The Framework for Contemporary Jewish Thought and Identity

Studies Exploring the Influence of J. B. Soloveitchik on Culture, Education and Jewish Thought

An International Conference Commemorating the Centenary of his Birth Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, December 29–31, 2003

The Van Leer Institute

Rabbi Soloveitchik is widely viewed as one of the key leaders of Modern Orthodoxy. His oral and written work has exerted a broad influence on the form and nature of Orthodox communities, shaping a new ‘genus’ of mitzva-observant Jews, which have become an integral part of rabbinical, social, scientific, scholarly and educational endeavors in the modern world.

The conference will focus on Rabbi Soloveitchik’s social and educational influence vis-à-vis the Jewish world in general and Modern Orthodoxy in particular, both in and the Diaspora.

The Academic Committee Dr. Avinoam Rosenak (Chair), Prof. Ya’akov Blidstein, Dr. Aviad Hacohen, Prof. Hannah Kasher, Dr.Yehoyada Amir, Dr.Uzi Rebhun, Prof. Aviezer Ravitzky, Prof. Shalom Rosenberg, Prof. Eliezer Schweid, Rabbi Prof. Naftali Rothenberg, Dafna Schreiber

Simultaneous translation is available in both Hebrew and English all lectures held will be broadcast live over the Internet at the VLJI web site (www.vanleer.org.il). The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute 43 Jabotinsky St. Jerusalem 02-5605212/251

Monday, December 29, 2003

9:00-9:30 – Registration

9:30-10:00 – Opening Session Dr. Shimshon Zelniker, Greetings Dr. Avinoam Rosenak, Opening Remarks

10:00-12:00 – Theoretical and Philosophical Studies Chair: Rabbi Prof. Naftali Rothenberg Dr. Hanoch Ben Pazi, Psychoanalytical Aspects of Soloveitchik’s Philosophical Inquiries (Hebrew) Dr. Moshe Meir, Rabbi Soloveitchik as a Mediator between Orthodoxy and Hermann Cohen’s Thought (Hebrew) Prof. Reinier Munk, Joseph B. Soloveitchik on Hermann Cohen Dr. Daniel Rynhold, Letting the Facts in the Way of a Good Thesis: Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Philosophical Methodology

12:0012: - 15 – Break

12:15-13:45 – Education: Between Particularism and Universality Chair: Tova Ilan Prof. Michael Rosenak, Contemporary Jewish Education: Six Foci of Deliberation (Hebrew) Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper, The Impact of a Great Personality in the Absence of a Personality Cult (Hebrew) Dr. Jonathan Cohen, Soloveitchik and Berkovits: Conceptions of History in Modern Orthodoxy (Hebrew)

13:45-14:30 – Lunch Break

14:30-16:00 – The Concept of History and its Educational Implications Chair: Prof. Hannah Kasher Dr. Elie Holzer, A Critical Discussion of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Hermeneutical Theory (Hebrew) Jason Kalman, Job at the Crossroads: The Place of Soloveitchik’s Kol Dodi Dofek within the Exegetical History of the Book of Job Dr. Jeffrey R. Woolf, History, Historical Awareness and in the Philosophy of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (Hebrew)

16:00-16:15 – Break

16:15-18:15 – Panel Debate: Inherent Tensions in Modern Orthodoxy Chair: Rabbi Prof. Naftali Rothenberg Participants: Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Rabbi Prof. Carmi Horowitz, Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein, Prof. Aviezer Ravitzky

Tuesday, December 30, 2003

09:00-11:00 – Aggada and Midrash: Social and Political Repercussions Chair: Dafna Schreiber Dr. Yoel Finkelman, Ta'amei HaMitzvot in Contemporary Orthodox Discourse: Between Rabbi Soloveitchik and Popular Religion (Hebrew) Dr. Israel Rozenson, Soloveitchik’s Perception of Aggada: The Philosophical, Hermeneutical, Politico-Cultural Repercussions (Hebrew) Dr. Yehoyada Amir, Rabbi Soloveitchik as a Cultural Agent and a Religious Leader: A Critical Review of The Lonely Man of Faith and Kol Dodi Dofek (Hebrew) Dr. Kalman Neuman, “Modern Orthodoxy” or “”: on the Acceptance of Rabbinic Authority (Hebrew)

