Azriel Graeber
Encyclopedia
Azriel Graeber is a freelance journalist
, scholar, PhD and founder of the Jewish Scholarship Society. He is also known under his pen name, Azriel Radifker. He has contributed to several journals
, periodicals and newspapers ranging on many topics. His organization which is a branch of his journalistic interests, actively attempts to bridge several sectors of Judaism
together.
Quarterly (Fall 1978). He describes the sensitivity that he fostered for all victims of oppression under governmental abuses of power.
In 1974 he was awarded a PhD from Dropsie College in Jewish history
for his study on the ability of building a historical narative of the Jewish people based on questions posed to Jewish law deciders from the 12th century to today. A main focus of his thesis
was on the responsa
of Rabad of Posquières, later to be the subject of a book by Isadore Twersky
of Harvard. He also received a B.Th from Derech Ayson Seminary.
From 1999 through 2003 he served as director of The Tri-State Jewish Community Council. He was also on the directors board of the Bal Teshuva Halfway House of New York, and is currently the president of The Jewish Scholarship Society.
Graeber has never retained any formal teaching positions, although he was listed as holder of the Akiba and Sara Gurtner Chair of Jewish Studies at Touro College
for the scholastic year of 1992. His absence was due to his contracting an obscure psychological disorder, Capgras Syndrome. He regularly submits papers to various Jewish and secular journals for publication.
After a trip to Israel
in 1997 he authored an essay on the need for the inclusion of Yiddishist principles into the fabric of Orthodox Jewish life. He wrote:
The article was highly controversial and much debate ensued. The debate within the Jewish community led Graeber to found the Jewish Scholarship Society.
He is married to Atara Lieberman.
houses a vast library. The libraries holdings include several antique items of significant historical importance as well as books ranging on topics from the Social Sciences to biographies on notable Jewish personalities.
It was founded in 1997 in New York. Its member base now exceeds 4,500, with members from several different countries and backgrounds. All prospective members must provide proof of their Orthodoxy
with their application.
, rabbinical history, dangerous animals and several works of fiction. His most recent essay, "Eybeschutz–Emden
Controversy Alive And Well", appeared this past March.
Several notable essays include: "The Spanish Cholov Yisroel
Controversy of 1763 and its effects on the Jews of Barcelona
", "Slobodka
Yeshiva: Myth or Musser", "How Hungarian Jews have ruined American Judaism: A Complete History" and "West Side vs. East Side: Two communities. One park".
His article "How Hungarian Jews have ruined American Judaism: A Complete History" won the Rabbi Solomon Schechter
Literary Award, and was published in March 1983 in "Rabbi Louis Finkelstein
Quarterly". Other awards include the annually awarded Chazon Ish Grant for his contribution to the study of the prohibitions involved in Amirah L'Otzmoi.
He is currently working on his first book, tentatively titled "The Dewey Decimal System's Jewish Inventors".
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, scholar, PhD and founder of the Jewish Scholarship Society. He is also known under his pen name, Azriel Radifker. He has contributed to several journals
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, periodicals and newspapers ranging on many topics. His organization which is a branch of his journalistic interests, actively attempts to bridge several sectors of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
together.
Biography
Graeber, born in 1948 is the second child born to Holocaust survivors. He wrote about his experience as the child of survivors in an essay published in Louis FinkelsteinLouis Finkelstein
Rabbi Louis Finkelstein was a Talmud scholar, an expert in Jewish law, and a leader of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Conservative Judaism.-Brief Biography:...
Quarterly (Fall 1978). He describes the sensitivity that he fostered for all victims of oppression under governmental abuses of power.
In 1974 he was awarded a PhD from Dropsie College in Jewish history
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their religion and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Since Jewish history is over 4000 years long and includes hundreds of different populations, any treatment can only be provided in broad strokes...
for his study on the ability of building a historical narative of the Jewish people based on questions posed to Jewish law deciders from the 12th century to today. A main focus of his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
was on the responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
of Rabad of Posquières, later to be the subject of a book by Isadore Twersky
Isadore Twersky
Isadore Twersky was an Orthodox rabbi and the Nathan Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy at Harvard University, a chair previously held by Harry Austryn Wolfson. Twersky was an internationally recognized authority on Rabbinic literature and Jewish philosophy...
of Harvard. He also received a B.Th from Derech Ayson Seminary.
