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| At the age of {{age|1910|4|10}}, Elyashiv is active and remains the paramount leader of Israel's ]-Haredi, non-] (sometimes referred to as '']''), ] many of whom regard him as the ''] ha-dor'', the contemporary leading authority on ], or Jewish law.<ref name=LW>, ICON Group International, Inc., 2008. pg. 272. ISBN 0546665403</ref> | At the age of {{age|1910|4|10}}, Elyashiv is active and remains the paramount leader of Israel's ]-Haredi, non-] (sometimes referred to as '']''), ] many of whom regard him as the ''] ha-dor'', the contemporary leading authority on ], or Jewish law.<ref name=LW>, ICON Group International, Inc., 2008. pg. 272. ISBN 0546665403</ref> | ||
| == |
==Biography== | ||
| Elyashiv is a grandson of the |
Yosef Shalom Elyashiv is a grandson of the ] Rabbi ] (the ''Leshem'') (1841–1925) from ], Lithuania.<ref name=LW/> His father was ] of ]. His mother was Chaya Moussa Elyashiv, daughter of the '']''. His wife (died June 19, 1994) was the daughter of Rabbi ]. Elyashiv has eleven children. Six of his daughters married significant rabbinic figures. A seventh daughter was killed in 1948 by Jordanian shelling. | ||
| ==Spiritual and political leader== | |||
| * Rabbi ], a major ''posek'' who lives in ], Israel, & son of Rabbi ].<ref name=LW/> | |||
| * Rabbi ], head of the "Bar Shaul" ] in ] (d. 2009). | |||
| * Rabbi ], ] of the "Achva" ] | |||
| * Rabbi ], the ] of ] and the rabbi of the ] in ]. Rabbi Zilberstein's wife has died, and he has since remarried. | |||
| * Rabbi ], the son of Rabbi ]. | |||
| * Rabbi Binyomin Rimer, a ] at the Tshebiner Yeshiva in Jerusalem and at the Kiryat Melech Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. | |||
| A seventh daughter was killed in 1948 by Jordanian shelling. | |||
| ==Work and influence== | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| Elyashiv is |
Elyashiv is the spiritual leader of the ] party which has representatives in the ] (Israel's parliament). He holds great influence over the policies of the party, currently part of the umbrella ] list in the ]. Degel HaTorah abides by all his rulings and instructions. In 1989, upon the establishment of the religious political party Degel HaTorah, ] asked Elyashiv to join in the public leadership, and Elyashiv acceded to his request. He came to the major public gatherings of Degel HaTorah and shared in the task of rendering decisions.<ref name="ReferenceA">''House of Nobility, Humble Abode: Rav Elyashiv and His Torah Dynasty '' by Nosson Weiss. ''Mishpacha'' Magazine Issue 159 May 23, 2007</ref>Most ]s ("yeshiva deans") associated with the ] movement actively and frequently seek out his opinions and follow his advice and guidelines concerning a wide array of policy and communal issues affecting the welfare of ]. Despite his exceptional scholarship and influence, Eliashiv holds no official title, neither as head of a congregation, ], or particular community. | ||
| In 1989, upon the establishment of the religious political party Degel HaTorah, ] asked Elyashiv to join in the public leadership, and Elyashiv acceded to his request. He came to the major public gatherings of Degel HaTorah and shared in the task of rendering decisions.<ref name="ReferenceA">''House of Nobility, Humble Abode: Rav Elyashiv and His Torah Dynasty '' by Nosson Weiss. ''Mishpacha'' Magazine Issue 159 May 23, 2007</ref> | |||
| Most ]s ("yeshiva deans") associated with the ] movement actively and frequently seek out his opinions and follow his advice and guidelines concerning a wide array of policy and communal issues affecting the welfare of ]. | |||
| Despite his exceptional scholarship and influence, Eliashiv holds no official title, neither as head of a congregation, ], or particular community. | |||
| Elyashiv spends most of his days engaged in |
Elyashiv spends most of his days engaged in ]ical study, and delivers lectures in ] and ] at a local ] in the ] area in Jerusalem where he lives. <ref>, by Yair Ettinger, '']'', March 2010</ref> He receives supplicants from all over the world and answers complex ] inquiries. | ||
