Emes Ve-Emunah: Who Had the Greatest Impact on Orthodoxy?

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Who Had the Greatest Impact on Orthodoxy?

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Rabbi Aharon Kotler
Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum

These are the six people who I think most impacted on post holocaust Judaism in the 20th century. Do any of them stand out above the others? If so, who? I have set up a new poll on my other blog Emes Ve-Emunah II. It is on the right margin. I have also included a post there elaborating on this theme. Please click on the link and vote. It will only take a moment.

Then - if you are so inclined - you may explain your choice in the comments section either here or there. Or you may tell me your own choice not listed and explain why you have chosen him or her.

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My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.