Hillel Goldberg

Last updated

Rabbi Hillel Goldberg is an American newspaper publisher, author, scholar of modern Jewish history, and student of the Musar movement. He is editor and publisher of the Intermountain Jewish News in Denver, Colorado, and an ordained rabbi.

Contents

Early life and education

Goldberg was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He later reflected on the independent streak of Jews in the West, including Denver, that shaped him. [1] Goldberg began his journalism career as a student at George Washington High School, where he published Tempo magazine with Richard Gould. [2] Tempo was featured in Time . [3]

Higher education

Goldberg attended University of California Berkeley, where he tutored minority children in music in Oakland, 1964-1965, and wrote on the Free Speech Movement for Frontier magazine. [4] He completed his undergraduate degree at Yeshiva University, where he was a leading student activist, founding the university's chapter of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry in 1965; [5] tutoring for Head Start in Harlem 1965-1966; co-leading the effort to save the books at Jewish Theological Seminary after a fire in 1966; [6] co-organizing the effort to send volunteers to Israel on the eve of the Six Day War in late May and early June 1967; [7] [8] and founding an underground student newspaper, Pulse, in 1968. [9] Goldberg earned a PhD in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University. [2] [10]

Journalism

Goldberg became editor and publisher of the Intermountain Jewish News in 2017. [2] He had previously served as executive editor. His mother Miriam Goldberg and father Max Goldberg published the newspaper before him (Miriam from 1972-2017; [11] Max from 1943-1972 [12] ). Goldberg’s weekly column “View From Denver” is the longest-running column in Jewish journalism. [13] He has won more Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism than any other person. [14]

Goldberg has worked for the Intermountain Jewish News since 1966. From 1972-1975 he was its Jerusalem correspondent, then from 1975 to 1983 its Israel correspondent. [2] Throughout, he wrote a weekly column, "The View from Jerusalem", for the Intermountain Jewish News , and reviewed books for the Jerusalem Post . [15]

David K. Shipler, The New York Times correspondent in Israel at the time, later wrote of Goldberg in Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land: "I sat over these questions [about the Sabra and Shatila massacres] with my friend Hillel Goldberg, a young lecturer at Hebrew University in Jewish ethics and intellectual history. He was a religious man with a graceful, fine precision of compassion in his reasoning, and our long discussion brought a valuable clarity to my own thinking." [16]

Goldberg's book Israel Salanter: Text, Structure, Idea won the Academic Book Award of the Year award from Choice. [17]

Jewish thought and community life

During the 1970s, Goldberg taught at Michlalah: Jerusalem College for Women. [18] In the 1980s he served as a lecturer in Modern Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University and taught Musar at Jerusalem Torah College (BMT). [19] In 1986, he co-founded an Orthodox Jewish community within a Reform temple in Santa Fe, New Mexico. [13] [20] [21]

Goldberg is considered an expert on the Musar movement, [10] having published books on Rabbi Israel Salanter and other aspects of the movement. Numerous yeshiva deans and heads of musar organizations describe his book The Fire Within as life-changing, with Dr. Alan Morinis, founder of The Mussar Institute, writing "it was the introduction to my spiritual lineage....it holds a special place (for me). [22] " Rabbi Micha Berger notes it was the book "which inspired me to explore musar," a topic which was to become central to his life as founder of the AishDas Society . [23]

In addition to his books on Musar, Goldberg has authored English-language books on Jewish transition figures from Eastern Europe and Shabbat, as well as a Hebrew-language supercommentary on the Vilna Gaon regarding the Halachot (Jewish laws) of mikveh , the Jewish ritual bath. [24]

Goldberg has served on the editorial board of numerous national Jewish publications as well. In 1987, he became the first person to serve in the role of contributing editor for the Jewish Action , [25] and has remained in that role ever since. Goldberg is also the longest serving editor for Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought, having served in various editorial capacities since 1976. [26]

Selected bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musar movement</span> Jewish ethical self-improvement movement

The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Lithuania, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar (מוּסַר), is adopted from the Book of Proverbs (1:2) describing moral conduct, instruction or discipline, educating oneself on how one should act in an appropriate manner. The term was used by the Musar movement to convey the teachings regarding ethical and spiritual paths. The Musar movement made significant contributions to Musar literature and Jewish ethics. The movement has been revived in the 21st century amongst Jews of all denominations, particularly in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yitzchak Hutner</span> American rabbi (1906–1980)

Yitzchak Hutner, also known as Isaac Hutner, was an American Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean).