| ] was asked if there is anyone in our generation who understands Kabbalah. Steinman thought for a while, and then nodded his head and answered affirmatively. He was then asked who it is, and after a moment’s silence Rabbi Steinman answered: “Rabbi Elyashiv.” <ref name="ReferenceA" /> | ] was asked if there is anyone in our generation who understands Kabbalah. Steinman thought for a while, and then nodded his head and answered affirmatively. He was then asked who it is, and after a moment’s silence Rabbi Steinman answered: “Rabbi Elyashiv.” <ref name="ReferenceA" /> | ||
| == |
== Israeli Rabbinate== | ||
| {{Unreferenced section|date=April 2010}} | {{Unreferenced section|date=April 2010}} | ||
| In an earlier stage in his life, Rabbi Eliashiv served for many years as a ] (rabbinical judge) in the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, achieving a position on its Supreme Rabbinical Court. His involvement stood out, as most of the Haredi establishment - including its then leader, Rabbi ] - urged their community to avoid becoming government ]im. | In an earlier stage in his life, Rabbi Eliashiv served for many years as a ] (rabbinical judge) in the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, achieving a position on its Supreme Rabbinical Court. His involvement stood out, as most of the Haredi establishment - including its then leader, Rabbi ] - urged their community to avoid becoming government ]im. | ||
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| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| ==Footnotes== | |||
| ⚫ | * |
||
| ⚫ | * |
||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{ |
{{reflist}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| ⚫ | * Moshe Schapiro. ''Halachic Ruling Redefines Role of ] Work in Eretz Yisroel''. Dei'ah veDibur, April 21, 1999 (). | ||
| ⚫ | * Yosef Shalom Eliashiv. ''Letter from HaRav Eliashiv''. Dei'ah veDibur, June 2, 2002 | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| *, by Yair Ettinger, '']'', March 2010. | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Eliashiv, Yosef Sholom}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Eliashiv, Yosef Sholom}} | ||
Revision as of 10:43, 12 April 2010
 | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Yosef Shalom Elyashiv" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Yosef Sholom Elyashiv | |
|---|---|
 At home | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1910-04-10) April 10, 1910 (age 114) Nisan 1, 5670 AM (age 100 on Hebrew calendar) |
| Nationality |  Israel |
| Children | 11 |
| Parent(s) | Rabbi Avraham Elyashiv Chaya Moussa Elyashiv |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (born April 10, 1910) is a Haredi rabbi and posek (arbiter of Jewish law) who lives in Jerusalem, Israel.
At the age of 114, Elyashiv is active and remains the paramount leader of Israel's Lithuanian-Haredi, non-Hasidic (sometimes referred to as misnagdim), Ashkenazi Jews many of whom regard him as the posek ha-dor, the contemporary leading authority on halakha, or Jewish law.
Biography
Yosef Shalom Elyashiv is a grandson of the kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv (the Leshem) (1841–1925) from Šiauliai, Lithuania. His father was Avraham Elyashiv of Homel. His mother was Chaya Moussa Elyashiv, daughter of the Leshem. His wife (died June 19, 1994) was the daughter of Rabbi Aryeh Levin. Elyashiv has eleven children. Six of his daughters married significant rabbinic figures. A seventh daughter was killed in 1948 by Jordanian shelling.
Spiritual and political leader
Elyashiv is the spiritual leader of the Degel HaTorah party which has representatives in the Knesset (Israel's parliament). He holds great influence over the policies of the party, currently part of the umbrella United Torah Judaism list in the Knesset. Degel HaTorah abides by all his rulings and instructions. In 1989, upon the establishment of the religious political party Degel HaTorah, Elazar Shach asked Elyashiv to join in the public leadership, and Elyashiv acceded to his request. He came to the major public gatherings of Degel HaTorah and shared in the task of rendering decisions.Most rosh yeshivas ("yeshiva deans") associated with the Agudath Israel of America movement actively and frequently seek out his opinions and follow his advice and guidelines concerning a wide array of policy and communal issues affecting the welfare of Orthodox Judaism. Despite his exceptional scholarship and influence, Eliashiv holds no official title, neither as head of a congregation, yeshiva, or particular community.
