Aaron Moshe Schechter (also Aharon Mosheh Schechter) is the rosh yeshiva ("dean") of the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and its post-graduate Talmudical division Kollel Gur Aryeh as well as of all the branches of the yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York City that includes an elementary school and a high school for young Jewish boys, teenagers, and young men almost exclusively drawn from the surrounding community of Haredi Jews living in Flatbush, Brooklyn. The total number of students at the "Chaim Berlin" institutions is close to three thousand students. Rosh yeshiva (Hebrew: ראש ישיבה) (pl. ... Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin (also known as Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin) (MYRCB) or as Chaim Berlin, is a major Orthodox Judaism all-male yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... Kollel Gur Aryeh is a kollel, a post-graduate rabbinical and Talmudical college, for young married Orthodox men located in Brooklyn, New York. ... Brooklyn (named for the Dutch city Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods. ...

Rabbi Schechter was born in Brooklyn in the 1920s and became a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner after being enrolled in the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin as a young child. His father belonged to the Young Israel movement and was befriended by Rabbi Hutner who had arrived in America in the 1930s. Yitzchok (Isaac) Hutner (1906 - 1980) was an Orthodox rabbi born in Warsaw, Poland, to a family with both Ger Hasidim and non-Hasidic Lithuanian Jews in their origins. ... Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin (also known as Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin) (MYRCB) or as Chaim Berlin, is a major Orthodox Judaism all-male yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. ... Young Israel is a branch of Modern Orthodox Judaism. ...

Disciple of Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner

Rabbi Hutner chose Rabbi Schechter for leadearship positions in the yeshiva even prior to Rabbi Schechter's marriage. He encouraged Rabbi Schechter to write a rabbinic commentary on Maimonides that he called Avodas Aharon and Rabbi Hutner wrote a glowing approbation: Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Maimonides (March 30, 1135 or 1138–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain and Egypt during the Middle Ages. ...

...I recognized in you that your heart is the heart of the lion in all areas of the Torah: In hilchot deiot ("laws of ideas"), chovot halevavot ("duties of the heart"), and in the mitzvot of the limbs. And now that I have merited to see you in terms of a man elevated as a gaon ("genius") in Torah and knowledge...

...Avodat Aharon is the the suitable name. Since this name combines the unique manner of your spiritual direction...that is combining the totality of the light of Torah and the light of avoda ("serving [God]") into one light. And I pray and my blessings to you is, my beloved, that these two lights of Torah and avoda will be purely upon your head, and from upon your brow shall shine forth the holy tzitz ("gold plate") like all the Torah and avoda of Aaron. And in its light shall you perceive light to complete your portion in the Torah, in depth and completion, like the good hand of God that is upon you, and may your friends rejoice, and may your disciples be raised through your hand to light up the world with the light of Torah and knowledge of God.

The one who loves you and desires the shalom ("completeness and greatness") of your Torah.

Yitzchok Hutner. ^[1]

Main article: Mitzvah 613 mitzvot or 613 Commandments (Hebrew: תריג מצוות transliterated as Taryag mitzvot; TaRYaG is the acronym for the numeric value of 613) are a list of commandments from God in the Torah. ... Aaron (אַהֲרֹן, a word meaning bearer of martyrs in Hebrew [perhaps also, or instead, related to the Egyptian Aha Ra, Warrior Lion], Standard Hebrew (w/o vowels) AHRvN, Tiberian Hebrew (), was one of two brothers who play a unique part in the history of the Hebrew people. ...

Rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

A number of years prior to his passing in 1980, Rabbi Hutner officially announced that Rabbi Schechter and Rabbi Yonasan David would both serve as co-equal rosh yeshivas of the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. This was done when the yeshiva moved to its location on Coney Island Avenue in 1966 and Rabbi Hutner declared to all present that henceforth Rabbi Schechter and Rabbi David would share seats at the front of the main beth midrash (the main study hall of the yeshiva) with Rabbi Schechter sitting at the front right and Rabbi David at the front left, and with Rabbi Hutner sitting in the center. Even after the death of Rabbi Hutner, the center seat has been left empty as a kind of "holy spot", with Rabbi Schechter continuing to occupy the front right position. When Rabbi David returns for brief visits from Israel he assumes his position in the front left of the beth midrash. The seating arrangements reflect both Rabbi Schechter's and Rabbi David's position of supreme authority within the totality of the yeshiva. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Rosh yeshiva (Hebrew: ראש ישיבה) (pl. ... Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin (also known as Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin) (MYRCB) or as Chaim Berlin, is a major Orthodox Judaism all-male yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. ... Coney Island Avenue runs almost parallel to Ocean Parkway. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Beth midrash (or Beit Midrash or Bais Medrash or Bais Medrish) (plural battei midrash) literally means a House of Interpretation or Lecturing or Learning in Hebrew. ...

Administration and fundraising

A great part of Rabbi Schechter's success in building and expanding the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and launching the careers of a number of his disciples as rosh yeshivas has been his ability to maintain good ties with alumni coupled to a remarkable gift for fundraising from them and from wealthy Haredi Jews and even from unaffiliated non-Orthodox Jews who wish to support Torah study and hence are motivated to give tzedakah ("charity") to Torah institutions. In this regard, Rabbi Schechter enjoys one of the greatest human legacies that Rabbi Hutner bequithed as another key disciple is Avraham Fruchthandler an immensely wealthy real estate magnate and investor who serves as president of the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and heads its overall fundraising strategies all under the guidance of and in intimate consultation with Rabbi Schechter. The two have proven to be a highly successful and potent fundraisng team, helping not just their own yeshiva, but by example and intervention, prodding the leadership of many other similar instititions in America to do the same. Fundraising is the process of soliciting and gathering money or other gifts in kind by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. ... Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaisms religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah (commandment) of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. ... Tzedakah (Hebrew: צדקה) in Judaism, is the Hebrew term most commonly translated as charity, though it is based on a root meaning justice .(צדק). In Arabic, charity is sadakah (صدقه) and an obligatory type of it, the Arabic term zakat, is considered to be one of the five pillars of Islam. ... Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings. ...

