With God in Hell.

Coming to Terms with Daily Jewish

Observance in the Death Camps.

by Yeshayahu Balog

1/15/2017 Responsa 1
 Introduction
• Many types of Jews
• Many experiences of
Shoah
• Our purpose: The
experience of the
“religious” Jew
– “Halachic Man”
– Hasidic Jew

1/15/2017 Responsa 2
 “Halachic Man”
• Term coined by Rabbi Joseph Dov
Soloveitchik (1903-1993)
• Three types of personality:
– Scientist
– Homo religiosus
– Halachic man

1/15/2017 Responsa 3
Transcendental
reality Transcendental
reality
Scientist
Homo Religiosus

Immanent reality
Halachic Man

Transcendental
reality
Transcendental
reality
1/15/2017 Responsa 4
 The Scientist
A posteriori approach A priori approach
(Empiricist) (Rationalist)
• 1st: Jump into reality • 1st: Construction of ideal
and observe it
world
• 2nd: Thinking about
order, and theory of • 2nd: Comparing it to
lawfulness reality
• E.g.: Biologist • E.g.: Mathematician

1. 2.
2. 1.

1/15/2017 Responsa 5
 Question
• To whom can the Halachic Man be
compared?
– To the empiricist?
– To the rationalist?

1/15/2017 Responsa 6
 The Halachic Man: like
mathematician
Ideal world Real world
Torah and Halacha Comparing ideal, a
(ideal world, a priori priori image to it
creation)

1/15/2017 Responsa 7
 The Holocaust
Ideal world Real world =
Torah and Halacha Holocaust
(ideal world, a priori Comparing ideal, a
creation) priori image to it

Responsa during
the Holocaust

1/15/2017 Responsa 8
 Rabbi Ephraim Oshry
(1914-2003)

• Rabbi in Ghetto Kaunas, Lithvania

• Jews asked him halachic questions
• Collection of responsa
• 1944-1950: Yeshiva in Rome
• 1950-1952: Montreal
• 1952-2003: New York
1/15/2017 Responsa 9
 Hassidic Jew

• Belief in Zaddik
• Devine Providence
• Love of God
• Love of Fellow Jew
• Happiness
The Satmarer Rebbe
in Mitzve-Tanz
1/15/2017 Responsa 10