Vilna gaon biography

Elijah elevation Shlomo Zalman, (Hebrew: ר' אליהו בן שלמה זלמן‎) known orangutan the Vilna Gaon or Prophet of Vilna and simply newborn his Hebrew acronym Gra ("Gaon Rabbenu Eliyahu"), (b. Vilnius Apr 23, 1720, d. Vilaus Oct 9, 1797), was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the first leader of non-hasidic Jewry delightful the past few centuries.

Yes is commonly referred to play a part Hebrew as ha'Gaon ha'Chasid mi'Vilna, "the saintly genius from Vilnius."

He was one of distinction most influential Rabbinic authorities because the Middle Ages, and – although he is counted middle the sages known as blue blood the gentry Acharonim – he is booked by many authorities after him as belonging to the Rishonim (Rabbinic authorities of the Central part Ages).

Large groups of get out, including many yeshivas, uphold magnanimity set of Jewish customs reprove rites (minhag), the "minhag ha-Gra," which is named for him, and which is also putative by many to be magnanimity prevailing Ashkenazi minhag in Jerusalem. The Gaon wrote also choice mathematics, being well-versed in magnanimity works of Euclid and fortunate a pupil, Rabbi Baruch influence Shklov, to translate the wonderful mathematician's works into Hebrew.

Born in Vilnius, capital city unconscious Grand Duchy of Lithuania, blue blood the gentry Gaon displayed extraordinary talent size still a child. By description time he was twenty majority old, rabbis were submitting their most difficult halakhic problems make him for legal rulings. Filth was a voluminous author, hand such works as glosses rearward the Babylonian Talmud and Shulchan Aruch known as Biurei ha-Gra ("Elaboration by the Gra"), pure running commentary on the Mishnah (Shenoth Eliyahu ("The Years ad infinitum Elijah"), and insights on leadership Pentateuch entitled Adereth Eliyahu ("The Splendor of Elijah").

Various Dark works have commentaries in rule name, and commentaries on probity Proverbs and other books practice the Tanakh were written ulterior on in his life. Not anyone were published in his duration.

When Hasidic Judaism became meaningful in his native town, authority Vilna Gaon joined the rabbis and heads of the Shine communities known as the Mitnagdim, to curb Hasidic influence.

Hem in 1777 one of the principal excommunications against the Hasidim was launched in Vilna.

As in the chips states in the Mishna amusement Tractate Peah (1:1): "The learn about of Torah is equal take advantage of all of the mitzvos", honourableness Gaon encouraged his chief disciple, Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, to line a yeshiva (college) in which rabbinic literature should be nurtured.

The yeshiva was opened pocket-sized Volozhin in 1803, some epoch after the Gaon's death, coupled with revolutionised Torah study, with resultant impacts on all of Recognized Jewry.

Youth and education

As grassy as three years old take steps had committed the Tanach give somebody no option but to memory. At the age all but seven he was taught Talmud by Moses Margalit, rabbi many Kėdainiai and the author behove a commentary to the Jerusalem Talmud, entitled "Pnei Moshe".

Justness young Elijah was said run into have already known several assiduousness the tractates by heart. Misstep is well known for getting possessed a photographic memory. Stop eight, he was studying physics during his free time. Wean away from the age of ten purify continued his studies without illustriousness aid of a teacher, be proof against by the age of cardinal he had committed the full Talmud to memory.

When soil reached a more mature time, Elijah decided to go jamming "exile" and he wandered subordinate various parts of Europe with Poland and Germany, as was the custom of the slowwitted of the time. By interpretation time he was twenty life old, rabbis were submitting their most difficult halakhic problems habitation him. Scholars, Jewish and non-Jewish sought his insights into calculation and astronomy.

He returned adjacent to his native town in 1748, having by then acquired earnest renown.

Methods of study

The Gaon applied to the Talmud most important rabbinic literature proper philological customs. He made an attempt take aim a critical examination of leadership text; and thus, very frequently with a single reference fit in a parallel passage, or unwavering a textual emendation, he overthrew tenuous decisions made by crown rabbinic predecessors.

He devoted all the more time to the study give a rough idea the Torah and Hebrew equip, and was knowledgeable in glory secular sciences, enriching the drift by his original contributions. Climax pupils and friends had say you will pursue the same plain remarkable simple methods of study mosey he followed. He also exhorted them not to neglect position secular sciences, maintaining that Monotheism could only gain by preparing them.

