Vilna gaon biography of alberta

Vilna Gaon

Polish-Lithuanian rabbi and Talmudist (–)

Elijah ben Solomon Zalman,[1] (Hebrew: ר' אליהו בן שלמה זלמןRabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman), also minor as the Vilna Gaon[2] (Yiddish: דער װילנער גאוןDer Vilner Goen; Polish: Gaon z Wilna, Gaon Wileński; or Elijah of Vilna, or by his Hebrew acronymGra ("Gaon Rabbenu Eliyahu": "Our on standby teacher Elijah"; Sialiec, April 23, &#;&#; Vilnius October 9, ), was a Lithuanian JewishTalmudist, halakhist, expert, and the foremost leader comprehensive misnagdic (non-hasidic) Jewry of honourableness past few centuries.[3][4][5] He silt commonly referred to in Canaanitic as ha-Gaon mi-Vilna, "the virtuoso from Vilnius".[6]

Through his annotations elitist emendations of Talmudic and burden texts, he became one pale the most familiar and essential figures in rabbinic study owing to the Middle Ages. Although blooper is chronologically one of significance Acharonim, some have considered him one of the Rishonim.[7][8][9]

Large aggregations of people, including many yeshivas, uphold the set of Human customs and rites (minhag), rendering "minhag ha-Gra", named after him, and which is also reasoned by many to be interpretation prevailing Ashkenaziminhag in Jerusalem.[citation needed]

Born in Sielec in the Port Litovsk Voivodeship (today Syalyets, Belarus), the Gaon displayed extraordinary facility while still a child. Wishywashy the time he was 20 years old, rabbis were submitting their most difficult halakhic persuade to him for legal rulings. He was a prolific creator, writing such works as glosses on the Babylonian Talmud service Shulchan Aruch known as Bi'urei ha-Gra ("Elaborations by the Gra"), a running commentary on depiction Mishnah, Shenoth Eliyahu ("The Period of Elijah"), and insights classification the Torah entitled Adereth Eliyahu ("The Cloak of Elijah"), accessible by his son. Various Enigmatic works have commentaries in monarch name, and he wrote commentaries on the Proverbs and on books of the Tanakh subsequent on in his life. Bugger all of his manuscripts were accessible in his lifetime.[citation needed]

When Chasidic Judaism became influential in coronate native town, the Vilna Gaon joined the "opposers" or Misnagdim, rabbis and heads of primacy Polish communities, to curb Chassidic influence.[10][11]

While he advocated studying restudy of secular education such by the same token mathematics in order to decode understand rabbinic texts, he with an iron hand condemned the study of position and metaphysics.[12][13]

Youth and education

The Vilna Gaon was born in Sialiec, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, or in Vilnius[14] on April 23, , monkey Elijah Ben Solomon Zalman be selected for a well known rabbinical family.[4]

According to legend, the Gaon challenging committed the Tanakh to commemoration by the age of cardinal, and at the age behove seven, he was taught Talmud by Moses Margalit, future cleric of Kėdainiai and the founder of a commentary to rectitude Jerusalem Talmud, entitled Pnei Moshe ("The Face of Moses").[4] Unquestionable possessed a photographic memory. Impervious to eight, he was studying uranology during his free time. Hit upon the age of ten flair continued his studies without significance aid of a teacher, mount by the age of xi he had committed the full Talmud to memory.[citation needed]

Later[when?], decency Gaon decided to go become "exile" and he wandered outing various parts of Europe inclusive of Poland and Germany.[15] By picture time he was twenty time old, rabbis were submitting their most difficult halakhic problems attain him. He returned to jurisdiction native city in , taking accedence by then acquired considerable renown.[16]

Methods of study

The Gaon applied dangerous philological methods to the Talmud and rabbinic literature, making draft attempt toward a critical enquiry of the text.[citation needed]

The Gaon devoted much time to picture study of the Torah take up Hebrew grammar, and was wellacquainted in scientific pursuits of position time.[17]

Antagonism to Hasidism

When Hasidic Faith became influential in Vilna, representation Vilna Gaon joined rabbis endure heads of the Polish communities, to speak against Hasidic influence.[12][18]

In , when the Hasidim original their proselytizing work under integrity leadership of their Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the "Ba'al Ha'tanya"), the Gaon excommunicated them again, declaring them to keep going heretics with whom no heavy Jew might intermarry.[citation needed]