From 1999 through 2003 he served as director of The Tri-State Jewish Community Council. He was also on the directors board of the Bal Teshuva Halfway House of New York, and is currently the president of The Jewish Scholarship Society.
Graeber has never retained any formal teaching positions, although he was listed as holder of the Akiba and Sara Gurtner Chair of Jewish Studies at Touro College
Touro College
Touro College is a sponsored independent institution of higher and professional education, in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by Dr. Bernard Lander, the College was established primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American community...
for the scholastic year of 1992. His absence was due to his contracting an obscure psychological disorder, Capgras Syndrome. He regularly submits papers to various Jewish and secular journals for publication.
After a trip to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1997 he authored an essay on the need for the inclusion of Yiddishist principles into the fabric of Orthodox Jewish life. He wrote:
- Only through the acceptance of Yiddishism will Judaism finally after its 2,000 year exileExileExile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
reach the apex of its purpose...The opposition to Yiddishism historically was primerally from the extreme right wing of the religion. The modern Jewish community should not fear integration".
The article was highly controversial and much debate ensued. The debate within the Jewish community led Graeber to found the Jewish Scholarship Society.
He is married to Atara Lieberman.
The JSS
The Jewish Scholarship Society, also known as (in Yiddish) Der Yiddisher Gelerntkeit Gelzelshaft, according to its mission statement is to "mesh together Yiddishist principles with an active Jewish lifestyle". The organizations headquarters in Lawrence, New YorkLawrence, New York
Lawrence, New York may refer to:*Lawrence, Nassau County, New York, a village*Lawrence, St. Lawrence County, New York, a town...
houses a vast library. The libraries holdings include several antique items of significant historical importance as well as books ranging on topics from the Social Sciences to biographies on notable Jewish personalities.
It was founded in 1997 in New York. Its member base now exceeds 4,500, with members from several different countries and backgrounds. All prospective members must provide proof of their Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
with their application.
Scholarship
Graeber, as freelance journalist and scholar has written on many topics, mainly within the scope of Jewish studies. He has been published in most Jewish newspapers, as well as on several on-line news sources. He has also been published in secular journals. Subjects of his writing have included graphologyGraphology
Graphology is the pseudoscientific study and analysis of handwriting, especially in relation to human psychology. In the medical field, it can be used to refer to the study of handwriting as an aid in diagnosis and tracking of diseases of the brain and nervous system...
, rabbinical history, dangerous animals and several works of fiction. His most recent essay, "Eybeschutz–Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
Controversy Alive And Well", appeared this past March.
Several notable essays include: "The Spanish Cholov Yisroel
Cholov Yisroel
Cholov Yisroel refers to all dairy products, including cheese and non-fat dry milk powder, which have been produced under the supervision of a Rabbi....
Controversy of 1763 and its effects on the Jews of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
", "Slobodka
Slobodka
Slobodka , Slabodka , Slobidka is a diminutive from "sloboda", a kind of settlement. The word may refer to one of the following:*Slabodka, Belarus...
Yeshiva: Myth or Musser", "How Hungarian Jews have ruined American Judaism: A Complete History" and "West Side vs. East Side: Two communities. One park".
His article "How Hungarian Jews have ruined American Judaism: A Complete History" won the Rabbi Solomon Schechter
Solomon Schechter
Solomon Schechter was a Moldavian-born Romanian and English rabbi, academic scholar, and educator, most famous for his roles as founder and President of the United Synagogue of America, President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and architect of the American Conservative Jewish...
Literary Award, and was published in March 1983 in "Rabbi Louis Finkelstein
Louis Finkelstein
Rabbi Louis Finkelstein was a Talmud scholar, an expert in Jewish law, and a leader of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Conservative Judaism.-Brief Biography:...
Quarterly". Other awards include the annually awarded Chazon Ish Grant for his contribution to the study of the prohibitions involved in Amirah L'Otzmoi.
He is currently working on his first book, tentatively titled "The Dewey Decimal System's Jewish Inventors".