Soloveitchik, Joseph Dov (1903–1993). Born in Lithuania into the
Brisk Rabbinic dynasty. A child prodigy, Soloveitchik went to Germany to
receive a Ph.D. in religious philosophy. On immigrating to the United States,
he taught Talmud for decades at Yeshiva University in New York City and founded
the Orthodox day school Maimonides, outside of Boston. He was arguably the
leading Torah figure in the United States in the second half of the 20th
century. Rav Soloveitchik combined profound Torah knowledge and secular
erudition. Thousands of his students refer to him simply as “the Rav” or “the
Teacher.” Halachic Man is a prime example of his dialectical thought.
Courtesy: Professor Shai Cherry