Other work

Except for the conflict with integrity Hasidim, the Vilna Gaon occasionally engaged in public affairs talented, so far as is speak your mind, did not preside over mean school in Vilna. He was satisfied with lecturing in emperor bet ha-midrash to a embargo chosen pupils, whom he initiated into his methods. He coached them Hebrew grammar, Hebrew Human, and Mishna, subjects that were largely neglected by the Talmudists of that time. He was especially anxious to introduce them to the study of midrash literature, and the Minor Treatises of the Talmud, which were very little known by blue blood the gentry scholars of his time.[citation needed]

He laid special stress on representation study of the Jerusalem Talmud, which had been almost one hundred per cent neglected for centuries. The Gaon encouraged his chief pupil, Pastor Chaim of Volozhin, to perform a yeshiva (rabbinic academy) comport yourself which rabbinic literature should achieve taught. Rabbi Chaim Volozhin release the Volozhin yeshiva in , a few years after illustriousness Gaon's death, and revolutionized Scroll study, with resulting impact method all of Orthodox Jewry.[19]

Asceticism

The Vilna Gaon led an ascetic being, being called by some refer to his contemporaries "the Hasid". That term meaning "pious person", fairy story has no relevance to dignity Hasidic movement.[citation needed]

The Gaon once upon a time started on a trip take upon yourself the Land of Israel, however for unknown reasons did fret get beyond Germany. (In leadership early nineteenth century, three aggregations of his students, known little Perushim, under the leadership worm your way in Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Shklov, made their way to what was then Ottoman Palestine, decrease first in Safed and next also in Jerusalem).[20] While put down Königsberg he wrote to surmount family a famous letter give it some thought was published under the reputation Alim li-Terufah,Minsk, [citation needed]

Works

The Vilna Gaon was a copious translator, producing many marginal glosses, duplicate, and brief commentaries, which were mostly dictated to his lesson. Many maintain that it was his disciples who recorded dominion comments, if not his piece notes. However, nothing of authority was published in his lifespan. The "Gra" was very explicit in the wording of sovereign commentaries, because he maintained deviate he was obligated by Laws Law that only the "Torah shebichtav" (the written law) interest permitted to be written kill - the rest of "Torah sheb'al peh" (oral law) cannot be, unless circumstances require. (This further supports the view stroll it was his disciples who wrote his comments.) So rank Vilna Gaon abided by that view of law by tumbling his extensive explanations that move back and forth largely inscrutable to any however advanced talmudists. Glosses on righteousness Babylonian Talmud and Shulchan Aruch are known as Bi'urei ha-Gra ("Elaborations by the Gra"). Government running commentary on the Mishnah is titled Shenoth Eliyahu ("The Years of Elijah"). Various Qabalistic works have commentaries in rule name. His insights on rank Pentateuch are titled Adereth Eliyahu ("The Splendor of Elijah"). Commentaries on the Proverbs and overpower books of the Tanakh were written later on in circlet life.[citation needed]

The Gaon was be a smash hit versed in the mathematical factory of Euclid (4th century BCE) and encouraged his pupil Gospeller Baruch Schick of Shklov connection translate these works into Canaanitic. The Gaon is said form have written a concise rigorous work called Ayil Meshulash, which was an introductory primer persevere basic mathematics.[17][21][22]

Influence

The Gaon was tiptoe of the most influential rabbinical authorities since the Middle Last part, and—although he is properly public housing Acharon—many later authorities hold him as possessing halachic authority whitehead the same class as magnanimity Rishonim (rabbinic authorities of interpretation Middle Ages).[citation needed]

His main aficionado Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, founded loftiness first yeshiva in his impress town of Volozhin, Belarus.[19] Influence results of this move deference claimed to have revolutionized Scroll study, by departing from ethics centuries of 'informal' study. Early life and scholars would congregate gradient local synagogues and study by choice, although it was customary exchange migrate to towns possessing super scholars as the local monk. The Volozhin Yeshivah created skilful formal structure of the read, by providing qualified faculty, piece of timber, and accommodation. The results cut into this process are currently nobleness norm in Orthodox Jewry.

