Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo: The Vilna Gaon (Jewish Biography as History)

Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo, the 18th century Talmudic scholar better known as The Vilna Gaon, is revered as the father of traditional Lithuanian Judaism. Part of the Jewish Biography as History series available at www.henryabramson.com.
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[@sophiebigot-goldblum4448]

toda raba form France! What a chance we have to be allowed to follow lectures from around the globe. keep it up!

[@ithila6712]

Interesting and so well presented. I totally enjoy your lectures. Thank you for making them available.

[@ithila6712]

*waves hullo from sunny Dallas, Texas*

[@menuchahats6760]

thank you Dr. Abramson. a lot of information without reading a page for a dyslectic like me is thoroughly satisfying. yashar koach

[@jazzgrackle1021]

I found this while starting my reading of “ Israel: A history by Martin Gilbert” I appreciate the information, as well as the contextualization.

[@Headhunter_212]

Thanks again Dr A. Another banger that I re-listened to on a longish drive from NYC to MHV after a stressful day. You have an all-galaxy dad joke game. Don’t go changin’ I’ve been deep-diving the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth these days Thanks for the continued inspiration. I can say with complete confidence that I am not related to the Vilna Gaon.

[@TDWUSA]

Another Excellent Lecture Todah Rabbah Dean A, Mr R, and The Brilliant Ms A

[@Bittzen]

I think when people try to cling and claim ancestry to someone and brag of it, it's indicating they aren't doing anything useful in their life and need to brag about someone else's life, sometimes like parents with their children. However, as a convert in-progress to Orthodox Judaism, I've been researching different Jewish hashkafa and Jewish history, and I find the Vilna Gaon to be extremely like-minded to myself, and I can even relate to him on the personal level. Yes, I take studying that seriously, and I don't use ice and water for my feet to stay awake, but I use it by putting my left hand in it and with salt, too. Apparently, many Modern Orthodox Jews know nothing about him, and people I meet that know a bit about him don't like him. He's such an amazing person to learn about, take notes from, and even more amazing, his commentaries and writings are fantastic. I have come to despise chasidic the more I learn about it, not the people but the ideology, and it's very Christian to me, as a former Christian. I would even say it's disgusting. I think a lot of the speculation around the Vilna Gaon allegedly only not liking chasidim because of a confusion with them and Shabtai Tzvi is just that, speculation, and I don't believe a man like him was so blind that he just wrote them off without any reason other than a supposed Shabtai Tzvi relationship. Remember, as the historian is telling us, chabad made changes after the Vilna Gaon's criticism, and they're the most torah-centered chasidic group out there for the most part. I think the Vilna Gaon's reasons for being wary of chasidut is that they focus all on the say of one individual, they deviated from Torah (this is objective history) and allocated a lot of time away from Torah to instead use for "prayer" (the hasidic thought of what prayer means, which I think has been influenced by Christianity and is foreign to Tanach), hitbodedut, dancing, singing, socializing. As I convert, I'll either choose the minchagim of Mizrahi, since the first synagogues I went to were Persian and Syrian in NYC, or take on Ashkenaz minchagim and continue the thought experiments that the Vilna Gaon started. I want to also write more and do more research on hasidut and the pros and cons of it, and this will be a critique, probably likely to generate a lot of hate and feedback. I don't care; people need to hear the truth and leave their bubbles. The only bad things we hear about Judaism, from Jews and nonjews alike, are always from teachings in hasidut or hasidic rebbeim. Of course, that's aside from crazy nonjewish "critiques" of Jews, like saying Jews are devils, worship Satan, etc. That's just Christian new testament misquotations of Tanach and mistranslation nonsense. If anyone has any advice or pointers for reading, let me know. I also want to learn biblical Hebrew, mishnaic Hebrew, and Aramaic as fast as possible, if you have advice. I did a lot of independent linguistic research and learned to speak fluent Chinese, so I'll be able to figure it out. Main problem is financial, time-management, career, and if I'm going to try to be a great sage and scholar while being an economist, get into asset management, and get my CFA at the same time. For context, if it helps in giving me advice, I'm 22 in the US in NYC.

[@dbmgna3951]

Pilpul, my impression, a beautiful way to create Tifereth and is a nice compliment to the Vilana Gaon Z’tl approach to understanding the text. I love the concept of creating neurosynaptic connections the use of Pilpul with the Vilna Gaon’s approach.

[@jazzgrackle1021]

can you give me some good writings that represent the best of pilpul?

