Aryeh Lebowitz (born May 17, 1977) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi, author and posek.[1] He is the director of the Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Semikhah Program[2][3] at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University[4] and the founding rabbi and current Mara D'atra of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere.[4][5]
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz | |
|---|---|
 Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz (right) with Rabbis Mordechai Willig (center) and Shalom Rosner (left) at Camp Kaylie | |
| Personal | |
| Born | May 17, 1977 |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Nationality | American |
| Children | 5 |
| Denomination | Modern Orthodox |
| Alma mater | Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, Yeshiva University |
| Position | Founding Rabbi |
| Synagogue | Beis Kenesses of North Woodmere |
| Position | Director of Semikhah |
| Yeshiva | Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary |
| Residence | North Woodmere, NY |
| Semikhah | Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary |
Biography
Lebowitz grew up in the Five Towns.[6] Growing up, he originally wanted to be a lawyer.[7] He attended Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh for two years after high school.[8][9] There he developed a close relationship with Rav Ahron Silver, who encouraged him to pursue a career as a rabbi.[10][11] He then studied at Yeshiva University, where he attended the Sy Syms School of Business[12] and majored in finance.[6] He is a close student of Rav Hershel Schachter.[13][14] Rabbi Lebowitz received semikhah from RIETS and from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.[6]
Rabbi Lebowitz served for three years as assistant rabbi at Congregation Shaaray Tefila in Lawrence,[12] before establishing the Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere in 2004 where he presently serves as rabbi.[4][15][16] Rabbi Lebowitz was previously a maggid shiur at Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for eighteen years until 2016,[1][4][7] when he was hired as a senior maggid shiur at Lander College for Men.[8] Rabbi Lebowitz began as the Director of Semikhah at Yeshiva University in fall 2019.[4] During the summer Rabbi Lebowitz teaches at Camp Kaylie.[17][18]
Rabbi Lebowitz has published numerous articles and several books on the practical applications of Jewish law,[6][1] including authoring three volumes of Hakoneh Olamo, collections of halachic essays in Hebrew.[16] He is popular on YUTorah for his “Ten Minute Halacha” lecture series, as well as his Daf Yomi series.[1][19][20] Rabbi Lebowitz has published over 10,000 shiurim and articles on YUTorah, the most of anyone on the site.[6][21] Rabbi Lebowitz is often invited to speak as a scholar in residence.
Personal life
Lebowitz lives in North Woodmere and has 5 children.[22]
Notable students
- Dovid Bashevkin (DRS)[1]
- Elliot Schrier (DRS)[23]
- Dr. David Pfeffer (DRS)[1]