Rabbi Howard Morrison

In 1982, I was accepted to the rabbinical school of the Jewish Theological Seminary. As a Yeshiva day school graduate, I had the option to place out of first year Talmud by taking an oral exam of a chapter by my choice. There I sat in the office of an unfamiliar Talmud professor with my volume of Talmud in my backpack. I came prepared to read and explain some thirty pages. When the teacher asked what I had prepared, he started firing questions at me without either of us having an open book. Nervous as could be, I asked if I could use my book. I had not memorized the chapter. I would learn that he knew the whole Talmud by heart.

This was my introduction to Rabbi David Weiss Halivni who died this week. I would soon learn that he was a Gadol Ha'Dor, one of the great sages of our generation. A survivor of the Shoah, he knew and learned with Elie Wiesel. Rabbi Halivni served on the faculty of JTS for many years before moving on to teach at Columbia University and  ultimately settling in Israel. There, he was awarded a prize in Talmud several years ago.

His academic excellence included his several volume collection called "Mekorot U'Mesorot," in which he analyzed manuscripts of the Talmud searching for the original and authentic rendition of the text.

Rabbi Halivni was one of the most humble people I ever knew. On Friday evenings, he delivered a brief beautiful gem of Torah during services. At the Seminary synagogue, he prayed in a simple but dignified manner which inspired me and others.

He was a sage, scholar, and a rabbi's rabbi.

Yhi zichro baruch - May his memory be a blessing. 

Sincerely,
Rabbi Howard Morrison