Hershel Reichman

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Rabbi Hershel Reichman is a Rosh Yeshiva 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 five 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 Mechinah program, 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 a national Beit Din, where three Orthodox rabbis sit with two non-Orthodox rabbis for conversions and marriages.^{[citation needed]}

During the World Zionist Congress elections of 2006, Reichman was one of the few Roshei Yeshiva who did not sign a petition asking students of Yeshiva University to bloc vote for the Religious Zionist slate.^{[citation needed]}

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).

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[edit] External link

• Rabbi Reichman's shiurim at yutorah.org

[edit] Notes

Rabbis at Yeshiva University

Chancellor: Norman Lamm Dean: Zevulun Charlop Mashgiach Ruchani: Yosef Blau Roshei Yeshiva: Elchanan Adler • Eliyahu Ben-Chaim • J. David Bleich • Yitzchok Cohen • Meir Goldwicht • David Hirsch • Dovid Horowitz • Aharon Kahn • Aharon Lichtenstein • Yaakov Neuburger • Hershel Reichman • Michael Rosensweig • Yonason Sacks • Hershel Schachter • Eli Baruch Shulman • Baruch Simon • Zvi Sobolofsky • Moshe Tendler • Mayer Twersky • Jeremy Wieder • Mordechai Willig • Gershon Yankelewitz Former Roshei Yeshiva: Nisson Alpert • Yosef Leib Arnest • Samuel Belkin • Ahron Dovid Burack • Solomon Drillman • Michael Katz • Shlomo Nosson Kotler • Dovid Lifshitz • Shlomo Polachek • Moshe Ahron Poleyeff • Elazar Meir Preil • Bernard Revel • Shimon Shkop • Ahron Soloveichik • Joseph B. Soloveitchik • Moshe Soloveichik • Ephraim M. Steinberg • Shalom Elchanan Yaffe • Mendel Zaks