Nationality American Role Rabbi | Positions Rosh yeshiva Name Hershel Schachter | |
 | ||
Rabbi hershel schachter the return of prophecy
Hershel Schachter (born (1941-07-28)July 28, 1941) is a rabbi and rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Yeshiva University, in New York City, and the son of the late Rabbi Melech Schachter, who was also a rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University. A noted Talmudic scholar and a prominent posek, he is also a halakhic advisor for the kashrut division of the Orthodox Union.
Contents
- Rabbi hershel schachter the return of prophecy
- The rav and the rebbe rabbi hershel schachter
- Halakhic opinions
- Other views
- Works
- Works about
- References
Schachter became an assistant to Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik at the age of 22. Schachter earned a B.A. from Yeshiva College and an M.A. in Hebrew Literature from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies in 1967.
After receiving rabbinic ordination in 1967 at the age of 26, Schachter became the youngest Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, and was appointed rosh kollel, or dean of the kollel, in 1971.
The rav and the rebbe rabbi hershel schachter
Halakhic opinions
As a posek, Schachter has made important and notable decisions in various areas of Jewish law. In the realm of medical halacha, Schachter does not allow doctors or medical students to work on the Sabbath unless they need to save a life. Also Schachter believes that the living status of a brain dead individual is a safek, a matter of doubt, and thus requires that all decisions be made with the same stringencies applied to all cases where life-and-death is in doubt. This, ipso facto, forbids the organ donations of brain dead individuals, by considering them as possibly still halachically alive, but also requires chalitzah in the case that a childless widow is left with only a brain dead husband as well as a normal brother-in-law. Regarding monetary law and taxation, Schachter believes that a graduated system of income taxes is "fair and reasonable" and thus falls under the ægis of dina d'malchusa dina, the requirement to conform to the laws of the land, and thus everyone must pay taxes. Regarding other areas of religious law, Schachter holds that a woman is not allowed to serve as the president of a synagogue unless there is absolutely no other choice. Schachter is also the posek for the Yeshiva University eruv in Washington Heights, and is one of the most notable contemporary halachik authorities to allow for the implementation of an eruv in sections of Manhattan.
Other views
In a December 2006 speech, Schachter stated that Mesirah, informing on a fellow Jew to the authorities, "is permitted in situations where one is a public menace (see Shach to Choshen Mishpat 388, 59), or if one is physically or psychologically harming another individual (for example, in instances of sexual abuse of children, students, campers etc., or spousal abuse) (see Shach to Choshen Mishpat ibid, 45)."
In a February 2013 speech to a London audience, Schachter echoed this sentiment. He did express concern that before going to the authorities, one should make sure that a potential abuse victim is credible by referring him to a competent rabbi or psychologist. Schachter cited concerns that if the child's story was a fabrication, it could result in a Jew's being locked in a cell with a "schvartze...a black Muslim who wants to kill him." Yeshiva University condemned the use of the word "schvartze," an offensive Yiddish racial slur. “The recent use of a derogatory racial term and negative characterizations of African-Americans and Muslims, by a member of the faculty, are inappropriate, offensive, and do not represent the values and mission of Yeshiva University,” a Y.U. spokesman stated.
Works
Schachter has written many books related to Judaism. They include:
Articles:
He has also written more than 200 articles, in both Hebrew and English, for scholarly Torah publications such as HaPardes, HaDarom, Beit Yitzchak, and Or Hamizrach.