By Marc Shapiro
I think readers will find interesting a letter, seen above, in the Lieberman archives at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. I was alerted to this by Ariel Fuss. Max Rowe represented the Rothschild Trust which awarded four monetary gifts to outstanding rabbinic scholars. Rowe turned to Lieberman for his recommendations on who should receive the awards. Although today everyone knows about the greatness of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, we see that Lieberman was aware of this fifty years ago, and recommended him for the grant. He even regarded Rav Chaim as greater than his father, the Steipler. Of all the significant figures Lieberman could have suggested, it is fascinating to see whom he chose.
I still have a good deal to write about Lieberman, as I have collected a lot of new material since the publication of Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox. For now, here is a picture of a young Lieberman and his wife, Judith, that has never before appeared in print or online.
I think you should take it down.
Not Bakovodik to include something as ridiculous as ” i consider him superior to his father”
Why not? It could be that he was/is….
whats more important truth or kavod
Mr. Saul Lieberman was a Conservative “rabbi” who espoused heretical ideals contrary to Torah Judaism.
R’ Saul Lieberman was an orthodox scholar, who “davened” three times a day, and happened to take a job in a Conservative institution.
Can you enumerate the “heretical ideals contrary to Torah Judaism”, he allegedly espoused?
Saul Lieberman was a first cousin to Lehavdil the Chazon IshZt”l
This is a real testament to Rav Kanievsky, despite their familial connection. the GRASH was a first cousin once removed from the Chazon Ish, who respected the GRASH despite his relative youth.
To Moishe:
To say Lehavdil is unheard of!
Shaul Lieberman was a frum Jew in private life and a Gevaldige Gaon
He worked for the seminary for parnasa
You need to beg Mechila
Marc Shapiro is a renowned Heretic who delights in ridiculing Chazal and rabbanim. HE has no place on a frum website
Be careful with your words. Purveyors of historical truth are not heretics.
About 35 years ago I first became a Chaplain for the Los Angeles County Jail System. I had a meeting with the current Jewish Chaplain Who I will refer to as “Rabbi D.” I always wear my Yarmika, he did not. During our conversation I had asked him where he was ordained. He replied that he got his Smicha at Yeshiva University. He said that he grew up Orthodox but then he went to the “Conservative side” and remained a Conservative. I placed my hand on his arm and said “You can still do Teshuva.” He looked startled. Without saying another word he got up, walked into the Commander’s office and resigned as Chaplain.
Strange. First of all, both R Schapiro and R Soloveichik were cousins of his wife; it smacks a bit of nepotism. Second, R YB Soloveichik (of Brisk) was far less a talmid chochom than both R Kanievsky and R Shapiro. Third, R Shapiro did not publish a “two volume commentary on…”; he was in the midst of publishing a commentary, and had only published two volumes then. Eventually he published eight volumes!
Also, although R Chaim Kunyevsky is a greater “boki” than his father, never the less his father was a greater “lamdan”. Since R Lieberman was a boki and not a lamdan, in his eyes R Chaim is greater than his father.
I forgot: R Chaim Kunyevsky was his relative. Which makes all three candidates related to him. Although it is true that they were all deserving of a stipend.