[Video below.] Who is the greatest Jew of this decade? Rabbi Yaakov Salomon poses this question on his video blog this week on Aish.com, triggering a flurry of fascinating responses. We have a certain fascination with awards and contests, says Rabbi Solomon, who suggested that a new award – like the Time Magazine Man of the Year Award – be instituted to recognize the person who has made the greatest contribution to the Jewish people over the last decade.
Unlike the Time Magazine award, which recognizes the greatest impact made – even negatively – this award, says Rabbi Salomon, should recognize the positive impact made by an individual – or even an organization – on the Jewish people over the last 10 years. It doesn’t have to be a Jew, he says, if someone else, in your opinion, had the greatest impact.
Give it some thought, click below to watch Rabbi Salomon’s comments, and then cast your vote below or on Aish.com.
Click below to watch:
[media id=432 width=400 height=300]
{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
george w bush
I vote for Rav Shmuel kamenetzky. may he live until 120.
Rav Eliyashev, Shlita
The Chofetz Chaim is one sure winner. There are so many others. Rav Elchonon Wasserman. Rav Meir Shapiro. The Satmar Rebbe. And so many more.
I was thinking “century” above.
comments 2-5 are funny, you guys live in your own daled amos.
to#4 the last time I checked, the Chofetz, Chaim, Rav Elchonon and Rav Meir Shapiro did not live during the last decade. It says MAN OF THE DECADE. That would be 2000-2009.
Rav Noach Weinberg, the revered and beloved founder and dean of Aish HaTorah International, for the past 50 year.
The Lubav. Rebbe, From Nepal to Alaska,From Russia to Mumbai, Nobody comes close to touching so MANY Yidden on the Planet
What’s the purpose of this? Just because Time magazine does it? I wonder if it’s a Jewish value.
Moshiach.
Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv
By definiton, since we don’t comprehend the value of each mitzva, we can’t say who made the biggest contribution. Maybe its the busiest mohel who is bringing in the most children to bris mila. Maybe its a kashrus org that is feeding every single jew kosher food with its certifications. Maybe its the local Rabonim that are paskening daily shailos to their flocks. Maybe its Talmidei Chachomim that are holding up the world with their Torah learning. Maybe its the Tomchei Shabbos groups that are saving Jewish Families. Or Hatzola. The list goes on. I think it takes ruach hakodesh to know who made the biggest impact on Jewish life.
R Nosson Tzvi Finkel
I vote for the Bonei Olam organization for bringing hundreds of lives into this world.
Rabbi Noach Weinberg ZT”L
Rav Avigdor Miller Z”L
My vote is for the city of Lakewood for serving as the ihr hatorah.
thanks to r’ aaron kotler. He’s my runner up.
the contribution they made was so profound, as all segments of yiddishkeit has such a tremendous achdus (which lasted for only a week) but let us all know that we can live b’achdus.
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel
…V’al zeh Abit Al O’ni V’Necheh Ruach V’Choreid Al D’vorey…
ALL who fit that bill are ‘Jewish Men of the Year’..
The Gemata says that torah scholars hold up the world. thus I’d like to nominate all the yeshiva people that are devoting their lives to learning torah.
The SHottenstein Family for making Torah avilable to all types throught the English Gemara.
R’ Mosey Kaplan ,esteemed YDT alumnus.
The Honorable Mr. Bernard Madoff
The award should go to all the shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt’l, who, with mesirus nefesh, reach out to every yid all over the world.
THE POSHUTAH KOLLEL YUNGERMAN IN LAKEWOOD
Yeshiva University a great makom torah.
Reb Misnaggid: The Lubavitcher Rebbe was niftar before the start of this decade, so he doesn’t qualify.
Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz
I vote for the kollel yungeleit who are holding up the world. And their devoted nshei chayil.
I think this “fasination in awards” isn’t a Yiddishe idea. And especially for us little people to messure such things is trully uncomprehendable for people who believe in a spiritual system that runs above the phisycal world. It is therefore impossible to place a yardstick to such things… Just my opinion.
Hagaon rav Chaim Kanievsky. Fore answering every shailah you can think of and even those you haven’t. A true tzaddik. He is the man of the decade. May he have arichas yomim
Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum zt”l
A true giant in harbotzas hatorah
without him, most learning programs wouldn’t be around.
Yehi zichro boruch
The Bostoner Rebbe
a hero of kiruv
Rav Shmuel Berenbaum – who showed us what living Torah means
artscroll shas
My wonderful husband.
Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz for giving us a newspaper worthy of bringing into our home! Shkoyach Rav Pinchos. You are the man of the last 20 years!
Al gore for inventing the internet, which has brought us so much Torah and inspiration.
Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg, Rav Leibish Teielbaum, Rav Benzion kruman, Norma Schvartzblatt for uniting Klal Yisroel. The Mumbai victims did what no one else could do. hashem yinkom domom
Rabbi Simcha Scholar and Chai Lifeline for all they do for people stricken with terrible illness.
rav shmuel kamenetzky whose ahavas yisroel is unbelievable
I would vote for the indian hair shaitel. Nothing affected world jewry like that tumult.