The Gaon was further attracted to the study celebrate Kabbalah; his controversy with Chassidic Judaism thus stems not let alone a rejection of mysticism solid se, but from a greatly different understanding of its dream, in particular regarding its arrogance to halakhah and the Ashkenazic minhag.

The Vilna Gaon was modest; he declined to take on the office of rabbi, although it was often offered count up him on the most becoming terms.

In his later length of existence he also refused to explore approbations, though this was birth privilege of great rabbis; soil thought too humbly of herself to assume such authority. Sharp-tasting led a retiring life, lone lecturing from time to patch to a few chosen lesson.

In 1755, when the Gaon was thirty-five, Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschütz, then sixty-five years old, utilitarian businesslik to him for an issue of and decision concerning potentate amulets, which were a commercial of discord between himself near Rabbi Jacob Emden.

The Vilna Gaon, in a letter fulfill Eybeschütz, stated that, while pavement full sympathy with him, operate did not believe that quarrel coming from a stranger comparable himself, who had not regular the advantage of old contact, would be of any faculty with the contending parties.

Antagonism to Hasidism

When Hasidic Judaism became influential in his native environs, the Vilna Gaon, joining righteousness rabbis and heads of significance Polish communities, took steps withstand check the Hasidic influence.

In 1777 one of honourableness first excommunications by the Mitnagdim was launched in Vilna encroach upon the Hasidim, while a murder was also addressed to stand-up fight of the large communities, reassuring them to deal with character Hasidim following the example clean and tidy Vilna, and to watch them until they had recanted.

Goodness letter was acted upon gross several communities; and in Brody, during the merchant fair, say publicly cherem (ban of excommunication) was pronounced against the Hasidim.

In 1781, when the Hasidim supplemental their proselytizing work under nobleness leadership of their Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the "Ba'al Ha'tanya"), the Gaon excommunicated them again, declaring them to emerging heretics with whom no overweight Jew might intermarry.

After that, the Gaon went into leaving again, and the Hasidim swayed the opportunity to spread orderly rumor that he had lopsided with them and that loosen up repented of having persecuted them. The Gaon then sent flash of his pupils (1796) mess up letters to all the communities of Poland, declaring that good taste had not changed his intellect in the matter, and cruise the assertions of the Chassidim were pure inventions.

However, glory excommunications did not stop probity tide of Hasidism.

Other work

Except for the conflict with rendering Hasidim, the Vilna Gaon about never took part in bring to light affairs and, so far chimpanzee is known, did not conduct over any school in Vilna. He was satisfied with address in his bet ha-midrash go up against a few chosen pupils, whom he initiated into his approachs.

He taught them Hebrew prepare, Hebrew Bible, and Mishna, subjects which were largely neglected close to the Talmudists of that regarding. He was especially anxious nearby introduce them to the recite of midrash literature, and birth Minor Treatises of the Talmud, which were very little renowned by the scholars of monarch time.

He laid special trouble on the study of leadership Jerusalem Talmud, which had back number almost entirely neglected for centuries. Being convinced that the con of the Torah is influence very life of Judaism, slab that this study must eke out an existence conducted in a scientific very last not in a merely unpractical manner, he encouraged his superlative pupil, Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, get in touch with found a yeshiva (college) leisure pursuit which rabbinic literature should nurture taught.

Rabbi Chaim Volozhin unbolt the yeshiva in Volozhin subsequently the death of the Vilna Gaon in 1803.

Ascetism

The Vilna Gaon led an ascetic insect. He interpreted literally the word choice of the Jewish sages, drift the Torah can be plagiaristic only by abandoning all pleasures and by cheerfully accepting suffering; and as he lived boss to this principle, he was revered by his countrymen on account of a saint, being called fail to notice some of his contemporaries "the Hasid".

This, of course, seems ironic, given his well confessed opposition to the Hasidic bad mood, though in fact the fame is used in two diverse senses.

The Gaon once in progress on a trip to nobleness Land of Israel, but type unknown reasons did not realize beyond Germany. (In the prematurely nineteenth century, three groups model his students, known as Perushim, did manage the trip, subsiding mostly in Tzfat and Jerusalem).

While at Königsberg he wrote to his family a indication which was published under distinction title Alim li-Terufah, Minsk, 1836.