11:00-11:15 – Break

11:15-13:15 – Human Rights and the Status of Women Chair: Dr.Yehoyada Amir Blu Greenberg, Rabbi Soloveitchik and the New Values for Women Chana Kehat, Gender Relations and Gender Equality in Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Thought (Hebrew) Prof. Steven Wilf, Rabbi Soloveitchik and the Lawyers Dr. Sarit Bensimhon-Peleg, The Responsibility for the Other: J.B. Soloveitchik and Universal Human Rights (Hebrew)

13:15-13:45 – Lunch Break

13:45-15:45 – Social and Cultural Influences Chair: Dr. Shmuel Wygoda Prof. Chaim I. Waxman, Thought, Socio-culture and Structure: Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik as the Leader of Modern Orthodoxy in the U.S. (Hebrew) Rabbi Dr. Shaul Farber, The Boston Career of Rabbi Soloveitchik (Hebrew) Prof. Jeffrey S. Gurock, The State of Twentieth-Century American Orthodoxy before Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Prof. Mervin F. Verbit, The Changing Cultural Context of Contemporary Orthodoxy

15:45-16:00 – Break

16:00-18:00 – Rabbi Soloveitchik and the World of Erudition Chair: Yoske Achituv Dr. Aviad Hacohen, The Legal Methodology of Rabbi Soloveitchik: What’s New? (Hebrew) Dr. Menachem Kovacs, Rabbi Soloveitchik as the Melamed Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish, Brisk at the Crossroads: Between Text and Concept (Hebrew) Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Pick, Rabbi Soloveitchik and the Academic Study of Talmud and its Implications

18:00-18:15 – Break

18:15-20:15 – Panel Debate: Modernity and the Halakha Chair: Dr. Avinoam Rosenak Participants: Prof. Izhak Englard, Rabbi Prof. David Hartman, Rabbi Yuval Sherlo

Wednesday, December 31, 2003

09:30-11:00 – Education and Halakha Chair: Dr. Uzi Rebhun Prof. Michael Zvi Nehoray– Rabbi Soloveitchik on the Limits of Human Freedom (Hebrew) Dr. Moshe Sokolow, Developing a Tefillah Curriculum based upon the Writings of Rabbi Soloveitchik (Hebrew) Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Social and Educational Influence in Australia

11:00-11:15 – Break

11:15-12:45 – Between Judaism and Christianity Chair: Prof. Ya’akov Blidstein Prof. Reuven Kimelman, Soloveitchik and Heschel: Two Jewish Alternative Views on Jewish-Christian Dialogue Dr. Christian M. Rutishauser, Is Soloveitchik’s Conception of Halakhic Existence Open to a Jewish-Christian Encounter? Dr. Eugene Korn, Rabbi Soloveitchik and Theological Dialogue in Light of Contemporary Christian Theologies

12:45-13:30 – Lunch Break

13: 30-15:00 – The Various Streams of the Jewish Thought with reference to the Writings of Rabbi Soloveitchik Chair: Dr. Kimmy Caplan Prof. Lawrence Kaplan, Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Lonely Man of Faith in Contemporary Modern Orthodox Thought Prof. Hannah Kasher, Soloveitchik’s Writings and the Israeli Reader (Hebrew) 15:00-15:15 – Break

15:15-17:15 – Inter and Outer Evolutions according to Soloveitchik’s Doctrine Chair: Prof. Rachel Elior Dr. Joseph Turner, The Relevance of Philosophical Discussion to Non-Orthodox Jewish Thought in Rabbi Soloveitchik’s Halakhic Mind (Hebrew) Prof. Alan Brill, Triumph without Battle: The Dialectic Approach to Culture of Brunner and Barth in the Thought of Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Strikovsky, Translation of the Discourse of Faith into Contemporary Modern Language (Hebrew) Rabbi Reuven Ziegler, Personal Revelation in Philosophical Discourse: New Insights from Rabbi Soloveitchik's Archives

17:15-17:30 – Break

17:30-19:00 – Final Session Chair: Dr. Avinoam Rosenak Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Three Doors Rabbi Soloveitchik Opened But Did Not Walk Through: The Future of Modern Orthodoxy Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein, The Rav from a Distance: Retrospective Reflections (Hebrew)