I WOULD SAY THOSE THAT SIT AND LEARN. BUT THEY’RE ALWAYS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTERS SO THAN COMES KIRUV (WICH IT SEEMS TO ME THAT) NO ONE COMES CLOSE TO URI ZOHAR AND LEV LE ACHIM THEY HAVE BROUGHT BACK THE MOST JEWS
The Yungerman- who is overworked and underpaid and is truly holding up the world! (and by the way, I’m a Baal Habos!)
HaGoan R’ Shmuel, who is the epitome of a gadol.
Irving Moskovitz,, the builder and supporter of Eretz Yisroel.
the Belzer Ruv in Yerushalayim, who gives all he has to improve the matzav of the klal yisroel, through many channels especially through the belzer newspaper Hamachne Hachareidi.
There is no one like Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis.
Rabbi eli Gewirtz and partners in torah
REB MOSHE SHERER
What he did for American Jewry will never be surpassed. Nobody will ever accomplish what he has done for American Jewry, nobody will even come close.
The Orthodox Union Kashrus Division
by far the largest kashrut organization. With them, we’d be decades behind.
so my ballot goes to Rabbi Genack and the OU
Rush Limbaugh
Hagaon Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita. May he live to 120 years. He had major impact on history and had impact politically and guided various communities. Shaped them like no one has ever. Read Marc Shapiros thesis on him!
Every city has their own “The Greatest Jew”. In Chicago that Jew is Rabbi Motty Finkel who has given a decade of his life to help people in Chicago who were suffering. Whether it was at-risk teens, disabled people or unemployed baalei mishpacha, no problem was too big for him to instill hope and do his utmost to correct the situations.
Someone above wrote Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum and I second that. A great man. Irreplacable
Former President George W Bush had the greatest impact int hat he stood by the Jews and Israel throughout his presidence. He by far had the greatest impact on the security of the Jews. (Of course he was a messenger of G-d, but he was impactful and inspiring and a great man.)
R’ shlomo carlebach – his music continues to touch souls like no one else’s
THE GREATEST PERSON OF THE CENTURY IS THE YIDDISHE MAMMEH. THE JEWISH MOTHER. WITHOUT THE JEWISH MOTHERS, OUR NATION WOULD DISAPPEAR.
Sholom Rubashkin for showing all Yidden how to deal with adversity
Sholom Mordechai ben Rivkah l’yeshuah
Harav Hagaon
Rav Yosef Sholom Eliashev
R’Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin 🙂
Harav Meyer Brull Shlita of Lakewood, a rising star in the shidduch field.
Rabbi Yaakov Bender of far Rovckoway
the greatest mechanech this side of the alps
Harav Binyomin Moskovitz
Hey Albert, I love you. After the Rebbe’s passing, Lubav and the signature Chabad Houses grew exponentially thruout the planet. So A . Einstein, if you wanna get technical on the timeline, I withdraw my nomination of the Rebbe, and would like to nominate the 1000’s of men and women on the Front lines who spread the Light of Torah at your local CHABAD HOUSE. Remeber, EVERY Jew is Holy
Yiddin should not be voting like this. It is such a slap to Toras Hashem!
Aaron kotler and michael inzelbuch
Helping lakewood 24/7
The Rebbe who teaches grade 3. Who sacrifices wealth to instill in the youth the values and traditions that we hold so dearly. They worked this decade so to ensure the next one exists!
A Groyser Shcoyach!
Rabbi Pinny Stern
The Gerrer Rebbe Shlita.
Rabbi Yissochor Frand and Rabbi Efraim Wachsman, two of the most eloquent speakers in our community. And Rabbi Krohn
rabbi avrohom birnbaum of yated – the only person who reports daas torah and torah haskafa regularly
my vote is for the jewish websites that make a kiddush hashem
LIPA SCHMELTZER!!!
I can’t believe nobody mentioned him yet! He’s mamesh amazing! Who else in Klal Yisroel fosters more Achdus, the main ingredient in bringing Moshiach, than LIPA?
Betzalel Myers, Ruth Wachtel, Dr. Harvey Kaplan and of course the unforgettable Feidmans. True role models.
On a more serious note, the jewish mman of the decade would have to be none other than Lipa who has touched so many lives in so many ways.
HANDS DOWN WINNER: The dedicated members of Hatzolah IN ALL OUR COMMUNITIES who put their lives on hold for us.
THANK YOU HATZAOLAH FOR ALL YOU DO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reb Reuven Schron, a baal chessed and baal tzedaka whose activities are known to few. a tzaddik yesod olam.
The Kollel Wife.
Aish Hatorah wish brought back so many yidden. I have been to Aish at the Kotel dozens of times. what Goes on there is astonishing. Just amazing.
We don’t rate people and this is wrong!!!!! We are supposed to emulate Hashem and we all know that in Hashem’s eyes we don’t know (as they say)whose blood is redder. This is not a torahdigga thing to do and by the comments it is clear that this will get us nowhere and only lead to hock, loshon Hora and Motzi Shem Ra.
