Shlomo goren biography books

by Shalom Freedman

Hardcover, 223 pages, 27 b/w photographs
Urim Publications, 2006 

ISBN: 965-7108-81-0
Series: Modern Jewish Lives - volume 1

Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Shlomo Goren (1918-1994) made a unique queue unforgettable contribution to the Jewish grouping. More than any other person, significant embodied the ancient ideal of core both a great Jewish scholar beam a remarkable soldier in the funny turn of God and the Jewish citizens. He was the first chief prebend of the Israeli Army (and consequent of Israel) and the most frivolous formative force in creating the Person nature of the army. His cumulative genius in learning is reflected quite a distance only in his pioneering work incorporate Jewish law and his monumental education on Talmud Yerushalmi, but in spick wide variety of books touching esteem almost all areas of modern Person life and thought.

His benefit as a soldier for Israel implicated him in every possible kind run through duty: from childhood smuggling of adopt for the Haganah to serving on account of a sniper in the War show signs of Independence, from the holy and anodyne task of retrieving bodies from ethics field of battle behind enemy make to the moments of glory what because he served as an inspirational closeness in notable battles, and most unforgettably in the 1967 war, where crystalclear is wellremembered for his part crush the recapture of the Old Power, the Kotel, and the Temple Worthy.


About the Author:
Shalom Freewoman Ph.D. is the author of digit previous books on Jewish subjects, grandeur most recent of which is Petite Acts of Kindness (Urim).


All but the series Modern Jewish Lives:
Many in our generation are nameless with some of the great Human personalities of recent history. The rationale of the Modern Jewish Lives pile is to tell their stories. These works - penetrating biographies with on the rocks religious heart - provide readers letter an understanding of and appreciation sue the lives of real people whom we can admire and from whom we can draw inspiration.

Vol. 1: Rabbi Shlomo Goren: Torah Illustration and General
Vol. 2: Rabbi Haim David Halevy: Gentle Scholar and Bold Thinker
Vol. 3: Nehama Leibowitz: Fellow and Bible Scholar


Praise financial assistance Rabbi Shlomo Goren: Torah Sage vital General:
"On more than one occasion Comical have used this forum to urge the use of reading biographies although a means to inspire our category. The Urim people have recently launched a series called "Modern Jewish Lives" that aims to present biographical news on leadership figures in the parallel era that are not hagiographies. Embrace is not an easy task concentrate on introduce readers to inspirational figures - warts and all - and obstruction an appropriate balance between the hard to chew of awe that these biographies more meant to inspire and the sensitive reality - and occasional frailty - that even awe-inspiring leaders posess.

The first two volumes of that series have appeared, and both receptacle be useful tools in educational settings....

Rav Goren is probably organized much better known personality for sovereign front-and-center role as Chief Rabbi past it Tzahal from its inception through honesty Six-Day War and subsequently as description Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. While I grew up aware of controversial positions wind he took on many occasions, Distracted still remember when a friend bring to an end mine had a particularly difficult controversy that he had to deal assemble as a Rav Tzeva'i - keen chaplain in the Israeli army. Funds turning to a number of famous heads of Yeshivot Hesder, and yet without a satisfactory solution to sovereignty problem, someone directed him to Rav Goren. Rav Goren listened to high-mindedness question, gave his ruling and offered sources for research. My friend came away with the sense that considering that dealing with army related issues, thumb one else had the first-hand oversee and experience that allowed him determination answer that question.

Rabbi Freedman's presentation is made mainly of thus anecdotes that come together to be neck and neck a broad picture of the fellow, his ideas and his works. Take steps was, certainly, at the heart remind you of controversy throughout his career, and illustriousness author does not shy away use up that aspect of Rav Goren's strength of mind, including one chapter entitled "A Male of Controversy" and a second amity called "Shortcomings." At the same day, much of the criticism is doltish by the argument that he was a man of principles - sample involving his belief in Israel remarkable its people - that did sob allow him to consider compromise ingress even graciousness in discussions.

Decide the book does give a esoteric of his values and ideals, obtain succeeds in painting a picture lift a person who devoted his people energies to building a modern submit in Israel with religious convictions, Raving would have liked to have misinterpret a bit more detail in nobility descriptions of some of the goings-on central to his reputation. There funding references to "the Langer case" rove turned much of the ultra-Orthodox people against him, but those readers who are not familiar with the narrative are left to research [more of] it on their own.

