Mayer Schiller

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Rabbi Mayer Schiller (1951 - ) is an American Hasid based in Monsey, New York State, who identifies himself as a member of Skver and Rachmastrivka groups and serves as spokesperson for the Skver community in New Square. Schiller also maintains active ties to the Modern Orthodox community and has advocated for a symbiosis between the best of traditional Orthodoxy and broader culture. He teaches advanced Talmud at Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy of Yeshiva University,[2] where he has been a teacher since 1987. Prior to that, from 1977-1981, Rabbi Schiller taught at YHSQ and from 1981-1987 he taught at Mesivta Ohr Torah (both in Queens, NY). From 1979 to 1981, he served as the first hockey coach at the Ramaz School and later in the same capacity at MTA from 1985-1988 and again from 1990-1995. In his final 6 years as coach his teams won 6 consecutive championships. [3]. He is a Baal teshuva, having begun practicing Orthodoxy in the spring of 1964 at age 12.^[1]

In the arena of political thought, the Rabbi is most noted for his advocation of non-violent separatism ensuing most significantly from principles of religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial identity and social anti-universalism. He is an outspoken critic of liberal notions of race and the bias against traditional religion in today's media and popular culture. Along those lines, he was a featured speaker at the American Renaissance conference in 1994.[4] He has been associated with various groups including the Third Way (UK) and the Ulster Third Way. However, Schiller has also advocated a universalist morality and embrace of the Other, provided that is pursued without loss to group identity. ^[2]

Schiller is also the author of two books "The Road Back: A Discovery of Judaism Without Embellishments," " The (Guilty) Conscience of a Conservative," and a monograph in defense of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's Torah Im Derech Eretz philosophy, titled "And They Shall Judge the People WIth True Righteousness." (the 2nd under the name Craig Schiiler).

[edit] References

^ Rabbi Mayer Schiller: A Decidedly Unconventional Chassid, Elliot Resnick, The Jewish Press, January 3, 2008
^ Mayer Schiller, "We Are Not Alone in the World" Tikkun, Vol. 11, No. 2 [1]

-- Rabbi Mayer Schiller, "Piety, Banality, Scholarship, and Superficiality" Jewish Action (Fall 1982) p.16-17. Vol. 43, No. 1
-- "Symposium: The Future of American Orthodoxy" Jewish Action (Fall 5759/1998) p. 56-59. Vol. 59, No. 1
-- "The New Judaism" American Council for Judaism Issues (Summer 1998) p. 5-12.
-- "A Symposium in Divided and Distinguished Worlds" Tradition Vol. 26 No. 2, (Winter 1992) pp. 5, 58-62 [5]
-- "Reflections on the Sixth Day War After Half a Century " Tradition Vol. 26 No. 4, (Summer 1992) p. 6, 15-19 [6]
-- "The Sea Change in Orthodox Judaism: A Symposium" Tradition Vol. 32 No. 4 (Summer 1998) p. 19, 101-105 [7]
-- "Hirschians and Kookians in America: Report on an Endangered Species" Jewish Action (Winter 5747/1986-1987) p. 9-15. Vol. 47, No. 1
-- "The Forgotten Humanism of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch" Jewish Action (Summer 5759/1981) pp. 21-26. Vol.49, No. 3
-- "The Academic and/or Man of Faith" Jewish Action (Spring 1990) p. 28-32. Vol. 50, No. 2
-- "Fun and Relaxation Reexamined" Jewish Action (Spring 5751/1991) Vol. 51, No. 2
-- "Realities, Possibilities, and Dreams: Reaching Modern Orthodox Youth" Ten Da'at (Adar 5749) p. 23-26. Vol. 111, No. 2
-- "Torah Ummada and The Jewish Observer Critique: Towards a Clarification of the Issues" The Torah u-Madda Journal 6 (1995-1996) p. 58-90
-- "Exchange with Rabbi Shlomo Danziger" Jewish Action (Winter 5760/1999) pp. 30,32,81, Vol. 60, No. 2
-- "Are We Still a Holy Nation? An All-Embracing Kedushah" Jewish Action (Fall 5762/2001) pp. 32-34 Vol. 62, No.1 [8]
-- "Can the Death of Ideology Spell the Rebirth of Hasidism?" Jewish Action (Summer/Fall 1986) p. 48-51. Vol. 45, No. 3
-- "The Unique Village of New Square" Jewish Action (Spring 5752/1992) pp. 35-39. Vol. 52, No. 2
-- "A Portrait of Moshe 'Gabbai'" Jewish Action (Fall 5760/1999) p. 39-43. Vol. 60, No. 1 [9]
-- "A Personal God and the Rebbe Who Taught Him: Rabbi Aharon Roth (Reb Arele)" Great Minds of the Twentieth Century in Jewish Action (Fall 5757/1996) p. 38-41. Vol. 57, No. 1
-- "First Toward Tradition Conference - The Arduous Calling of Religious Conservatives" October 6, 1994
-- "Second Toward Tradition Conferemce - Conservatism's Death and the West's Hope" September 11, 2000
-- "Third Toward Tradition Conference - The Politics of Kiddush Hashem" September 11, 2000