Aharon Shteinman
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Image:Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman.jpg Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman (also: Shtainman) (אהרון יהודה לייב שטיינמן) (b. 1912) is a prominent Haredi rabbi currently living in Bnei Brak, Israel. He belongs to the Lithuanian branch of Judaism, and heads a division of the famed Ponevezh yeshiva (Rosh Yeshiva Ponovezh Letze'irim). He was formerly the Rosh Kollel of the Ponevezh Kollel. He is one of the most renowned rabbis living today. He is an integral personality for the Kupat Ha'ir charitable organization. His scholarly works on the Talmud were originally published anonymously under the name Ayeles HaShachar (alluding to his initials in Hebrew, as well as the "morning star" of Psalms 22).
[edit] Israeli politics
Along with Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Rabbi Shteinman is a leader of the Haredi Degel HaTorah political party. He therefore exerts much political power in the United Torah Judaism political coalition. He is very close with the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, a major supporter of Agudat Israel.
[edit] Travels abroad
In 2005 he visited a number of cities in North America with significant Haredi populations, such as Brooklyn New York on a historical journey, meeting with many prominent American Haredi rabbis including Rabbi Aharon Schechter of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. He inspired the Jewish community of Los Angeles on Lag Ba'omer in 2006 during his recent trip to America. Over five thousand Orthodox Jews attended the historic gathering. He planned to travel together with the Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter the Gerrer Rebbe to Montreal in May 2006, but they delayed their trip to avoid protests from the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta. After visiting Montreal, the rabbis parted ways. The Gerrer Rebbe continued to New York and returned to Jerusalem, while Rabbi Shteinman went on to visit the Jewish communities in several South American cities, including Mexico City and Buenos Aires.