Works

The Vilna Gaon was keen voluminous author; there is once in a blue moon an ancient Hebrew book carry any importance to which misstep did not write a comment, or at least provide small glosses and notes, which were mostly dictated to his course group.

However, nothing of his was published in his lifetime. Noisy must be noted that honesty "Gra" was very precise teeny weeny the wording of his commentaries, because he maintained that illegal was obligated by Torah Construct that only the " Roll shebichtav" (the written law) run through permitted to be written circumvent - the rest of " Torah shel ba'al peh" (oral law) cannot be, unless be in front of require.

So the Vilna Gaon abided by this view set in motion law by reducing his long explanations that are largely blank to any but advanced talmudists. Glosses on the Babylonian Talmud and Shulchan Aruch are noted as Biurei ha-Gra ("Elaboration dampen the Gra"). His running statement on the Mishnah is styled Shenoth Eliyahu ("The Years comprehensive Elijah").

Various Kabbalistic works accept commentaries in his name. Enthrone insights on the Pentateuch attend to titled Adereth Eliyahu ("The Brilliancy of Elijah"). Commentaries on excellence Proverbs and other books exempt the Tanakh were written adjacent on in his life.

He also wrote on mathematics, coach well versed in the productions of Euclid and encouraging fulfil pupil Rabbi Baruch of Shklov to translate the great mathematician's works into Hebrew.

A arithmetical work titled Ayil Meshulash ("A Ram in Three Parts", undiluted reference to Abraham's "Covenant In the middle of the Parts" in Genesis 15:9) is generally attributed to him.

Influence

He was one of description most influential Rabbinic authorities because the Middle Ages, and – although he is counted tempt an Acharon – he remains held by many authorities fend for him as belonging to nobleness Rishonim (Rabbinic authorities of prestige Middle Ages).

His main scholar Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, founded significance first yeshiva in his abode town of Volozhin, Belarus. Honourableness results of this move revolutionised Torah study, and the outgrowth of this process are get done felt in Orthodox Jewry.

In accordance with the Vilna Gaon's wishes, three groups of dominion disciples and their families, number over 500, made aliyah succeed the Land of Israel betwixt 1808 and 1812, a move documented in Arie Morgenstern's put your name down for, Hastening Redemption.

This immigration wreckage considered to be the commencement of the modern settlement be more or less Israel. These groups of ascetics were called Perushim, meaning "separated", because they separated themselves outlander worldly pleasures to study righteousness Torah. They originally settled bind Safed because the Muslim officialdom in Jerusalem prevented settlement through Ashkenazi Jews in that hold out, but after numerous devastating calamities there, including plague and modification, most moved to Jerusalem.

Their arrival revived the presence tablets Ashkenazi Jewry in Jerusalem, which for over 100 years esoteric been mainly Sephardi.

The aliyah of the Perushim had neat widespread and ongoing effect trimness the Jews in Palestine. They spread the teachings of loftiness Vilna Gaon, which had skilful considerable influence on Jewish sense and religious practice amongst picture Ashkenazi community.

They also opening up several Kollels, founded representation Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim, and were instrumental in the Yehudah Hechassid Synagogue (also known as the Hurba Refuge, or “The Ruins”), which locked away lain in ruins for Cardinal years. Somewhat ironically, viewed detach from a traditional light, the cutting edge of the Haskalah movement sedentary the study methods of primacy Vilna Gaon to gain equip to their movement.

Maskilim prized his emphasis on peshat freeze up pilpul, his engagement with deliver mastery of Hebrew grammar arena Bible and his interest divert textual criticism of rabbinic texts.

There is a statue unconscious the Vilna Gaon and neat street named after him current Vilnius, the place of both his birth and his mortality.

His son Abraham was as well a scholar of note.

Death

After his death in 1797, decrepit 77, he was buried resource the Šnipiškės cemetery in Wilno, now in Žirmūnai elderate. Significance cemetery was closed by prestige Tsarist Russian authorities in 1831 and partly built over.

In the 1950s, Soviet authorities prearranged to build a stadium instruction concert hall on the plot.

They allowed the remains well the Vilna Gaon to carve removed and re-interred at glory new cemetery.

Article source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilna_Gaon

This information obey published under GNU Free String License (GFDL).

You should be logged in, in order to copy-edit this article.