Yeshayahu Leibowitz

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Yeshayahu Leibowitz (1903-1994) was an Israeli scientist, philosopher and public figure noted for his outspoken and often controversial opinions regarding morals, ethics, politics, and religion.

[edit] His life

Yeshayahu Leibowitz was born in Riga in 1903. In 1919 he started studying chemistry and philosophy at the University of Berlin, and received his PhD in 1924. He continued with studies of biochemistry and medicine and received an MD in 1934 from the University of Basel. After emigrating to what was then the British Mandate of Palestine in 1935, he settled in Jerusalem and joined the faculty of Hebrew University in 1936. He became a professor of biochemistry in 1941 and was promoted to the position of senior professor of organic chemistry and neurology in 1952. After retiring in 1970, he continued to teach philosophy and the history of science.

An Orthodox Jew, Leibowitz is known primarily for his religious writings and for his scathing critique of Israeli values and national policy. His remarks shortly after the 1982 Invasion of Lebanon to the effect that certain actions of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon evinced of the existence of a "Judeo-Nazi" mentality, provoked a storm of reaction. Notwithstanding the common assumption that rhetoric of this sort betrayed an anti-Zionist stance [1], Leibowitz repeatedly affirmed his belief in the validity of the Zionist endeavor both in his writings and in conversations to the end of his life.

Leibowitz also had a controversial view in relation to Jewish Law. He wrote that the only purpose for doing Mitzvot is that God wants it. He disagreed with the view that Halakha should be followed either for reward in the World to Come or because it may benefit us in this world. The reasons for the laws cannot be discerned and are irrelevant to us. Christianity, Kabbalah and other religious movements stressing emotional attachment in the performance of Mitzvot are, thus, misleading and akin to idolatry.

Leibowitz served as the editor of the Encyclopaedia Hebraica during the first years of its creation. Apart from his innumerable articles and essays, Leibowitz authored a wide range of books on philosophy, human values, Jewish thought, the teachings of Maimonides, and politics. Many of his lectures and discourses, including those given as part of the "Broadcast University" project run by Israeli Army Radio, were subsequently compiled and printed in the book form. Leibowitz was a prolific letter-writer and his advice or comment was sought out widely. A first collection of his letters (in Hebrew) was published posthumously by "Keter" in 1999.

In 1993, he was selected to receive the Israel Prize. However, after the prime minster Yitzhak Rabin refused to participate in the award ceremony, Leibowitz declined to accept the prize. He died in his home on August 18, 1994.

Leibowitz's younger sister, Nechama Leibowitz, was a famous Bible/Torah scholar. The conductor and composer René Leibowitz was his cousin.