Ahron Soloveichik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ahron Soloveichik |
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| Denomination | Orthodox Judaism |
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| Nationality | American |
| Born | 1918 Khislavichi, Russia |
| Died | October 4, 2001 (aged 82–83) |
Ahron Soloveichik (born 1918 – died October 4, 2001) was an important Orthodox Jewish leader. He was known as a rosh yeshiva, which means he was the head of a special Jewish school called a yeshiva. He was also a deep scholar of the Talmud (a central text of Jewish law) and halakha (Jewish law).
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Ahron Soloveichik's Early Life and Education
Ahron Soloveichik was the youngest of five children. He was born in 1918 in a place called Khislavichi, Russia. At that time, his father, Moshe Soloveichik, was the local rabbi. His older brothers included Joseph Soloveitchik and Samuel Soloveichik, who also became famous scholars.
His family moved to Poland in 1920. Before his father moved to New York in 1929, he arranged for a student named Yitzchak Hutner to teach young Ahron. Ahron was actually Hutner's very first student!
Ahron celebrated his bar mitzvah (a special coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys) in Warsaw. Then, in 1930, he and his family moved to the United States to join his father.
After finishing Yeshiva College, Ahron went to law school at New York University. He earned his law degree in 1946. For the next 20 years, he taught at different yeshivas in New York City.
Becoming a Rabbi and Teacher
Ahron Soloveichik's first teaching job was at Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem. This school was led by Moshe Feinstein, who was a very respected rabbi. It was from Rabbi Feinstein that Ahron received his semikhah, which is a special rabbinic ordination that allows someone to be a rabbi.
Soon after, Yitzchak Hutner, his former teacher, asked him to give the highest daily lecture at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. Later, Soloveichik taught at Yeshiva University. There, he started a weekly hashkafa class, which focused on Jewish thought and philosophy. He also taught advanced daily Talmud classes. He was even the first rabbi to be named "Lecturer of the Year" at Yeshiva University.
Teaching in Chicago
In 1966, Rabbi Soloveichik moved to Chicago. He went there to lead the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois. After some disagreements with the school's leaders, he left in 1974.
He then decided to open his own yeshiva. He became the Rosh Yeshiva (head) of Yeshivas Brisk (Brisk Rabbinical College) in Chicago. This school followed the special teaching style and traditions of the famous Brisk yeshivas.
Rabbi Soloveichik taught the Torah (Jewish teachings) for 58 years. The last 34 of those years were spent in Chicago. In 1983, he had a stroke, which left him partly paralyzed. But even with this challenge, he kept working at Yeshivas Brisk in Chicago. He also flew to New York every week to give a Talmudic lecture at Yeshiva University. He took on this role after his older brother, Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, became ill and could no longer teach.
His Family
Rabbi Soloveichik's wife was Ella Shurin. She was a writer and a teacher. They had six children together. All of their children became rabbis or married rabbis.
His grandchildren include Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, who is a well-known scholar and writer. Another grandchild, Nachama Soloveichik, has worked in politics.
What Books Did He Write?
Rabbi Soloveichik wrote several important books. In Hebrew, he wrote commentaries on the works of Maimonides, a famous Jewish philosopher. One of his books, Od Yisrael Yosef Beni Chai, was about the laws of mourning. He dedicated this book to his grandson, who passed away young after a long illness.
He also wrote books in English, such as Logic of the Heart Logic of the Mind. This book shares his wisdom and thoughts on many important topics of his time.