<i>Mesillat Yesharim</i> 1738 text by Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

Mesillat Yesharim or Mesillas Yeshorim is an ethical (musar) text composed by the influential Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707–1746). It is different from Luzzato's other writings, which are more philosophical.

Yisrael ben Ze'ev Wolf Lipkin, also known as "Israel Salanter" or "Yisroel Salanter", was the father of the Musar movement in Orthodox Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist. The epithet Salanter was added to his name since most of his schooling took place in Salant, where he came under the influence of Rabbi Yosef Zundel of Salant. He was the father of mathematician Yom Tov Lipman Lipkin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aish HaTorah</span> Orthodox Jewish educational organization

Aish HaTorah is an Orthodox Jewish educational organization and yeshiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aharon Lichtenstein</span> Rabbi & Rosh Yeshiva

Aharon Lichtenstein was an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva who was an authority in Jewish law (Halakha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kovno Kollel</span> Jewish educational institution in Kaunas, Lithuania

Kovno Kollel also known as Kollel Perushim of Kovno or Kollel Knesses Beis Yitzchok, was a kollel located in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was founded in 1877 by Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter when he was 67.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaim Grade</span>

Chaim Grade was one of the leading Yiddish writers of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abraham J. Twerski</span> American rabbi and psychiatrist (1930–2021)

Abraham Joshua Heshel Twerski ; October 6, 1930 – January 31, 2021) was an Israeli-American Hasidic rabbi, a scion of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty, and a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld</span> Rabbi and Charedi Council of Jerusalem co-founder (1848–1932)

Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, also spelled Zonnenfeld, was the rabbi and co-founder of the Edah HaChareidis, a Haredi Jewish community in Jerusalem, during the years of the British Mandate of Palestine. Sonnenfeld was born in Verbó in the Austrian Empire. His father, Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Zonnenfeld, died when Chaim was five years old.

The Novardok Yeshiva was one of the biggest and most important yeshivas in pre-World War II Europe, and a powerful force within the Mussar movement. It was the first of hundreds of a network of Musar yeshivas, which were created subsequently. They all assumed the name of Novardok yeshivas.

Yosef Yozel Horowitz, also Yosef Yoizel Hurwitz, known as the Alter of Novardok, was a student of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Musar movement. Horowitz was also a student of Rabbis Yitzchak Blazer and Simcha Zissel Ziv and spent some time in Brest, learning from Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik. He established the Novardok yeshiva in the city of Navahrudak. Additionally, he established a network of yeshivas in Dvinsk, Minsk, Warsaw, Berdichev, Lida and Zetl. Some of his discourses were recorded in the book Madregas Ha-Adam. The most basic and important theme in his book is Bitachon.

<i>Intermountain Jewish News</i> Weekly newspaper published in Denver, Colorado

The Intermountain Jewish News (IJN) is a weekly newspaper serving the Denver-Boulder communities and the greater Rocky Mountain Jewish community (Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yehuda Leib Ginsburg</span> American rabbi (1888–1946)

Yehuda Leib Ginsburg (1888–1946) was a posek and Talmudic scholar in Yaroslavl, Russia, and later in Denver, CO, in the early 20th century. He is most well known for his commentary on the Mishna which he entitled Musar HaMishna, as well as his commentary on the early prophets, titled Musar Hanevim. He also wrote a commentary on the Torah called Yalkut Yehuda and a smaller volume about the essence of Shabbat called Keter HaShabbat. Throughout his works he consistently mines the ethical values found within what seems to be dry legal code. Despite his brilliance Rabbi Ginsburg was known in Denver as being easily approachable and for the warmth he showed to all whom he encountered. He served as the president of the Denver Council of Orthodox Rabbis and was an executive board member for the National Mizrachi and the Union of Orthodox Rabbis. He was also an active member of the Vaad Hatzala Board of Directors.

