Menachem Mendel

Prof. Michael Schwarz, who recently received the Israel Prize, has passed away. Schwarz is best known for his recent translation into Hebrew of Maimonides’s Guide for the Perplexed. יהיה זכרו ברוך.

Posted on December 13th, 2011 under In Memoriam, Jewish Thought. Comments: 1

I just found out that Rabbi Moshe Zemer z”l passed away last month in Israel. Rabbi Zemer was the most prolific author on Jewish law who was affiliated with the Movement for Progressive Judaism in Israel. A bibliography of his writings can be found here. For anyone interested in a serious book on halakhah from [...]

Posted on December 6th, 2011 under In Memoriam, Jewish Law, Rabbinic Authority, Religion in Israel, Responsa. Comments Off

Prof. Haim Zalman Dimitrovsky z”l passed away in Jerusalem yesterday at the age of 91. The funeral was Sunday evening. Prof. Dimitrovsky was an important scholar of Talmud and Rabbinic literature. Among his publications are Seridei Bavli, Hiddushei ha-Rashbah on Tractates Megillah and Rosh ha-Shannah, and Teshuvot ha-Rashbah. Update: See the comments at the Talmud [...]

Posted on August 1st, 2011 under In Memoriam, Talmud, Talmud Study. Comments: 1

Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for the E Street Band, died today at the age of 69 of complications from a stroke. It is hard to describe the close relationship that Bruce and Clarence have had for the last forty years. Since they met on a stormy night in Asbury Park in the early 1970′s, they [...]

Posted on June 18th, 2011 under In Memoriam, Music, Popular Culture. Comments: 4

Haaretz has an article about a change in the Yizkor prayer in Israel for fallen soldiers. The prayer at military memorial ceremonies for Israel’s fallen soldiers – Yizkor (Remember) – will open with the traditional “May God remember his sons and daughters,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz ruled this week. The statement followed [...]

Posted on June 14th, 2011 under In Memoriam, Israel, Liturgy, Zionism. Comments: 3

There’s a must-read obituary in today’s New York Times. Rosalyn S. Yalow won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1977. She was the product of a Bronx public school who had to overcome adversity throughout much of her career. Dr. Yalow, a product of New York City schools and the daughter of parents who never [...]

Posted on June 2nd, 2011 under Academia, In Memoriam. Comments: 3

The important scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Ancient Judaism, Ben Zion Wacholder, has passed away. יהי זכרו ברוך.

Posted on March 29th, 2011 under Ancient Judaism, Early Rabbinic Law, In Memoriam, Rabbinic Literature, Talmud. Comments: 1

Last week was the 25th yarzheit of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. I was in Israel at the time of his funeral, although I didn’t have much of an idea who he was, that only came a few years later. A number of interested posts were written about him. See this one by Adderabbi and this one [...]

Posted on March 24th, 2011 under In Memoriam, Jewish Studies, Rabbinic Authority, Responsa. Comments: 5

Debbie Friedman, Devorah bat Freidal, has been hospitalized and is apparently in serious condition. This is probably the most appropriate of her songs to think of at the moment, and apologies for the shaky camera. Here is a good audio version. Update: Apparently Debbie Friedman z”l passed away earlier today. See these comments by Rabbi [...]

Posted on January 6th, 2011 under In Memoriam, Liturgy, Pre-Shabbat Song. Comments: 2