American Friends of Bar-Ilan University
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    •  
      • AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
      • BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY NEWS
      • 2025 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
      • Browse past reports
      • 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
      • 2023 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
      • 2022 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
      • 2021 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
  • SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
    •  
      • LIFE SCIENCES
      • COMPUTER SCIENCE & CYBERSECURITY
      • NANOTECHNOLOGY
      • ROBOTICS & ENGINEERING
      • SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
  • JEWISH STUDIES
      •  
      • JEWISH STUDIES – Communicating the relevance of Jewish Studies and Jewish values.
      • THE LOOKSTEIN CENTER FOR JEWISH EDUCATION
      • MIDRASHA INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN
      • LUDWIG AND ERICA JESSELSON INSTITUTE
        FOR ADVANCED TORAH STUDY
    •  
      • JEWISH STUDIES – Communicating the relevance of Jewish Studies and Jewish values.
      • THE LOOKSTEIN CENTER FOR JEWISH EDUCATION
      • MIDRASHA INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN
      • LUDWIG AND ERIKA JESSELSON INSTITUTE
        FOR ADVANCED TORAH STUDY
      • BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
      • Tel Zafit Archaeological Site
  • MEDICINE
    •  
      • AZRIELI FACULTY OF MEDICINE
        IN THE GALILEE
        – Bar-Ilan’s School of Medicine in the Galilee is an institution offering enhanced education and care. 
  • CENTERS FOR ISRAEL
    •  
      • CLINICS – Giving back to the community.
      • OPTOMETRY CLINIC
      • LEGAL CLINIC
      • PSYCHOLOGY CLINIC
      • MUSIC DEPARTMENT
      • BESA
        BEGIN SADAT INITIATIVE
      • THE RUTH AND EMANUEL RACKMAN CENTER
        FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN’S STATUS
  • DONATE
  • Contact
Bar-Ilan University Online Newsletter
Newsletter No. 4, June 2016 Board of Trustees Issue

Board of Trustees Issue 2016

Scholars & Sources:
"Nitzchuni Banai — My Children Have Prevailed Over Me"

A prominent American Jewish spiritual leader and educator, and an influential voice in the Modern Orthodox community, BIU 2016 Honorary Doctor Rabbi Haskel Lookstein lectured at the university on “Rendering Halakhic Decision in a Challenging World.”

Rabbi Haskell LooksteinRabbi Lookstein recounted a fascinating Talmudic debate between Rabbi Eliezer and the Sages regarding the purity of a particular type of oven (Bava Metzi’ah 59b). R. Eliezer declared it pure while the Sages ruled it impure. R. Eliezer then said, “If the law is like me, the carob tree will prove it;” the carob tree was uprooted from its place one hundred Amah… But the Sages countered “We do not bring proof from a carob tree.” Then he called upon the water channel to reverse its flow, which it did, but once again the Sages protested. Even after the walls of the House of Study moved, and a heavenly voice proclaimed his opinion correct, the Sages contested that ever since the Torah was given at Sinai, we do not pay attention to a heavenly voice in matters of Halakha but rather decisions should be rendered according to majority rule, as is written in the Torah. R. Natan met the prophet Elijah and asked him what G-d did in that hour? He said to him: “He smiled and said, ‘My children have prevailed over me, my children have prevailed over me.'”

Presenting the outlook of the late Rabbi Yehuda Amital, co-head of Yeshivat Har Etzion, Rabbi Lookstein explained that G-d essentially agrees with R. Eliezer because G-d functions on a level of absolute objective truth. When G-d smiles and says “Nitzchuni banai — my children have prevailed over me,” He is acknowledging that humanity cannot live that way. Human beings function on a subjective level. In the real world, Halakha should be decided, taking into consideration human needs, strivings and human failings.

Rabbi Lookstein relayed that he had many discussions about Halakha with Rav Amital, who ruled with the human condition in mind. One example involved a young Russian groom, whose communist brother informed him before the wedding that if G-d forbid, the groom were to die childless, the unmarried brother would refuse to go through the Halitza ceremony, which is necessary to enable the widow to marry again. Contrary to the traditional Halakhic approach, Rabbi Amital allowed the groom to marry his bride al tenai, on condition (that if he dies before his wife gives birth to a child, the marriage is nullified ab initio— from the moment it began.”

