Yehoshua Neuwirth Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Rabbi
Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth
Yeshiva:Chochmas Shlomo
Yeshivaposition:Rosh yeshiva
Birth Name:Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth
Birth Date:15 February 1927
Birth Place:Berlin, Germany
Death Place:Jerusalem
Yahrtzeit:2 Tammuz, 5773[1]
Profession:Rabbi, posek

Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth (Hebrew: יהושע ישעיה נויברט) (15 February 1927 – 11 June 2013)[2] [3] [4] was an eminent[5] Orthodox Jewish rabbi and posek (halakhic authority) in Jerusalem. He was one of the primary students of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and the author of a two-volume Hebrew language treatise, Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchatah - translated into English as Shemirath Shabbath: A practical guide to the observance of Shabbath - a compendium of the laws of Shabbat[6] which is viewed by many as an authoritative work regarding these laws.

Biography

Rabbi Neuwirth was born in Berlin, Germany. His father Aharon served as rabbi in a number of German communities. After Kristallnacht, he travelled to Belgium on the Kindertransport (children's convoy) but was rejoined by his parents in 1939. They settled in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. During the Second World War, the family lived in hiding, supported by the Resistance. Two of his brothers were killed. During this time, Neuwirth had little access to rabbinic literature, apart from the volume of the popular work Mishnah Berurah that deals with the Shabbat laws.[7]

In 1946 he immigrated illegally to Palestine, and was detained at Atlit camp before being released and travelling to Jerusalem, where he was accepted at the Kol Torah yeshiva. Here he became close to one of its lecturers, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.

Rabbinic career

At Kol Torah Neuwirth wrote his best-known work on the Sabbath laws.[7] Later, he served as rosh yeshiva in three institutions:[7] the yeshiva Nesivos Chochmah, the Pnei Shmuel yeshiva ketana and Chochmas Shlomo yeshiva gedola in Jerusalem.[7] [8] He also established the "Neuwirth Gemach".[9] He lived in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Jerusalem.[10] Neuwirth was a leading disciple of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.[11] [12] While Rabbi Auerbach issued most of his halachic rulings orally, Rabbi Neuwirth publicized many of his teacher's rulings on the laws of Shabbat in his book, first published in Hebrew in 1965.[13] [14] Additionally, 8 of the 32 chapters of this book were devoted to Rabbi Auerbach's rulings on medical halacha.

With the publication of his book, Rabbi Neuwirth introduced a new format for studying the laws of Shabbat. While previous texts for general reference were organized according to the presentation in the Shulchan Aruch, Neuwirth's was organised by topic and provided a clear index; he also embellished the presentation with thousands of references and comments. Feldheim Publishers published the first volume of the English-language translation in 1984; volumes 2-4 appeared in 1989, 1997, and 2001, respectively, and the current three-volume boxed set was issued in 2002.Widely regarded as an expert on Jewish law[15] and medical ethics,[16] [17] Rabbi Neuwirth's opinion was frequently cited on issues such as genetic screening,[18] brain death,[19] euthanasia,[20] and AIDS,[21] as well as laws for physicians on Shabbat.[22] He was also a consultant for the Zomet Institute, providing the halakhic authorization for innovations such as the Shabbat lamp[23] and electric wheelchairs on Shabbat.[24]