Agudath Israel and Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah

After the death of Rabbi Hutner in 1980 Rabbi Schechter joined the nesius ("presidium") of Agudath Israel of America. After the death in 1987 of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman (the founder and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Yisrael in Baltimore) Rabbi Schechter was accepted as a one of the select members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, the supreme rabbinical policy decision-making body of Agudath Israel of America that is loosely affiliated with the World Agudath Israel movement and its ideoligical kindred movements in Israel of Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah. In this capacity Rabbi Schechter has become one of the foremost guides and leaders for Haredi Judaism in the United States, particularly of the Lithuanian Jewish misnagdim (although he does works closely with most branches of Hasidic Judaism -- retaining Rabbi hutner antpathy to Chabad-Lubavitch.) 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Agudath Israel of America (or Agudas Yisroel of America or Agudat Yisrael of America or simply the Agudah [agudah is Hebrew for gathering or union]), is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman (1901-1987) founded and served as Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel in Baltimore. ... Yeshiva Ner Yisrael: Ner Israel Rabbinical College also known as NIRC and known colloquially as Ner, is a yeshiva in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yakov Yitzchok Ruderman who was a key disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel of the famous Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania, Europe. ... The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) serves as the highest ranking rabbinic policy board of the Agudath Israel organization. ... Rabbi, in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word רַב, rav, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished (in knowledge). Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word רִבִּי ribbÄ«; the modern Israeli pronunciation רַבִּי rabbÄ« is derived from a recent (18th... Agudath Israel of America (or Agudas Yisroel of America or Agudat Yisrael of America or simply the Agudah [agudah is Hebrew for gathering or union]), is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel. ... World Agudath Israel (The World Israeli Union) was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm of Ashkenazi Torah Judaism. ... Categories: Organization stubs | Israel-related stubs | Israeli political parties | Orthodox Judaism ... Degel HaTorah (or Degel haTorah) (דגל התורה Hebrew for Flag/Banner [of] the Torah) is an Israeli mostly Ashkenazi Haredi Judaism political party with a small number of seats (2-3) in the Knesset, Israels national parliament. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Lithuanian Jews (in Yiddish known as Litvish or Litvaks) are Ashkenazi Jews who were historically associated with Lithuania. ... Mitnagdim (also: misnagdim) is a Hebrew word (מתנגדים) meaning opponents; this term was used to refer to European religious Jews who opposed Hasidic Judaism. ... It has been suggested that Hasidic philosophy be merged into this article or section. ... Chabad Lubavitch, or Lubavich, is one of the largest branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi . ...

Rabbi Schechter works closely with two other early disciples of Rabbi Hutner on the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Rabbi Aharon Feldman of Yeshiva Ner Yisrael and Rabbi Yaakov Perlow ( who was appointed Rosh Agudas Yisroel -- "head [of]] Agudath Israel [of America]") the Hasidic Rebbe of the Novominsk (Hasidic dynasty) as well as with all the members of the Moetzes and the lay leadership of Agudath Israel that is headquartered in Manhattan. Yeshiva Ner Yisrael: Ner Israel Rabbinical College also known as NIRC and known colloquially as Ner, is a yeshiva in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yakov Yitzchok Ruderman who was a key disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel of the famous Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania, Europe. ... It has been suggested that Hasidic philosophy be merged into this article or section. ... Rebbe which means master, teacher, or mentor is a Yiddish word derived from the identical Hebrew word רבי. It mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement. ... The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ...

Leadership beyond Brooklyn

Rabbi Schechter sits on the governing rabbinical boards of key Haredi insititutions in the United States, such as Torah Umesorah - National Society for Hebrew Day Schools and Chinuch Atzmai. Quite a number of his own disciples have become rosh yeshivas in their own right and many have become members of "out-of-town" Kollels (post graduate and outreach schools) and Jewish day school. Many of these young rabbis and their wives frequently look to him and seek out his counsel which he dispenses with great caution and in private as he rarely speaks in public (another of Rabbi Hutner's trademarks that he has adopted) preferring to focus the bulk of his energies on his students, yeshiva business and delivering his regular Talmudic shiurim ("lectures") which only his students are permitted to attend. Torah Umesorah - National Society for Hebrew Day Schools (or Torah Umesorah תורה ומסורה) is an Orthodox Judaism organization that fosters and promotes Torah-based Jewish religious education in North America by supporting and developing a loosely affiliated network of independent private Jewish day schools, yeshivas and kollelim in every city with a... Chinuch Atzmai was founded in 1953 by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel in Israel) to serve as an alternate school system for Orthodox children in Israel. ... A kollel (Hebrew: כולל; a gathering/collection [of scholars] is an institute for advanced studies of the Talmud and of rabbinic literature for post-graduate Jewish adults, essentially a yeshiva which pays married men a regular monthly stipend or annual salary (and/or provides housing and meals) to study Judaisms... A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of day school meaning a school that the students attend for an entire... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (Hebrew: תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ...

See also

• Daat Torah
• Torah study

Daat Torah (or Daas Torah) (Hebrew: דעת תורה. Literally, Knowledge of Torah) is an important basic concept in present-day Jewish Haredi society. ... Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaisms religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah (commandment) of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. ...

References

1. ^ Aharon Moshe Schechter, Sefer Avodat Aharon (Shulsinger Brothers, 1957)