Please don’t go through with this and please R”L don’t C”V publish any “winner”
rav malkiel kotler head of the biggest yeshiva
since it doesn’t have to be a jew, i say it is someone like mahmoud ahmadinejad or arafat, because he causes yidden to do teshuva. so maybe they make the greatest impact, unfortunately.
REB HERSCHEL FRIEDMAN OF MONTREAL
Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff
We are not just talking about fine, nice people. We are talking about people who have an impact all over. I thus vote for Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum as well whose impact is unquantifiable.
rav yitzchak zilberstein, son in law of rav elyashiv, author of aleinu lehsbaeich
Rabbi Bald from Irgun Shiurai Torah. Responsible for tens of thousands of shiurim.
Rabbis Scherman & Zlotowitz. who can match the impact they have?
In America Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky
In eretz Yisroel Rav Elyashiv
Dr. and Mrs. Shanik
Rav Yisroel Belsky
Posek of Klal Yisroel
The Lamud Vuv Tzadikim.
Chabad and their shluchim all over the globe
Rabbi Yanky Meyer and Misaskim – holy holy holy Jews!
in terms of impact, i would go with either hatzolah or the artscroll people
From my firsthand knowledge, I vote for the maggidei shiur of Daf Hayomi who give up their lives to give their shiurim
Sounds like the most popular are:
Artscroll
Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky
Rav Elyashiv
Rav Noach Weinberg
Hatzolah
All worthy!
I agree with OY Vey #83. This should be something to be used as food for thought for each of us to think about – period!. This is not the Jewish way to list people and talk about them like this.
I fully agree with #60
and…
Rabbi Shalom Greenberg Chief Rabbi of Chabad-Shanghai, China
Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks for his devotion and Mesures Nefesh for all Yiden who are there for business or for whatever means. May Hashem pay him back for all his good deeds – Kefla Kaflaim -Bracha, Hatzlocha, Gezunt & Nachas
Harav Moshe Brown Shlita he has learned for the last decade straight keeping the world standing!
All CHESED ORGANIZATIONS
-Hatzolah, Shomrim, Chaveirim
-Satmar Bikur Cholim, Chesed of New Square, Bobov, Yad Efraim, Kossoin etc for all their delicious & heartwarming fresh meals
-Chesed rooms and Food Kitchens in hospitals
-Hilf
-Chesed -car rides to hospitals
-Gemach Hatzolah-car rides to hosp.
-Zichron Shloime, RCCS, Chai Lifeline
-Bonei Olam, A Time
These are only a few…the list goes on and on… In this Zechus we should all be healthy and see only nachas and be Zoche to the redemption! NOW
OUR PARENTS – WHO ELSE IF NOT THEM….
R’ Chaim Shaul Jurkansky
Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch – Rosh Hashivah of Slobodka Yeshivah
Those who support the kollel yungeleit
Three greatest Rabbi, Speaker, Rosh Yeshiva and Askan for Torah Judaism (especially for our less fortunate brothers and sisters of the former soviet union) is , hands down:
Harav Shmuel Dishon Shlita
TO ALL THE REBBES & SIBLINGS WHO ARE STILL IN UNITY AND NOT FIGHTING…
SHOLOM…..PEACE……TZVISHEN YIDDEN…
I’ll go with Artscroll – Rabbis Scherman, Zlotowitz and Reb Shia Brander
Lipa, MBD, Paysach Krohn,yehuda green, the speakers and singers who are the most respected baavonosaynu harabim! they have more hashpah on our generation then anyone else!!!
RAV MEIR HERSHKOWITZ AND RAV SIMCHA SCHUSTAL, ROSHEI YESHIVA STAMFORD
THE HOLIEST JEWS IN THE WORLD.
Berel Wein
Read by Jews of all denominations
how bout moishile holtzberg or rav amnon yitchak
Rabbi Herman Neuberger
Most of the above are good choices. What is the common denominator among many of them ? Whenever they had problems or needed advise, they turned to Rav Zelig Epstein ztl for guidance and encouragmeent. I nominate him as the person who made the greatest impact from behind the scenes, helping the others to make the up-fromt cotributions that they did.
the Shluchim of Chabad.
Yad L’Achim, They work all the time, mamash with mesirus nefesh!
THE BOBOVER RUV
REB SLOIME Z”L
I CANT BELIEVE NOBODY MENTIONED HIM BEFORE!!!!
Rav Shach, hands down. No one touched so many Jews with the importance of learning Torah and osek b’mitzvos.
ronnie greenwald
I think both the educators of our youth, as well as the proprietors of stores that service our Frum Kehillos.
matzav, please close this article down.this is not the torah way. you never see this kind of thing in the torah.
Joe “Kidush Hashem” Lieberman.
Dr, Shanik—4 sure…he’s always there for the well being of the comuunity’s children, our future!
Rav Noach Weinberg / Rav Shmuel Berenbaum / Rav Zelik Epstein.
Rav binyomin moskovitz from yeshivas medrash shmuel his dedication and contributions too Jews from all over the world is truly legendary
judaism is not about awards but every day furfiling your god sent mission.