Biography
Aharon Lichtenstein was born to Yechiel Lichtenstein and Bluma née Schwartz in Paris, France, but grew up in the United States, where he studied in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin under Yitzchak Hutner as well as Ahron Soloveichik.[4] He earned a BA at Yeshiva University in 1953, and semicha ("rabbinic ordination") at YU's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary under Joseph B. Soloveitchik, whose daughter, Tovah, he would later marry. He received an M.A. in 1954 and a PhD in English Literature in 1957 at Harvard University, where he studied under Douglas Bush.[5][6]
Lichtenstein married Tovah Soloveitchik on January 26, 1960.[7] They had six children: Mosheh, Yitzchak, Meir, Esti, Shai and Tonya.[8][9]
After serving as Rosh Yeshiva/Kollel at Yeshiva University for several years, Lichtenstein answered Yehuda Amital's request in 1971 to join him at the helm of Yeshivat Har Etzion, located in Gush Etzion, and moved to Jerusalem. He maintained a close connection to Yeshiva University as a Rosh Kollel for the Gruss Institute in Jerusalem, an affiliate of Yeshiva University and its rabbinical school, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
In 2005, he and his wife moved to Alon Shvut, where Yeshivat Har Etzion is located.
On January 4, 2006, Yaakov Medan and Baruch Gigi were officially invested as co-roshei yeshiva alongside Amital and Lichtenstein, with an eye toward Amital's intention to retire.[10] On October 28, 2008, Lichtenstein's eldest son, Mosheh Lichtenstein, was officially invested as co-Rosh Yeshiva, simultaneous with Amital's official retirement, this time with an eye toward Aharon Lichtenstein's eventual plan to retire.[11]
He advocated for worldview embracing elements of modernity within the framework of a Torah life, reflecting the tradition of his teacher and father-in-law, Joseph B. Soloveitchik in line with Centrist Orthodoxy.[12][13]
Lichtenstein was awarded the Israel Prize for Jewish Literature on Israeli Independence Day: May 6, 2014.[1] He died on April 20, 2015.[14] He was a source of inspiration for a wide circle of Jewry, for both his educational attainments and his intellectual and spiritual leadership.[15] He was especially admired by many centrist Modern Orthodox leaders as well as many in the Religious Zionist camp.[16]