Rabbi Ira F. Stone is a leading figure in the contemporary renewal of the Musar movement, a Jewish ethical movement.

Musar literature is didactic Jewish ethical literature which describes virtues and vices and the path towards character improvement. This literature gives the name to the Musar movement, in 19th century Lithuania, but this article considers such literature more broadly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yitzchak Blazer</span>

Yitzchak Blazer ‎(1837–1907) was an early important leader of the Musar movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael (Slabodka)</span> Former yeshiva in Vilijampolė, Lithuania

Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael was a yeshiva located in the town of Sloboda Vilyampolskaya in Kovno Governorate of Russian Empire. It functioned from the late 19th century until World War II.

Miriam Goldberg was an American newspaper publisher. From 1972 to 2017 she was the editor and publisher of the Intermountain Jewish News in Denver, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naftali Amsterdam</span> Lithuanian rabbi

Naftali Amsterdam (1832–1916) was a Lithuanian-born Orthodox rabbi and a leader in the Mussar movement.

References

  1. ↑ Landa, Saul H. (2011). A Timeless People. Geffen. pp. 365–366. ISBN   978-9652294869.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, PhD - IJN | Intermountain Jewish News". IJN | Intermountain Jewish News. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  3. ↑ "Magazines: For & By Teen-Agers". Time magazine. Vol. 84, no. 1. July 3, 1964. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "The "Free Speech" Crises at Berkeley, 1964-1965". Online Archive of California. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "A Brief History of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry" (PDF). Russian Speaking Community Council. October 19, 2011. Retrieved 26 Oct 2018.
  6. ↑ Goldberg, Hillel (May 20, 2005). "1966: The library burns down...an opportunity". Intermountain Jewish News.
  7. ↑ Goldberg, Hillel (May 13, 2005). "I.T. and I Rode the Crest in 1967". Intermountain Jewish News. Retrieved 26 Oct 2018.
  8. ↑ Goldberg, Hillel (Spring 2017). "I.T. and I Rode the Crest in 1967". Jewish Action. Retrieved 26 Oct 2018.
  9. ↑ Gottlieb, Rabbi Mel (Spring 2016). "Two Voices". Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Retrieved 26 Oct 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Rabbinical Council of America (RCA)". www.rabbis.org. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  11. ↑ "Miriam H. Goldberg, IJN Editor and Publisher, dies at 100 - IJN | Intermountain Jewish News". IJN | Intermountain Jewish News. 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  12. ↑ yongli (2016-08-15). "Max Goldberg". coloradoencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  13. 1 2 Kobre, Eytan (5 April 2017). "Beyond Nails in a Grocery Store". Mishpacha Magazine. No. 655. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Rabbi Hillel Goldberg - Event - Island Synagogue".
  15. ↑ Numerous editions of the Jerusalem Post, including but not limited to July 5, 1985; Oct. 15 1982; Aug. 21, 1981; April 1, 1983.
  16. ↑ Shipler, David K. (1986). Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land. Times Books. pp.  351-352. ISBN   0-8129-1273-X.
  17. ↑ "Hillel Goldberg".
  18. ↑ "Toward an Understanding of Rabbi Israel Salanter". Tradition. 16 (1): Exact years still needed.
  19. ↑ "A Critique of the American Jewish Day School". Tradition. 19 (4): Exact years still needed.
  20. ↑ Goldberg, Hillel (2013). The Unexpected Road. Philipp Feldheim. pp. Chapter 16. ISBN   9781598269703.
  21. ↑ Goldberg, Hillel Goldberg (Spring 1989). "Santa Fe: An Unprecedented Orthodox (and Reform) Jewish Saga". Jewish Action.
  22. ↑ "Rab Goldberg Introduction".
  23. ↑ "Message 4".
  24. ↑ "Rabbi Hillel Goldberg Finishes His New Book On The Vilna Gaon's Thoughts On The Mikveh | Luke Ford". lukeford.net. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  25. ↑ "Jewish Action". Jewish Action. 47 (3). Fall 1987.
  26. ↑ "Editorial Masthead". Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought. 16 (2). Fall 1976.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.