Somewhat ironically, viewed from a prearranged light, the leaders of magnanimity Haskalah movement used the lucubrate methods of the Vilna Gaon to gain adherents to their movement. Maskilim valued and equipped his emphasis on peshat power pilpul, his engagement with take mastery of Hebrew grammar tube Bible, and his interest restrict textual criticism of rabbinic texts, further developing the philosophy bank their movement.[citation needed]

As for rank Vilna Gaon's own community, check accordance with the Vilna Gaon's wishes, three groups of empress disciples and their families, classification over , made aliyah consent the Land of Israel betwixt and [23] This immigration was one of the first another Jewish migrations to Palestine, though Hasidic immigration was already dynamic in the s (even spawn the rebbes themselves, such style the elderly Menachem Mendel have possession of Vitebsk and Chaim Chaykl admit Amdur). The disciples of greatness Vilna Gaon, known as Perushim due to how they separate themselves from worldly concerns prevent study Torah, originally settled pretend Safed because the Muslim bureaucracy in Jerusalem prevented Ashkenazi Jews from settling there. However, end numerous devastating calamities in class region, including plague and trembler, most of the disciples distressed to Jerusalem. Their arrival central part Jerusalem, which for over period had been mainly Sephardi, resurgent the presence of Ashkenazi Jewry in Jerusalem, and resulted wrapping a dominance of the tradition of the Vilna Gaon.[citation needed]

The impact of the Perushim remains still apparent today in significance religious practices of the Land Jewish community, even among non-Ashkenazim. For example, the institution disseminate the priestly blessing by righteousness Kohanim known as duchaning near the weekdays (rather than lone during festivals, as practiced feature the Diaspora), and the habitual time for the onset go in for Shabbat in Jerusalem and additional cities can both be derived to the custom of say publicly Vilna Gaon. However, the outlook and traditions of the Vilna Gaon have been passed amateur most directly to the Litvaks in Israel. The Perushim extremely set up several Kollels, supported the Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim, and were instrumental remit rebuilding the Yehudah HeChassid Nature (also known as the Hurba Synagogue, or "The Ruins"), which had lain in ruins assistance years.[citation needed]

A statue of justness Vilna Gaon and a avenue named after him are exterior Vilnius, the place of both his birth and his complete. Lithuania's parliament declared as probity year of the Vilna Gaon and Lithuanian Jewish History.[24] Pointed his honour, the Bank introduce Lithuania issued a limited-edition flatware commemorative euro coin in Oct ; this is the chief euro coin with Hebrew letters.[25][26]

The Vilna Gaon's brother Avraham authored the revered work "Maalot Hatorah". His son Abraham was besides a scholar of note.[citation needed]

Death

The Vilna Gaon died in , aged 77, and was in short buried in the Šnipiškės graveyard in Vilnius, now in Žirmūnai elderate. The cemetery was blinking by the Tsarist Russian officials in and partly built over.[citation needed]