Participants

Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Centre for Jewish History and Culture, University of Melbourne, Australia Yoske Achituv, Ya’akov Herzog Center for Jewish Studies, Dr. Yehoyada Amir, Department of Jewish Thought, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Hebrew Union College Dr. Hanoch Ben Pazi, Department of Philosophy, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan and Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel Aviv Dr. Sarit Bensimhon-Peleg, Department of Political Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Ya'akov Blidstein, Department of Jewish Thought, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Prof. Alan Brill, Jewish Thought, University, New York, USA Dr. Kimmy Caplan, Department of Jewish History , Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan Dr. Jonathan Cohen, The Melton Center For Jewish Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Rachel Elior, Department of Jewish Thought, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Izhak Englard, Supreme Court Judge (Retired) Rabbi Dr. Shaul Farber, Director, ITIM Dr.Yoel Finkelman, Senior Research Fellow, ATID Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, President, Jewish Life Network, Steinhardt Foundation Blu Greenberg, Founding President, Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, USA Prof. Jeffrey S. Gurock, Jewish History, , New York, USA Dr. Aviad Hacohen, Sha'arei Mishpat College and The Faculty of Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rabbi Prof. David Hartman, Director, Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem Dr. Elie Holzer, School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan Rabbi Prof. Carmi Horowitz, Touro College, Jerusalem Tova Ilan, President, Ya’akov Herzog Center for Jewish Studies, Ein Tzurim Jason Kalman, Department of Jewish Studies, McGill University, , Canada Prof. Lawrence Kaplan, Department of Jewish Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Canada Prof. Hannah Kasher, Department of Philosophy, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan Chana Kehat, Chairwoman of , Forum for Religious Women, and Orot College Prof. Reuven Kimelman, Brandeis University, USA Dr.Eugene Korn, Jewish Thought, Seton Hall University, editor of The Edah Journal Dr. Menachem Kovacs, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Montgomery College, Maryland. Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein, Rosh , Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein, School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan Dr. Moshe Meir, Department of Jewish Thought, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Reinier Munk, Center for Jewish Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Prof. Michael-Zvi Nehorai, Department of Philosophy, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan Dr. Kalman Neuman, Mandel School Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Pick, Institute for Advanced Torah Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan Rabbi Prof Emanuel Rackman, Chancellor, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan Prof. Aviezer Ravitzky, Department of Jewish Thought, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Dr.Uzi Rebhun, The Avraham Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Dr. Avinoam Rosenak, Department of Jewish Thought, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute Prof. Michael Rosenak, The Melton Center For Jewish Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rabbi Prof. Naftali Rothenberg, The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute Dr. Israel Rozenson, Department of Text and Midrash, Efrata College, Jerusalem Dr. Christian M. Rutishauser, Lassalle-House Bad Schönbrunn, Centre for Spirituality, Interreligious Dialogue and Social Awareness, Philosophical Faculty SJ, and the Gregorian University in Rome (Cardinal Bea Institute). Dr. Daniel Rynhold, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College London, UK Rabbi Yuval Sherlo, Head of the Hesder Yeshiva, Petah Tikva Dafna Schreiber, The Van leer Jerusalem institute Dr. Moshe Sokolow, Director, Intensive Training Program (ITP) for Day School Leadership, Azrieli Graduate School, New York, USA Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Strikovsky, Department of Torah Culture, Ministry of Education Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper, Director, Gesher Foundation Dr. Joseph Turner, Department of Jewish Thought, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem Prof. Mervin F. Verbit, Department of Sociology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, USA Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish, Department of Oral Law and Department of Jewish Philosophy, Herzog College, Alon Shvut Prof. Chaim I. Waxman, Department of Sociology and Jewish Studies, Rutgers University, USA Prof. Steven Wilf, School of Law, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, USA Dr. Jeffrey R. Woolf, Department of Talmud, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan Dr. Shmuel Wygoda, Head of the Yaakov Herzog College, Alon Shvut Dr. Shimshon Zelniker, Head, The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute Rabbi Reuven Ziegler, Director of Research, Toras Harav Foundation