Hershel Reichman

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Rabbi Hershel Reichman

Rabbi Hershel Reichman is a Rosh Yeshiva ("dean") of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Yeshiva University. Reichman is known for his patience and lucid teaching style, as well as his ability to give guidance and advice. A loyal student of both Rabbis Moses Feinstein and Joseph Soloveitchik, he has authored four volumes of Reshimos Shiurim which are lucid notes and explanations of Rabbi Soloveitchik's lectures on specific sections of the Talmud. These include the Mesechtot ("Tractates") of Sukkah, Shavuot, Nedarim and Bava Kamma. Additionally, Reichman is a teacher of Hasidism, and is particularly fond of the philosophy of the Shem Mishmuel.

Reichman has a PhD. in Operations Research from New York University (NYU). In addition, Reichman is known for his passionate support of Religious Zionism, and has maintained a second home in Shilo.

His son, Rabbi Zev Reichman, is head of the beginner's program, Mechinah, of Yeshiva University and shares his father's love for Hasidism. In fact, Reichman, sometimes referred to as "Rabbi Reichman, Jr," has written a book over Hasidic thought, Flames of Faith: An Introduction to Chassidic Thought (2005) over the concepts of Rav Moshe Wolfson, his teacher.

[edit] Controversy

Reichman was against the creation of Rabbi Norman Lamm's Synagogue Council of America, where three Orthodox rabbis sit with four non-Orthodox rabbis for conversions and marriages.

During the World Zionist Congress elections of 2006, Reichman was one of the few Rashei Yeshiva who did not sign a petition asking students of Yeshiva University to bloc vote, "Vote Torah," in the congress for the Religious Zionists Slate.

Reichman was also very much opposed to the visits of Catholic cardinals to Yeshiva University, feeling that their visit violated Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik's standing on religious dialogue^[1]:

Furthermore, the visit of the Cardinals conveys the highly unfortunate impression of Jewish compromise and weakness, as if we Jews have to accommodate every request and whim of the Vatican in our quest for their acceptance. On the contrary, the fact is that our timeless faith has no need for the Catholic Church's approval and acceptance. It is true that Jews live in a hostile world, but we have always done so during our long two millennia of exile. Our miraculous survival in exile and recent return to the Holy Land of Israel is due only to the loving kindness of our one and only Father in Heaven, Almighty G-d. Our trust and salvation is in Him alone. "Hinei E-l yeshuasi evtach v'lo efchad," "Behold, G-d is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid" (Yeshayahu 12:2).