By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz), one of the greatest Torah scholars of the past century who set a new standard on how Gemara is studied and left an indelible impact on those he taught, passed away on Friday, 17 Menachem Av 5780.
He was 83.
He was born in Jerusalem in 1937 to secular parents, Avraham Steinsaltz and Leah (née Krokovitz). His father was a great-grandson of the first Slonimer Rebbe, R’ Avrohom Weinberg, and was a student of great thinker R’ Hillel Zeitlin (who also made their shidduch).
Steinsaltz became a baal teshuva during his teenage years and learned from Rabbi Shmuel Elazar Heilprin, Rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Emes Chabad in Jerusalem.
He studied mathematics, physics, and chemistry at the Hebrew University, in addition to rabbinical studies at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Lod and with the chassidim Rabbi Dov Ber Eliezrov and Rabbi Nachum Shmaryahu Sasonkin.
He established several experimental schools and, at the age of 24, became Israel’s youngest school principal.
In 1965, he founded the Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications and began his monumental work on the Talmud, including translation into Hebrew, English, Russian, and various other languages. He is the first person since the medieval sage Rashi to have completed a full translation of and commentary on the Talmud Bavli, and of the Tanach.
His work was met with fierce opposition by haredi figures, but he relied on the blessings and support of the Rebbe to continue his work. The Steinsaltz editions of the Talmud include translation from the original Aramaic and a comprehensive commentary. He completed his Hebrew edition of the entire Gemara in November 2010, at which time Koren Publishers Jerusalem became the publisher of all of his works.
His classic work of Kabbalah, The Thirteen Petalled Rose, was first published in 1980 and now appears in eight languages. In all, Rabbi Steinsaltz has authored over 60 books and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from zoology to theology to social commentary. Renowned as an original and open-minded thinker, Rabbi Steinsaltz has lectured and taught in literally hundreds of communities around the world.
“Learning cannot be delegated to a special class or sect of people to do. Each individual must do it for himself and herself…Encouraging Jews to study is not just to educate them but to transmit to them what we are,” he argued.
Continuing his work as a teacher and spiritual mentor, he established a network of schools and educational institutions in Israel and the former Soviet Union. He has served as scholar in residence at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies in Washington, D.C. and the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University. His honorary degrees include doctorates from Yeshiva University, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Bar Ilan University, Brandeis University, and Florida International University.
He has been hailed by Time Magazine as a once-in-a-millennium scholar, and Newsweek magazine wrote about him: “Jewish lore is filled with tales of formidable rabbis. Probably none living today can compare in genius and influence to Adin Steinsaltz, whose extraordinary gifts as scholar, teacher, scientist, writer, mystic and social critic have attracted disciples from all factions of society.”
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Chaya Sarah Even-Israel (nee Azimov), his sons Rabbi Menachem Even-Israel, Rabbi Amechayen Even-Israel; and grandchildren.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
WHAT A LOSS !
BDHE!
BDE
He was a man with such big accomplishments in his lifetime! What a huge loss for Klal Yisroel!
May his light continue to shine in this world, through his books and his students.
But right now it feels like the world is a dimmer, sadder place.
The loss feels personal.
No information of family and Shiva?
Anyone who had a conversation with him will know of his sweet personality, so eidel. And a huge talmid chacham. Huge loss for Am Yisrael. Special person.
What a loss!