Moshe Avigdor Amiel

Moshe Avigdor Amiel (1 April 1882 – 27 March 1945) was a Russian rabbi, writer, philosopher, and one of the leaders of the World Mizrachi and Religious Zionism. He served as a rabbi in Švenčionys, Lithuania, Grajewo, Poland, and Antwerp, Belgium, and was the chief rabbi in Tel Aviv.

Early life and education Amiel was born in Porazava, Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire , the first child of Rabbi Yaakov-Yosef and Rivka. Until the age of 13, he studied in the religious schools of the city and with his father. When he was 13 he went to study at the Telshe Yeshiva with Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, Rabbi Shimon Shkop, and Rabbi Yosef Leib Bloch. Later, he went to study at the Brisk Yeshiva with Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, and another year later he went to study in Vilna with the Rabbi Haim Ozer Grodzonski. When Amiel was 18 he received semikhah from the rabbis Meir Simcham of Dvinsk and Joseph Rosen, becoming a rabbi.

Career After the death of Rabbi Pinchas Rozobski, Amiel became the rabbi in the city of Švenčionys, aged 23, and established a yeshiva there. Upon arriving at the railway station in Jerusalem, he was greeted by a large delegation of Orthodox Jews, some of whom had even gone ahead to Alexandria to greet him early. He founded a yeshiva in Tel Aviv that is now named after him.

Writings Rabbi Amiel wrote about a wide range of subjects, including halacha, aggadah, philosophy, and kabbalah. He was particularly influenced by the Lithuanian school of halachic thought, as well as René Descartes and Immanuel Kant. He also wrote nine volumes of ecclesiastical works. Amir Mashiach of Ariel University writes about this: Using Hegelian dialectics, Amiel explained his approach: the thesis (spirit) and antithesis (matter) unite to form a synthesis (complete Judaism). He argued that exile transformed Jewish identity from a multidimensional biblical identity to a one-dimensional rabbinical identity focused solely on spirituality. Religious Zionism aimed to restore Judaism to its original completeness.

List Darkhei Moshe (the way of Moses) — composed between 1912 and 1928, a work on halacha. Hegyonot El Ami — collection of essays. Sermons Unto My People — Composed in 1936, a collection of sermons. HaMiddot LeCheker HaHalakhah (Qualities to expound the Halacha) — Composed between 1933-1939, three-volume work on Jewish legal methodology. LeNevukhei HaTekufah (for the confused of the period) — Amiel's last work; covers topics like belief in God, ethics, and Jewish history.