Elyashiv spends most of his days engaged in Talmudical study, and delivers lectures in Talmud and Shulkhan Arukh at a local synagogue in the Meah Shearim area in Jerusalem where he lives. He receives supplicants from all over the world and answers complex Halakhic inquiries.
Aharon Leib Shteinman was asked if there is anyone in our generation who understands Kabbalah. Steinman thought for a while, and then nodded his head and answered affirmatively. He was then asked who it is, and after a moment’s silence Rabbi Steinman answered: “Rabbi Elyashiv.”
Israeli Rabbinate
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
In an earlier stage in his life, Rabbi Eliashiv served for many years as a dayan (rabbinical judge) in the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, achieving a position on its Supreme Rabbinical Court. His involvement stood out, as most of the Haredi establishment - including its then leader, Rabbi Elazar Shach - urged their community to avoid becoming government dayanim.
In 1972, the election of Rabbi Shlomo Goren to the position of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel led Rabbi Eliashiv to resign from the Rabbinate. Rabbi Goren had previously served as Chief Chaplain of the Israel Defense Force and was a revered figure in Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) circles. The two rabbis had several Halakhic diasagreements and a protracted falling-out. Their disputes were both philosophical and legal, often surrounding high profile Halakhic cases involving mamzerim (illegitimate births) and agunot (wives denied divorce by their husbands). Rabbi Eliashiv felt that Rabbi Goren was far too willing to rule leniently in such cases and refused to serve under his authority.
Since his resignation, he has abstained from positions affiliated with the government. At the same time, however, he holds great sway over Haredi members of the Rabbinate and is often linked to attempts to increase Haredi influence therein. Modern Orthodox and Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) critics accuse him of seeking to "Haredize" the Rabbinate and of attempting to purposely lessen its prestige. It is widely reported that Israel's most recent Chief Rabbis, themselves subject to great critique, were appointed because of Rabbi Eliashiv's personal recommendation.
Published works
The Halakhic rulings and sermonic insights of Rabbi Eliashiv have been recorded in several books. The multi-volume Kovetz Teshuvos contains responsa resulting from questions asked of him over many years. Many of his ethical and sermonic comments on the Torah, most dating from the 1950s, were collected and published as Divrei Aggadah. A Haggadah for Pesach including Rabbi Eliashiv's comments and Halachic rulings was recently printed. Another work that includes his Halakhic rulings is titled "Yashiv Moshe." These works were not written by Rabbi Eliashiv himself, but compiled by his relatives and students. While generally trustworthy,"Yashiv Moshe" in particular has been subject to claims of misrepresenting Rabbi Eliashiv's opinions.
Rulings and legal reputation
Due to his position as a major posek, he has been involved in several minor Halakhic controversies. A notable example is his ban on the use of hair procured from Hindu religious ceremonies. (Many observant Jewish woman wear the hair in wigs known as sheitels.) He also is known for a ban on using human organs unethically obtained from China.
See also
References
- ^ Lithuania: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases, ICON Group International, Inc., 2008. pg. 272. ISBN 0546665403
- ^ House of Nobility, Humble Abode: Rav Elyashiv and His Torah Dynasty by Nosson Weiss. Mishpacha Magazine Issue 159 May 23, 2007
- The invisible hand, by Yair Ettinger, Haaretz, March 2010
Further reading
- Moshe Schapiro. Halachic Ruling Redefines Role of Kiruv Work in Eretz Yisroel. Dei'ah veDibur, April 21, 1999 (article).
- Yosef Shalom Eliashiv. Letter from HaRav Eliashiv. Dei'ah veDibur, June 2, 2002