Published works

Notes and References

  1. News: Sep 16, 2013. Year in Review 5773. Hamodia. 31.
  2. Web site: Is There an Obligation of Simchah on Shabbat? . Cohen . Rabbi Uri C. . 24 (note 24) . 2 January 2011 . 2006 . NDS . 26 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726022919/http://www.nds.com/chidusheitorah/pdf/2006/english/is_there_an_obligation_of_simchah_on_shabbat.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: Baruch Dayan Emmes - HaGaon Harav Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth ZT"L [Mechaber of Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchasa]. 11 June 2013.
  4. Web site: Rabbi Who Compiled Laws of the Sabbath Dies at 85. 11 June 2013 .
  5. Web site: Blood Tests and DNA - Part 1 . Jachter . Rabbi Chaim . 3 February 2006 . 2 January 2011 . koltorah.org . Rabbi Jachter's Halacha Files (and other Halachic compositions) . 16 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101216144151/http://koltorah.org/ravj/Blood_Tests_and_DNA_1.html . dead .
  6. Web site: Modern Halachic Books . Sedley . Rabbi David . TorahLab . 2006 . 2 January 2011 . 23 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723230643/http://www.torahlab.org/Lifecycle/article/modern_halachic_books/ . dead .
  7. Web site: Hamodia Staff . Hagaon Harav Yehoshua Neuwirth, zt"l . 11 June 2013 . 2014-04-29.
  8. Web site: The Halachoth Of Educating Children (back cover text) . Jewish Used Books . 2 January 2011 . 13 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713104000/http://www.jewishusedbooks.com/prodview.asp?idProduct=37429 . dead .
  9. Shulman. Eliezer. Shimon Breikopf . Guardian of the Holy Day. Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly. 19 June 2013. 464. 44.
  10. Book: Levi, Leo . The Science in Torah: The scientific knowledge of the Talmudic sages . 2004 . Approbations . 1-58330-657-9 . Feldheim Publishers.
  11. Web site: Medical-Halachic Decisions of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach . Steinberg . Avraham . 2008 . 2 January 2011 . The Foundation Stone . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110218235837/http://www.thefoundationstone.org/en/beitmidrash/general/3025-medical-halachic-decisions-of-rabbi-shlomo-zalman-auerbach.html . 18 February 2011 .
  12. Book: Roth, Rabbi Dan . Relevance: Pirkei Avos for the twenty-first century . 28 . 978-1-58330-935-3 . 2007 . Feldheim Publishers.
  13. Milestones in Jewish Medical Ethics: Medical-Halachic literature in Israel, 1948-1998 . Halperin . Mordechai . ASSIA  - Jewish Medical Ethics . VI . 2 . 2004 . 4–19 . Jewish Virtual Library. 15573422 . 2 January 2011.
  14. Web site: Gedolim Yahrtzeits: 20 Adar . Saltiel . Manny . 2011 . 2 January 2011 . chinuch.org.
  15. Web site: Two new Torah scrolls ushered into Shaare Zedek . 5 September 2002 . 2 January 2011 . . 28 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928142001/http://www.szmc.org.il/en/ArticleManagement/OldContent/TwonewTorahscrollsusheredintoShaareZedek/tabid/736/Default.aspx . dead .
  16. Book: Steinberg, Avraham . Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethics: A compilation of Jewish medical law on all topics of medical interest, from the most ancient sources to the most current deliberations and decisions, with a concise medical and historical background, and a comprehensive comparative analysis of relevant general ethical approaches . lxxiii . 2003 . 1-58330-592-0 . Feldheim Publishers.
  17. Web site: Study With Us (Yarchei Kallah) . Jerusalem Center for Research  - Medicine and Halacha . 2007 . 2 January 2011.
  18. Web site: Assisted Reproduction in the Conception of Babies with Disabilities . Eisenberg . Daniel . 2 January 2011 . medethics.org . 21 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721145510/http://www.medethics.org.il/articles/BrachaLeAvraham/Eisenberg.asp . dead .
  19. Web site: Comments to 'Winter Harvest' . Zacharowicz . Leon . 8 December 2006 . 2 January 2011. Cross-Currents.
  20. Web site: Rabbis: New life-support tech 'murder' . Wagner . Matthew . 31 August 2008 . 2 January 2011 . The Jerusalem Post.
  21. Web site: AIDS: Synopsis of the responsa . Neuwirth . Rabbi Yehoshua . 2011 . 2 January 2011 . . 21 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721145524/http://www.medethics.org.il/articles/FIC/29.asp . dead .
  22. Web site: Halachot for the Physician on the Sabbath and Festivals . Abraham . Abraham S. . February 2001 . 2 January 2011 . ASSAI.
  23. Web site: The Kosher Lamp and Where to Purchase? . jewishcooking.org . 2 January 2011 . 1 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101001040814/http://www.jewishcooking.org/kosher-lamp.html . dead .
  24. Web site: Technology for Mitzvos . Blicker . Shmuel. 6 June 2007 . 21. Mishpacha Magazine. 2 January 2011.
  25. Web site: The Halachoth of Educating Children. 2 January 2011. Jewish Used Books. 13 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110713104000/http://www.jewishusedbooks.com/prodview.asp?idProduct=37429. dead.
  26. Book: Neuwirth, Rav Yehoshua Y. Kechilchathah. Shemirath Shabbath: A guide to the practical observance of Shabbath . 2002 . Feldheim Publishers . 1-58330-494-0.

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