Yehoshua Neuwirth

Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth (; 15 February 1927 – 11 June 2013) was an eminent Orthodox Jewish rabbi and posek (halakhic authority) in Jerusalem. He was one of the primary students of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and the author of a two-volume Hebrew language treatise, Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchatah — translated into English as Shemirath Shabbath: A practical guide to the observance of Shabbath — a compendium of the laws of Shabbat which is viewed by many as an authoritative work regarding these laws.

In 1946 he immigrated illegally to Palestine, and was detained at Atlit camp before being released and travelling to Jerusalem, where he was accepted at the Kol Torah yeshiva. While in Kol Torah, he became close to one of its lecturers, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.

Rabbinic career At Kol Torah Neuwirth wrote his best-known work on the Sabbath laws, entitled Shemirat Shabbat Kechilchatah. He also established the "Neuwirth Gemach". He lived in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Jerusalem. Neuwirth was a leading disciple of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. While Rabbi Auerbach issued most of his halachic rulings orally, Rabbi Neuwirth publicized many of his teacher's rulings on the laws of Shabbat in his book, first published in Hebrew in 1965. Additionally, 8 of the 32 chapters of this book were devoted to Rabbi Auerbach's rulings on medical halacha. and medical ethics, Rabbi Neuwirth's opinion was frequently cited on issues such as genetic screening, brain death, euthanasia, and AIDS, as well as laws for physicians on Shabbat. He was also a consultant for the Zomet Institute, providing the halakhic authorization for innovations such as the Shabbat lamp and electric wheelchairs on Shabbat.

Published works Chinukh Ha-Banim Le-Mitzvos Ve-Dinei Katan (Educating Children for Mitzvos and Laws of Youth) (Hebrew) The Halachoth of Educating Children Kitzur Dinei Shmita Karkaot (Concise Laws of Shmita) Shemirat Shabbat Kechilchatah (Hebrew), 1965 — translated into English as Shemirath Shabbath: A guide to the practical observance of Shabbath