[@dbmgna3951]

My Husband is a direct descendant of Volozhiner. His Grandfather, Rabbi Aaron Hyman, Rabbi of note and student of the Yeshiva of Volozhin, married a woman whose ancestors studied under Volozhiner Rebbe, and would go to His descendants for Shidduchim. C

[@ayelefenta2781]

Gaon means genius not pride or arrogant!! vilna gaon was the giant genius of the tanakh the talmud every jewish law and teaching!!!the genius of vilna!!!

[@user-zv9um9pb6w]

Thats what it means coloqually but the pashat def is as said

[@natashacarruthers779]

Thank you Dr. Abramson, very informative.

[@heatherbc4073]

Very interesting, as I recently discovered that he was my 10th great grandfather. Learning all I can about him. Thank you for the information you presented.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you found it useful.

[@ExploringtheKawithRa]

I think every Jew from Lithuania claims this

[@catyronwode]

My cousin.

[@proudpharisee5303]

Wow

[@dbmgna3951]

I thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu for using the Vilna Gaon’s holding in Torah to challenge Chassidus (which I hold in along w my understanding of misnagdim). If indeed HaShem created with ‘labor’ so to speak, maybe HaShem felt that Chassidus would also required a birth through labor, including that which that which the Vilna Gaon seems to have presented the Chassidim with. Today we might reflectively find gratitude in that this ‘resistance’ and caution empowers the validity, growth and Koach of Chassidus as a path in Service to HaShem.

[@Cosmos142857]

The Dubno Maggid story and the the stories of Rabbis' collective 'contracts' of criticism are indicative of a very secretive work and understanding as opposed to the simplistic Intellectual exercising of various ideation. Great Lectures-thanks.

[@editamongirdaite6006]

I am from a town Keidan in Lithuania where Vilna Gaon lived in 1727.

[@dbmgna3951]

Is there an online resource for descendants antecedents of both of the Vilna Gaon and Volozhiner Rebbe?

[@MosheShperling]

Hi! Thanks for the interesting lecture. I think it is important to bring here a few more points: 1. the person you have mentioned in your lecture Peseles (might be i do not spell his name correctly) was one of the oppositioners to the chasidim - he actualy was a hidden maskil and he constantly was bringing to the vilna Gaon stories regarding the chasidim. His motivation is known but it is not a place to write it here. 2. one of the points of the machloket besides lashon hora was a disagreement regarding understanding of Arizal's idea of tzimtzum. Either it was literary or not. Alter Rebbe writes in his book of Tanya that the tzimtzum is only towards the creations but not towards HaShem and Gaon Mivilna disagreed with it saying that to say that HaShem is present in certain unclean places is not appropriate towards Him.

[@proudpharisee5303]

That’s not what it was about. In all honesty nobody should be talking about this subject on KZbin or even think they know what the argument was about

[@veaudor]

Wonderful lecture!

[@clarevickers4105]

really enjoyed this thank you

[@joshwander7007]

He didn’t wear Tefilin 20/7, as it is forbidden to wear them at night and on Shabbos...

[@benovadia2076]

First of all this lecture expanded my the little knowleage I knew about the Vilna Gaon. Going into this video I thought I knew basic info, but really I didn't. For example I loved how you got into detail on his interests and hobbies. I knew he was well versed in torah knowleage but I didn't know he was culturally educated in so many languages. I also loved the aspect that he was considered a hero because his knowledge surpassed any other of his time. This really portrays the power of an education and taught me a valuable lesson.

[@dbmgna3951]

My understanding is that one definition of learning is retrieving of knowledge HaShem’s Angel taught us in the womb.

[@dbmgna3951]

Sounds like Pilpul is a different level of ‘owning’ Torah’ knowledge

[@kwyzi]

thanks - wonderful

[@littlestarbisguerreroeruim6582]

Todah, rabbi. thumbs up.

[@dbmgna3951]

I seek the pieces you put aside. All these things you say that are difficult to understand, I think that perhaps one needs to see and grow insights based on the ideal. Slowand steady, allowing one to attain the level you work for and HaShem allows. So hearing about the Gaon is about creating a vision of attainment. Thank you.

[@0benlolo]

The story I know regarding the Duvna Magid is as follows: the maggid told the Gaon try being a gaon outside to that the Gaon replayed I'm not interested in kuntzim. The maggid did not break him that time the oppisste is accurate.

[@smurclebass]

someone told me inthe name of rav neventzal's books on the parsha the story written with the dubno maggid was said differently. rav neventzal says that the vilna gaon said one can't put himself into נסיונות

[@davidsavage6324]

Why doesnt he have his own section on the Bomberg-style Daf?