In the s, Soviet corridors of power planned to build a arena and concert hall on illustriousness site. They allowed the clay of the Vilna Gaon assail be removed and re-interred popular the new cemetery.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^Within latest decades he has been confirmed the surname Kremer. However neither the Vilna Gaon nor fulfil descendants apparently used this person's name, which means shopkeeper. It was possibly mistakenly derived from exceptional nickname of his ancestor Ecclesiastic Moshe Kremer. "The Vilna Gaon, part 3 (Review of Eliyahu Stern, The Genius)". Marc Uncomfortable. Shapiro
  2. ^Yaniv, Samuel (Rabbi) (April 17, ). "The Vilna Gaon lecturer his Vision of Redemption". Forbid Ilan University. Archived from class original on March 23, Retrieved May 19,
  3. ^Etkes, Immanuel; Sour, Jeffrey M. (). The Gaon of Vilna: The Man presentday His Image. University of Calif. Press. ISBN&#;. JSTOR&#;/1pnj2v.
  4. ^ abcCohn-Sherbok, Dan; Cohn-Sherbok, Lavinia (). Jewish & Christian Mysticism: An Introduction. Gracewing Publishing. ISBN&#;.
  5. ^Eisenberg, Ronald L. (December 1, ). Dictionary of Someone Terms: A Guide to goodness Language of Judaism. Taylor Dealings Publications. ISBN&#;.
  6. ^The Threefold step asset Academia Europeana: a case capacity Universitas Vilnensis, , p.&#;24
  7. ^Karelitz, Avraham Yeshaya. קובץ איגרות חזון איש [Collected letters of the 'Chazon Ish'] (in Hebrew). pp.&#;Part twin, section
  8. ^Danzig, Abraham. זכרו תורת משה (in Hebrew). p.&#;
  9. ^Tzuzmir, Yekuseil A.Z.H (). שו"ת מהריא"ז ענזיל (in Hebrew). Lvov. pp.&#;40b. : CS1 maint: location lacking publisher (link)
  10. ^Bloomberg, Jon (). The Jewish world in the fresh age. Jersey City, NJ: KTAV Publishing House. ISBN&#;.
  11. ^Etkes, Immanuel (), "The Vilna Gaon and high-mindedness Mitnagdim as Seen by ethics Hasidim", The Gaon of VilnaThe Man and His Image, Academia of California Press, pp.&#;96–, doi/california/, ISBN&#;, retrieved
  12. ^ abSatlow, Archangel L. (). Creating Judaism: Features, Tradition, Practice. Columbia University Monitor. ISBN&#;.
  13. ^"Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah ". . Retrieved
  14. ^Cohen, Israel (). Vilna. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publishing Society. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  15. ^Green, David Gauche. (October 9, ). "This Unremarkable in Jewish History The Vilna Gaon Dies". Haaretz. Retrieved Nov 7,
  16. ^Schechter, Solomon; Seligsohn, Batch. "ELIJAH BEN SOLOMON (also alarmed Elijah Wilna, Elijah Gaon, lecturer Der Wilner Gaon)". Jewish Encyclopedia.
  17. ^ abStern, Eliyahu. "The Making have power over Modern Judaism: Interview with Eliyahu Stern". YIVO Institute for Somebody Research.
  18. ^Wertheimer, Jack (). Jewish Unworldly Leadership: In Eastern Europe&#;; Contain Western and Central Europe&#;; Acquit yourself the United States&#;; In Northern Africa and Israel&#;; The avenue of Jewish leadership. Jewish Religious Seminary. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  19. ^ abDiamond, Redbreast (July 14, ). "Rabbi Phytologist Kessin: End of the Inhabitant Exile". . Retrieved August 18,
  20. ^"The Vilna Gaon". National Lucubrate of Israel.
  21. ^Matthews, Michael R. (). International Handbook of Research flat History, Philosophy and Science Teaching. Springer. ISBN&#;.
  22. ^Bollag, Shimon (). "Mathematics". In Skolnik, Fred (ed.). Encyclopaedia Judaica: Lif-Mek (2nd&#;ed.). Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA in association right the Keter Pub. House. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  23. ^Morgenstern, Arie. Hastening Redemption.
  24. ^Nutarimas Dėl Vilniaus Gaono Ir Lietuvos Žydų Istorijos Metų Minėjimo Metais City Patvirtinimo
  25. ^Liphshiz, Cnaan (October 24, ). "Lithuania mints first-ever EU with Hebrew letters, honoring Wilno scholar". The Times of Israel. Retrieved October 26,
  26. ^"Bank atlas Lithuania issues a silver cash dedicated to a famous Sage—the Vilna Gaon". Lietuvos bankas. Retrieved
  27. ^"Jews protest to Lithuania fulfill ancient cemetery". Reuters. Retrieved

Bibliography

  • Ackerman, C. D. (trans.) Even Sheleimah: the Vilna Gaon looks at the same height life (Targum Press, ) ISBN&#;
  • Etkes, Immanuel, et al. (). The Gaon of Vilna: the public servant and his image (University rule California Press) ISBN&#;
  • Etkes, Emanuel (). "The Gaon of Vilna squeeze the Haskalah movement", by Emanuel Etkes, reprinted in Dan, Carpenter (ed.). Studies in Jewish thought (Praeger, NY) ISBN&#;
  • Freedman, Chaim. Eliyahu's Branches: The Descendants of position Vilna Gaon (Of Blessed coupled with Saintly Memory) and His Family (Avotaynu, ) ISBN&#;
  • "The mystical life of the Gaon of Vilna", in Jacobs, Louis (ed.). Jewish mystical testimonies (Schocken Books, Corroboration, ) ISBN&#;
  • Landau, Betzalel and Rosenblum, Yonason. The Vilna Gaon: excellence life and teachings of Friar Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna (Mesorah Pub., Ltd., ) ISBN&#;
  • Rosenstein, Neil. The Gaon of Vilna and his Cousinhood (Center verify Jewish Genealogy, ) ISBN&#;
  • Schapiro, Moshe. Journey of the Soul: Magnanimity Vilna Gaon on Yonah/Johan: iron out allegorical commentary adapted from prestige Vilna Gaon's Aderes Eliyahu (Mesorah Pub., Ltd., ). ISBN&#;
  • Shulman, Yaacov Dovid. The Vilna Gaon: Nobleness story of Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer ( C.I.S. Publishers, ) ISBN&#;

External links