Majesty and Humility: The Life, Legacy, and Thought of Joseph B. Soloveitchik

In this opening lecture, Rabbi Schacter outlines the life of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, from his birth in the town of Pruzhana, to his time at the University of Berlin, to his long and fruitful career in the United States.

For Rabbi Soloveitchik, a life lived in obedience to Jewish law can be transformative, inspiring, and even romantic.

Rabbi Soloveitchik was a staunch adherent of Jewish law who was also engaged in learning from and contributing to the general culture.

How is prayer even possible? And what does it have to do with repentance?

Through the lens of Jewish law, Rabbi Soloveitchik’s writings carefully probe the nature of man’s relationship to God as well as man’s relationship to those around him.

Though it represented a break with his family tradition, Rabbi Soloveitchik was a passionate religious Zionist.

Rabbi Soloveitchik believed that different faith communities could cooperate in certain non-religious spheres, but had to maintain absolute independence in theological and spiritual matters.

In this last lecture, Rabbi Schacter discusses key moments of decision in Rabbi Soloveitchik’s life as a communal leader as well as the enduring influence of Rabbi Soloveitchik on world Jewry.