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By Faith Alone: The Story of Rabbi Yehuda Amital Hardcover – May 15, 2011

by Elyashev Reichner (Author), Elli Fischer (Translator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
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By Faith Alone chronicles the inspiring life story of Israeli religious and political leader, Rabbi Yehuda Amital. From his Holocaust survival to his founding of Yeshivat Har Etzion, Rabbi Amital lived a life of deep faith, ethical responsibility and commitment to the spiritual flourishing of the individual. Read the story of an exceptional leader who influenced a generation. Published in cooperation with Yeshivat Har Etzion.
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  1. Print length
    380 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Maggid
  4. Publication date
    May 15, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    5.6 x 1.4 x 8.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    159264192X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1592641925
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elyashev Reichner is an author and journalist who writes for the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon. He lives in the Negev Desert town of Yerucham, and is a graduate of its hesder yeshiva. His most recent book, in Hebrew, is The Orange Campaign: The Fight for Gush Katif.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Maggid (May 15, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 380 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159264192X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592641925
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.6 x 1.4 x 8.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

About the author

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Elli Fischer

Elli Fischer

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jeff
5.0 out of 5 stars A life well-lived is an inspiration for us all
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2015
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As biographies go, this book is just okay. But as far as life-changing works of inspiration go, this book is incredible. Reichner's portrayal of Rav Amital zt"l is so moving - when I read about some of the public attacks he withstood, I actually wept. (I got to meet and speak with Rav Amital during this period when he was Minister-Without-Portfolio in Peres' governement.) But Rav Amital's main belief came through in everything he did in his life - that the goal of Torah and the goal of a Jewish State is to re-sanctify God's Name after the Holocaust; any action that did not help to bring this about was by definition counter-productive. This was the goal that he set for himself, and he weathered the abuse of the greater public and the scorn of colleagues and former students for what he felt was right.
Reading this book pushed me to investigate some of Rav Amital's books and articles that I have not yet read - I was left wanting more from the man.
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robert kaplan
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book about a great man
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2014
Great book about a great man. The story of one of the most unique Rabbis in modern Jewish history. One man who was simultaneously a Holocaust survivor, a great Torah scholar, Rosh Yeshiva in a hesder yeshiva in the West Bank, soldier in the Independence War of 1948, and peace activist.
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Israel Drazin
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational story about a famous educator
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2011
Rabbi Yehuda Amital (1924-2010) was an influential Israeli educator. While he had only a fourth grade secular education, he built an educational institution that altered and enhanced many lives. By Faith Alone is a beautifully written story of his life.

When the rabbi was twelve and approached bar mitzvah age, custom required that he deliver a sermon. He begged his father to hire a teacher to help him write his speech, but his father refused. He insisted on teaching his son independence. Thus when the educational institution that he started, Yeshivat Har Etzion, opened its doors on November 23, 1968, Rabbi Amital, its head, did not appear. He only sent word that his first lecture would start tomorrow. He wanted to make it clear "from day one (that) the yeshiva (a school devoted to Talmud and Torah study) revolved around its students and their studies - and not around him." It was designed to teach them, as his father taught him, independent thinking. Thus, for example, when students asked him if they could smoke while studying, he told them to set the policy. As a result, when the rabbi wanted to smoke, he had to go outside the building. But he drew the line when it came to the administration of the Yeshiva. When the students complained that a maintenance man shouldn't have been demoted, he strongly reprimand them for interfering where they do not belong.

This focus on students thinking for themselves is not the only distinction that he introduced. He was the first to integrate yeshiva studies with military service. He called it a Hesder (arrangement) Program, a concept that took root in other yeshivot. As a result many Orthodox Jewish Israeli youth serve their country both by becoming more knowledgeable through their studies and by protecting it with military service. Yet, he didn't want the Hesder boys to have religious commanders, for he didn't want to separate them from non-religious soldiers; they're all Israelis.

Once, when a unit was placed on alert, the soldiers were told that they must train on Shabbat. A soldier called Rabbi Amital greatly disturbed, worried that he was being told to violate the Sabbath. The rabbi answered, "Don't worry. It's a mitzvah," proper, do it.

He opposed the practice of many Yeshivot who refused to teach the Bible because of the many questions it raises, such as how could the prophet Samuel order King Saul to kill all of the people of Amalek. They avoid teaching Torah, and focus instead on the Talmud, and claim that their students are smart enough to study Torah by themselves. Rabbi Amital had Bible taught in his Yeshiva. An example of one way that Bible was taught is the biblical theory of Amital's close friend Rabbi Mordekhai Breuer. Breuer agreed with the Bible critics that the Torah "has multiple sources, which can be proved scientifically. At the same time, I do not accept their opinion that these sources were written by multiple authors. Rather, I instead offer the Jewish belief that they were indeed authored by God ... this question depends solely on faith; science can offer no opinion on this."

Despite his strong feelings about the importance of Torah study and the need for Jews to observe the Torah commands, Rabbi Amital was opposed to rabbis setting public policy. Rabbis can advise politicians if the politicians want to hear their ideas, but it must be understood that the rabbi's opinion carries no halakhic (religious or legal) force.

Similarly, he refused to answer many of his students' private questions to teach them personal responsibility. "I'm not your chasidishe rebbe," he said, referring to the practice among many Chasidim and many ultra-orthodox of bringing all kinds of personal questions to their rabbi for his advice: "Should I marry this girl?" "Should I take this job?" "Should I take a vacation?"

Rabbi Amital was a humble man. He brought into the Yeshiva as a co-head Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, a man with a Ph.D. The two worked together for some forty years in a remarkable manner to build the Yeshiva. Readers will find it interesting to read how the world views and educational approaches of the two differed, and yet how they worked well with each other. Rabbi Lichtenstein is the son-in-law of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and is loyal to his teachings. Rabbi Amital's worldview was more mystical. He followed the approach of Rabbi Abraham Kook. Both emphasized that people need to have faith.

Rabbi Amital spoke against the extreme practices of many young religious Jews, such as wearing their tzitzit (fringes) hanging outside their pants. This, he said is the result of "the lack of confidence characteristic of many members of the younger generation." He wrote that "stringencies can be a sign of weakness."
13 people found this helpful
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Morris Massel
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2011
Rabbi Yehuda Amital (1924-2010) was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. Yet, by faith alone, he immigrated to Jerusalem and became a pioneering modern orthodox / Hesder rabbi. He began the Hesder movement, which combines deep Torah learning with military service. Until then, the two had not been formally mixed. He saw it as an obligation in the new state to combine the two.

As a Jew, he was uncompromising in his commitment to Jewish law, which did not mean taken the most stringent view always; rather, the most thoughtful one. For a period of his life, he served in the government as well.

This well-researched book is built on solid research and interviews and paints a beautiful portrait of a pioneer for the State of Israel.

Highly recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Elie
5.0 out of 5 stars Tells a Fascinating Story very well
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is the story of Rabbi Yehuda Amital, a religious leader in Modern Israel who led the battle to promote a Judaism that was tolerant, humane and worldly. A man of courage and spirit, of passion and a deeply complex faith, his story gives insight into the challenges and tensions that have shaped Israel today.
The writing - in this translation - is not sublime or groundbreaking, but if you're interested in the man and the story you won't be disappointed. It reads easily and quickly, and leaves you with a strong sense of his character and strength.
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