Rabbi Lookstein ended with a story about the founding Chabad Rebbe Shneur Zalman of LIady, who stopped studying Torah when he heard a baby crying in the next room. After comforting the baby, he returned and noticed that his son was also studying and had never moved. “I was so immersed in Torah that I didn’t hear the baby cry,” said the son. The Rebbe responded, “If you were so immersed in Torah that you didn’t hear a baby cry, it’s a sign that there is something wrong with your study of Torah.” We need to heed this advice if we are going to change the Modern Orthodox world, said Rabbi Lookstein.

Click here to see a related article by Rabbi Lookstein

Moving Forward at the Speed of Light

Also in this issue:

President's Message - Thinking Globally »

BIU's 2016 Honorary Doctorate Ceremony

Bar-Ilan University conferred doctorates honoris causa upon a distinguished group, including 4-time astronaut and NASA Administrator, the Hon. Charles F. Bolden, Jr.; renowned Israeli musician and composer Nurit Hirsh; and American Jewish leader and educator Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, all of whom have had a decisive impact on science and technology, Israeli culture, law and society, and Diaspora Jewish life.

read more »

Changing of the BOT Guard

The 61st annual meetings of BIU's Board of Trustees marked the beginning of a new era, as Michael Jesselson, past Chairman of the American Friends of Bar-Ilan was elected Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Mordecai D. Katz was elected Honorary Chairman.

 read more »

 

Gala Dinner Recognizes Philanthropic Leadership and Alumni Achievement

Presidential medals and Alumni Achievement awards were conferred on leading philanthropists and graduates from Israel and around the world at the Bar-Ilan BOT Gala Dinner.

 read more »

 

BIU Honorary Doctors Share Knowledge and Insight

Speaking to a packed auditorium on "NASA's Journey to Mars and Beyond," the Hon. Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (pictured in center with Rona Ramon, wife of the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, and BIU President Rabbi Dr. Daniel Hershowitz) said Israel "has incredibly innovative people on the cutting edge of technology" who can help NASA achieve its goal of reaching Mars in the 2030s. "We are excited about ongoing relations with the Israel Space Agency and what we can do together on the International Space Station (ISS)," said the 4-time astronaut and NASA Administrator, noting that some 250 experiments are conducted during each six-month expedition on the ISS.

 read more »

 

Noted Dedications, Panel & Student Event

This year's BOT meetings featured the festive opening of the Weisfeld Social Work Clinics Wing and celebration of the School's 50th anniversary , the plaque unveiling of the Leibler Judaica collection, the dedication of the Conrad Morris Pathway of Friendship as well as an intriguing panel discussion on the BDS, and the "Meet Our Students" Luncheon.

 read more »

 
Palm trees in a lush garden with a modern tower in the background, showcasing a blend of nature and architecture.

1. WELCOME

An essential partner in Bar-Ilan University’s development, American Friends of Bar-Ilan University provides vital philanthropic support for one of the fastest growing institutions of higher education in Israel.

3. LOOK FOR

4. READ ABOUT

BIU News Topics
  • All News
  • AFBIU News
  • Archeology
  • Biomedical Research
  • BIU Happenings
  • Engineering
  • Geopolitics
  • Health
  • History
  • Innovation
  • Jewish Studies
  • Literature
  • Medical School
  • Nanotechnology
  • Profiles
  • Science
  • Torah Studies

5. GET INVOLVED

Vibrant red roses in a garden with the word "DONATE" prominently displayed, encouraging charitable contributions and support for a cause.

ABOUT US

  • HOME
  • Bar-Ilan University
  • American Friends of Bar-Ilan (AFBIU)
  • AFBIU Financial Information
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact us

BAR-ILAN HIGHLIGHTS

  • Science & Technology
  • Jewish Studies and Archaeology
  • Outreach: Centers for Israel
  • School of Medicine in the Galilee

GET INVOLVED

  • Scholarship Fund
  • Computer Science Building
  • Medical School
  • Faculty Recruitment
  • Planned Giving
  • IRA Giving
  • Israel Bonds

SEARCH

©2018 American Friends of Bar-Ilan University, all rights reserved | Privacy Policy