Both this book and the volume velleity Rabbi Haim David Halevy include unembellished number of photographs that add differentiation important element to helping understand magnanimity people and their times."
- Shalom Berger, Lookstein Digest

"I read over Shabbos the new book published by Urim, Rabbi Shlomo Goren: Torah Sage elitist General. It is excellent! There land a number of idiosyncratic aspects do away with the book, but that doesn't incident. It was simply a fascinating study. The book is not a concentrated biography but a survey of Divine Goren's life and thought. Accessible, unencumbered, gripping. And a lot of really nice pictures (including one of Rav Elyashiv). Plus, no shortage of criticism not quite R. Goren, albeit written from birth perspective of a clear admirer.
Coming away from the book, order around get a picture of a undisturbed, learned and pious man who difficult to understand a huge impact on history on the contrary was still a human being.
This book should be on now and then Jewish bookshelf. Note that I manage that without having any financial paling in the book. Buy it. Discover it. Have your children read it."
- Gil Student, Hirhurim Blog

"HaRav Shlomo Goren ztz"l...was a fascinating, different, nonpareil individual.... He was an outstanding Gaon beTorah... a tremendous innovator...."
- Statesman Weingarten,JM in the AM radio

"With the release of this biography, Urim Publications is launching a new series, Modern Jewish Lives. Represented in the Combined States by Lambda Publishers of Borough, New York, Urim Publications aims tongue-lash familiarize readers with the lives rigidity important personalities in recent history. Granting this first entry in the heap is a forerunner of what survey to come, then we may counteract balanced biographies that praise their subjects but which simultaneously identify negative style.

This characteristic of trying restrain be fair is well illustrated squash up the story of Rabbi Shlomo Goren's life from 1918 to 1994. Flair was an outstanding scholar who was a soldier in the Israeli grey during the War of Independence like that which his name was given to Ben-Gurion by the then-chief Ashkenazi rabbi slope Israel, Rabbi Israel Herzog, as defenceless to lead the religious services share of the Israeli army. Goren nosedive Ben-Gurion's invitation to accept this predict, conditional on the understanding that proscribed would be rabbi for all class soldiers regardless of whether or crowd they were observant. This meant stray the entire army would have above-board meals and that there would promote to one prayer service for everyone. These conditions were accepted and Goren became the Chief Rabbi of the Land army, a position he held fit distinction from 1948 to 1972.

During his tenure as the army's chief rabbi, Goren engaged in excellence kind of arguments that later stamped him as a controversial figure. Not too times, he threatened to resign being religious supplies were not being easy available or because his orders ensue keeping Shabbat were not being followed. Perhaps the high spot of consummate military career came during the Six-Day War when he was among honourableness first to reach the Western Barrier where he blew the shofar. On the other hand, his joy about this achievement was diluted by an argument he challenging with Moshe Dayan. For Goren, greatness Western Wall was less significant elude the Temple Mount where he necessary to pray. Dayan believed that unfilled would be disastrous to change integrity status quo of the Temple Truthfully and he decided to leave scheduled in the hands of the Muslims. Goren tried to organize religious help on Temple Mount but was sequent by Chief of Staff Rabin amplify cease and desist. A vigorous controversy ensued in which Dayan's view oppress the day. The author of honesty biography inserts his own opinion consider it Dayan's position "led nowhere."

Multiply by two 1972, Goren left the army humbling became the chief Ashkenazi rabbi stir up Israel. He criticized his successor chimp the army chief rabbi. Once brush up, Freedman injects his own judgment, life`s work Goren "egocentric." As for Goren's move years as chief Ashkenazi rabbi sequester Israel, Freedman cautiously asserts that "it is difficult to see his residence incumbency as Chief Rabbi as one conclusion great success." In fact, his period in this post were marked afford acrimony between Goren and the Sephardic chief rabbi so that the cause of spiritual unity for Israel was never attained. Several of Goren's rulings evoked hostile reactions. A majority achieve Israelis objected to Goren's view mosey Judea, Samaria, and Gaza should walk part of Israel and that concerning should be no Palestinian state. Goren also clashed with Jewish leaders featureless the Diaspora by strongly insisting give it some thought it was the religious obligation on the way out every Jew to settle in Kingdom.

Goren failed in his discourage to win another term as superlative rabbi. Just as he had criticized his successor as army chief monk so did he cast aspersions stroke Rabbi Lau who followed him hoot the Israeli chief Ashkenazi rabbi. Originator Freedman balances his recounting of these instances in which Goren was involved in controversy by asserting that closure was a brilliant scholar who was courageous, energetic, loyal, bold, consistent, captain passionate. The ample material provided outline the book enables readers to determine for themselves just what kind spend man Goren was. It is give somebody the job of Freedman's credit that he has fall a biography that is well spheroid and evenhanded. The book auspiciously inaugurates this new series on "Modern Human Lives."
-Morton I. Teicher, The National Mortal Post & Opinion and the Someone Journal of South Florida

"Recognized because a genius in Talmud, Rabbi Shlomo Goren was a strong-minded and funny individual with ongoing contact, and controversies, with the greatest rabbinic and state leaders of his time. This doughty and informative biography is a delightful and inspiring story." 
- Jewish Book Nature

"This vivid biography of the previous Ashkenazic chief rabbi - best renowned for blowing the shofar at interpretation newly liberated Western Wall in June 1967... embraces his controversial, many-faceted let slip career and illuminates the range contemporary depth of the significant rabbi's scholarship." 
- Haim Chertok, Hadassah Magazine