Yeshayahu Leibowitz
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Yeshayahu Leibowitz (Hebrew: ישעיהו ליבוביץ; 1903-1994) was an Israeli philosopher and scientist noted for his outspoken and often controversial opinions on Judaism, ethics, religion and politics.
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[edit] Life and career
Yeshayahu Leibowitz was born in Riga in 1903. In 1919 he studied chemistry and philosophy at the University of Berlin. After completing his doctorate in 1924, he went on to study biochemistry and medicine, receiving an MD in 1934 from the University of Basel. He immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1935 and settled in Jerusalem, joining the faculty of Hebrew University the following year. He became a professor of biochemistry in 1941 and was promoted to the position of senior professor of organic chemistry and neurology in 1952. After retiring in 1970, he continued to teach philosophy and the history of science.
Leibowitz's younger sister, Nechama Leibowitz, was a world famous Bible scholar. His son, Elia, was chairman of the astrophysics department at Tel Aviv University and the longest-serving director of the Wise Observatory.[1] The conductor and composer René Leibowitz was Leibowitz's cousin.
[edit] Political views
An Orthodox Jew, Leibowitz was known primarily for his philosophical writings and scathing critique of Israeli values and national policy. His remarks shortly after the Lebanon War in 1982 accusing Israeli soldiers of "Judeo-Nazi" mentality provoked a public outcry. While such remarks led some to conclude that he was an anti-Zionist, [1] Leibowitz repeatedly affirmed his belief in the validity of the Zionist endeavor, both in writing and in conversation, throughout his life.
[edit] Religious philosophy
Leibowitz also held controversial views on the subject of Jewish Law. He wrote that the only purpose for performing religious commandments was to obey God. He disagreed with the view that Halakhah should be followed either for reward in the world to come or for any benefit in this world. He maintained that the reasons for religious commandments were beyond man's understanding as well as irrelevant, and any attempt to attribute emotional significance to the performance of mitzvot was misguided and akin to idolatry. Leibowitz took a markedly negative view of Christianity, Kabbalah, Chasidism, as well as any other teaching or popular movemement stressing emotion over performance of commandments.[citation needed]
Concerning homosexuality, Leibowitz argued that although it was out of phase with the halacha, homosexual Jews should still attempt to meet other Jewish laws; he shared Zadok HaKohen's belief that homosexuality could not be controlled.[2]
[edit] Lectures and published work
Leibowitz served as the editor of the Encyclopaedia Hebraica in its early stages, Apart from his innumerable articles and essays, Leibowitz authored a wide range of books on philosophy, human values, Jewish thought, the teachings of Maimonides, and politics. Many of his lectures and discourses, including those given as part of the "Broadcast University" project run by Israeli Army Radio, were subsequently compiled and printed in book form. Leibowitz was a prolific letter-writer and his advice or comment was sought out widely. A first collection of his letters (in Hebrew) was published posthumously in 1999.
[edit] Israel Prize
In 1993, he was nominated for the Israel Prize. Before the award ceremony, Leibowitz was invited to speak to the Israel Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, where his controversial remarks calling upon Israeli soldiers to refuse orders triggered outrage. The jury convened to discuss the possibility of withdrawing the prize, but Leibowitz himself announced that he would refuse to accept it, because he did not want to create antagonism when receiving the prize. [3]
[edit] Death
Yeshayahu Leibowitz died at his home on August 18, 1994.
[edit] References
- ^ Templeton Research Lectures on the Constructive Engagement of Science and Religion :: Speaker Bios
- ^ Journal of Homosexuality, volume 52, issue 3/4, Gay, Orthodox, and Trembling: The Rise of Jewish Orthodox Gay Consciousness, 1970s-2000s, by Yaakov Ariel
- ^ Uri Avnery: Israel's Conscientious Objectors
