compared to the Rt scroll hashkofisten he is a giant, but I really wonder if he has impacted on many Orthodox Jews in the united States.
But I may be prejudiced in this respect and I welcome feedback.And finally thanks for reading my note

[Shmarya]

R. Steinsaltz has done much good for the Jewish world. He spoke at the Jewish Community Bookfair here last year. There were at least 300 people (probably closer to 400). Only about 10 of those were frum. This is repeated all across the world when he speaks. Many Jews learn Torah because of him. His Talmud was clearly the basis for the ArtScroll version that came later. His books on prayer and teshuva are masterpieces.

Is he a Gadol? Is he qualified to sit on a Sanhedrin?

I know of nothing to rule him out.

As for his background, I've always heard one story. His father was not frum. The family has yichus. His father sent him to learn Gemara because he "didn't want his son to be an ignoramous." R. Steinsaltz took to Gemara more than his father expected. The rest is history.

The name change was made due to illness, at the Rebbe's request.

[Shmarya]

I also think that it is important to remember that R. Steinsaltz spends a lot of time on outreach in one form or another. His concentration is on making scholarly Yiddishkeit available to the masses, not on making chiddushim. If his concentration were on his own learning, perhaps he would be a Rogotchover-like figure today, close to the Chassidic world but an accepted Gaon by all factions of Orthodoxy.

[Zalman Alpert]

I think most people have "bought into" Steinsaltz's self serving PR campaign. Who can say that he is a bigger iluy or gaon than thousands of other kolel people and rabbonim in Eretz Israel. How do we measure this ability to be a Ragachover. Writing pop books for secular Jews is not exactly time consuming. Yet we have seen no real evidence of his chiddushim Lomdus, amkus etc.
By the way who accepts Steinsaltz as a spiritual leader ??, not the Mizrachi camp in Israel, not the West bank people, not Chabad, not the Chasidic world, not the Lithuanian world, not the YU world here. Just those people swayed by his sharp Pr campaigns, who also accept Chabad as the religion of their grandfathers and the "real thing" based on similiar PR campaigns.
Steinsaltz has never completed any task he started the yeshiva in Moscow, the English Talmud, Pardes school and other projects.
His Talmud shows critical skills and expertise in reallia. But geonus ?? Is he another Reb Chaim ! Those who know how to learn know exactly where this man stands in learning I am sure he is a good scholar, as are thousnads of kollel yungeleit in Israel US and Uk.Lets not go bonkers over a good PR machine.You may not realize it but the fellows working on the Art scroll Talmud are also major leaguer in lomdus and yet we do not even know their names ! Why not hire a PR machine for those scholars toiling away beOhelo shel Torah -maimis azman -.
Steinsaltz deserves credit for his talmud , but both in Isreal and especially here I see no visibile evidence of any influence intellectual or otherwise he has exerted.

[jj]

Isn't Yale Divinity School where Rav Aharon Soloveitchik's grandson goes to school?

[Zalman Alpert]

Very impressive comment about Rabbi Mayer S. But one needs to draw a sharp distinction beween being on faculty and taking courses there as a student..Reb Mayer is a deeply intellegent man, very politically, socialy and philosophically astute, and I presume he has rabbinic sanction for his studies there.
But for a so called potential Rogochover to teach galochim at yale divinity ,now that is weird. I wonder if the rebbe knew about this ?

[Ladron]

It is starting to feel like an April Fools farce.
The news were first posted on Oct 14th on Arutz 7 no other coverage till today .
Shmos 32[18] - ein kol anos gvuro veein kol anos khalusho, kol annoys anokhi shomeo ... And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.- that's it ! Kleizmerim ? Haomnam ?!

[Yehoshua Kehati]

One of the gedolim who works on the Artscroll Mesechtas is my Rov. He has no PR machine; retreats from machlochos; avoids paskening unless I assure him his answer will not go beyond me; is held in great esteem by those gedolim who know of his bekius in Torah; what more need I say?
As to who are the rebbeim working on the Artscroll gemaras, look at the opening pages in each volume for the acknowledgements. Having followed Artscroll's development since Megillas Esther, I cannot credit Steinsaltz with any accomplishment.
And, many years ago, one of my sons - a Ben Torah - "annotated" Steinsaltz's "The Essential Talmud" (paperback, 1997). There is hardly a page without emendations, corrections and even deletions for reasons of emes and hashkafah. It is one of my cherished books (I cannot call what Steinsaltz wrote a 'sefer'.) If you recall his attempt to 'psychologize' our leaders from Tanach, you can see another reason why he does not deserve to be admired or read.

P.S.: I know I'm being bitul zman (at least) with this communication, but I was amazed to stumble upon this blog site and the enormous number of "frum" Jews who have the time and energy to write, and write, and write!

[Glenn Jacobs]

We Christians do not know what we are talking about this issue, but we need to know.

Before Meshiach comes, He has to have a Temple on Mount Morian to come to.

He has to have a Sanhedrin to order the Temple built, and He has to have a Sanhedrin to verify Him and welcome Him.

We Christians are depending on you Jews.