[@daniel-meir]

The root גאה means high. Gaon is a noun from this root. The heads of the Mesopotamian academies (yeshivot) were called so on the analogy with title of nasi used for the head of the council of the rabbis (sanhedrin) earlier. The root נשא in Tora literally means 'high', not 'carry' as in the modern Hebrew. Why I am writing all this?! Because the 'pride' meaning of גאה is a derived meaning, not the original. Neither it means 'genius' as in the modern Hebrew.

[@dand1260]

Thanks for sharing!

[@GD-me2lv]

Wow. Just what I was looking for. I actually visited the Vilna Gaon's home in the center of Vilna, now a huge, imposing bust as well as his gravesite, which took some effort, but ended up being quite an experience. I'm just starting to watch your lecture now, but can you confirm that the Eliyahu Stern book is an excellent biography of the Vilna Gaon, regardless if the author's over-arching theme is on solid ground (which I wouldn't know anyway!!)??

[@ExploringtheKawithRa]

Henry Abramson have you read Joel David Bakst books on the Gaon

[@caocau8859]

Vilnius* I know its 6 years ago but alas.

[@billzen]

I claim no relationship but my Great-Great-Grandfather (Abraham Goldstein) was from Vilna.

[@dbmgna3951]

Any relationship to the Goldstein Family in Volozhin

[@enigma9306]

Why did he close he door so the students wouldn't here, then simply go and tell the students what he said anyway? Just a funny thing I noticed, great lecture though, it is very hard to find much about the man, thank you.

[@enigma9306]

It's only a joke question, don't mind it. I am a Christian, but I still find the lifestyle of the Vilna Gaon to be inspiring, and have attempted to live in a similar fashion in my study and devotion to the scriptures. I even have a similar sleep pattern haha :) So it was great to finally find a lecture of this manner about one of my heroes, your series is very informative and entertaining, much thanks :) God Bless

[@markjacobi3537]

Great lecture - very interesting., I listened from here in Melbourne Australia. Why didn't you mention in detail the famous account from the Brisk tradition about the 2 Chassidic leaders one of them The Baal HaTanya visiting Vilna and trying to meet theVilna Gaon and bring true Shalom between the Chassidim and Mitnagdim? There are I believe different versions of the story according to one Tradition I heard is that if these great Sages would of met - Moshiach would of been already here(May he come speedily in our days NOW!) One of our cousins married a direct descendant of The Vilna Gaon Tzl and he is a judge in the courts here in Australia.

[@moshdee456]

Dr. Abramson mentions that the Ba'al HaTanya's request to meet with the Gr"a was rejected 3 times in his lecture on the Ba'al HaTanya if you want to hear it

[@isaiahpollack]

13:34 20/6 right? Can't wear tefillin on Shabbos

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Right

[@dbmgna3951]

You use the term ‘Jewish Culture. Please define this so I can clearly understand what you are saying. To me it is odd terminology for a Yid to use, perhaps are you saying HaShem via The Mesorah centric Your clarification will be appreciated.

[@davidsavage6324]

Ah... I wanted to hear the Rabbi point...

[@midishh]

He loved his kids.

[@dovbarleib3256]

So, the five Books of Moshe are sacrosanct. Did the GR"A amend Shmuel Aleph, Melachim Bet, Jeremiah, or Sefer Daniel??? You only mentioned that he did not amend the Written Torah.

[@proudpharisee5303]

He did not amend any of the written writings

[@nursaranadiabintiabdulrahi4481]

👍👍

[@chaimschnitzer9342]

My mother told me that her ancestor was born through a blessing from the vilner gaon

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Interesting

[@muchimi]

Im a great great.............grandson!!

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

That’s great

[@davidsugarman2227]

I just found out that he his my great great great great great great grandfather

[@goldengun9970]

Me too. I am one of his ancestors. How are you doing cousin

[@davidsugarman2227]

@@goldengun9970 no way which side ?

[@goldengun9970]

@davidsugarman2227 my mother's side. Was very happy to find out about such yichus

[@bwanatise]

Is that a styrofoam cup?

[@junaid1]

The Vilna Gan may be a greater genius than Einstein in the Jewish World but Universally, Einstein was the greater genius, In the view of the Gaon presented here, he was quite a quirky genius, eccentric and an absentee father and husband...closer to the Steve Jobs of Jewish genius. No wonder he abhorred Hassidut...he was too anti social to appreciate it.

[@proudpharisee5303]

😂 you know this how? Stop spewing

[@goldengun9970]

Not sure how you try to judge Einstein above him. Weird

[@AmadeuShinChan]

:incomprehensible-Tora(:no-contract)-exaggerations(:no-contract)....OAO

[@76olimpo]

🇮🇱

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

ok