Shnayer Leiman

Shnayer Z. Leiman (born Nov. 3, 1941), known professionally as Sid Z. Leiman, S.Z. Leiman, or in his publications written in Hebrew as (), is an American scholar specializing in Jewish studies. His areas of concentration have been on the Bible; Rabbinic literature; Medieval and early modern Jewish history; and to a lesser extent on Jewish ethics and modern Orthodox Judaism. He has lectured across the United States on academic and religious topics during the past 50 years and at Jewish heritage sites in Europe since 1997. He is a noted bibliophile with a personal collection of 30,000 Judaic books and thousands of historical artifacts.Yitzhak Berger and Chaim Joseph Milikowsky (eds.), "In the dwelling of a sage lie precious treasures": essays in Jewish Studies in honor of Shnayer Z. Leiman (New York: Ktav Publishing, 2020), ix.

Leiman has been called a ― signifying his "encyclopedic knowledge of traditional and scholarly Jewish books from the biblical period to the present day" Richard C. Steiner, "A Lost Hebrew Verb and the Lost Tribes of Israel in a Lost Biblical Commentary from Byzantium," in Yitzhak Berger and Chaim Joseph Milikowsky (eds.), "In the dwelling of a sage lie precious treasures": essays in Jewish Studies in honor of Shnayer Z. Leiman (New York: Ktav Publishing, 2020), 15. ― and the "Sherlock Holmes of Jewish History". Yair Rosenberg, “15 American Rabbis You Haven’t Heard Of, But Should,” Tablet (Sept. 14, 2014).

Personal life Leiman was born in New York City to Harold I. Leiman (1911-2000), a rabbi, educator, author,"Leiman, Harold I.", Who's Who in World Jewry 1955 (New York: Who's Who in World Jewry, Inc., 1955), 442; death notice, The New York Times (Feb. 3, 2000), C27. and disciple of Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, Harold I. Leiman and Shnayer Z. Leiman, Studies in Jewish Education: Special Commemorative Issue in Honor of Mrs. Harriet Leiman on her 100th Birthday (Jerusalem: Judaica Studies Press, 2014), 5-6. and Harriet (née Gross).“Leiman, Sid Z.,” Who’s Who in World Jewry (New York: Who’s Who in World Jewry Inc., 1981), 463. In 1964, he completed his studies at both Brooklyn College (B.A.) and the Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute (semikhah, 1965). In 1970, he received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Oriental Studies. In 1969, he married Rivkah (née Landesman), a Stern College graduateKochaviah 1968 (Stern College Yearbook, n.p., s.i., n.d.), 35. and social worker. The couple has four children.

Though not a political activist, Leiman belonged to Shvil HaZahav ("The Golden Mean"), a centrist New York-based group favoring an Orthodox Jewish engagement in the Middle East peace process.Advertisement, "Make Peace with Peace. And let American Orthodox Judaism become part of the process," New York Jewish Week (Nov. 18, 1994), 11; "Jewish Communal Affairs," American Jewish Year Book 1996 (New York: American Jewish Committee, 1996), 147; AJYB 1997, 178.

Academic career Leiman began his academic teaching career at Yale University, where he was a lecturer (1968-70), assistant professor (1970-72), and associate professor (1972-78) in religious studies."White Book Changes," Yale Daily News (Jan. 9, 1969), 5. He offered classes in (among other areas) Jewish History and Literature"Leiman, Sid Z.," Who's Who in World Jewry (New York: Who’s Who in World Jewry Inc., 1987), 319. of the Medieval period."Course Changes. Pick Yourself A Winner," Yale Daily News (Jan. 22, 1969), 10. In 1978, he was appointed Dean of the Bernard Revel Graduate School"Yale scholar new dean of Yeshiva’s graduate school," New York Jewish Week (Sept. 24, 1978), 16. of Yeshiva University. He was also the school’s director of Jewish graduate educationNew York Daily News (Dec. 3, 1978), 19-TXQ. and professor of Jewish history,"Leiman, Sid Zalman," Who’s Who in America. 47th edition, 1992-1993, Volume 2 (New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who’s Who, 1992), 2016. remaining there in those positions until 1981. In that year, he joined the 10-year-old Department of Judaic Studies at Brooklyn College,"New Judaic Studies Head Named At B.C.," Brooklyn, New York Canarsie Courier (8 Oct. 1981), 18. where he was Chairman (1981-87)“Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat at Young Israel,” Boston Jewish Advocate (Nov. 19, 1987), 13. and Professor of Judaics."Leiman, Sid Zalman," Who’s Who in America. 47th edition, 1992-1993, Volume 2 (New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who’s Who, 1992), 2016.

At the same time, Leiman was a visiting professor at Bernard Revel Graduate School. In 1991-92, a financial shortfall and low enrollment Michael Eisenberg, "YU Community Challenges Revel Decision," Yeshiva College Commentator (Dec. 18, 1991), 1. led Yeshiva University to moot a restructuring plan for Bernard Revel. Michael Eisenberg, "Tensions Rise as Revel Protests Continue," Yeshiva College Commentator (Jan. 13, 1992), 1. Yeshiva College student protesters believed the plan would effectively close the institution,"Editor’s Note," Yeshiva College Commentator (Dec. 18, 1991), 2. founded in 1937. Leiman served as co-chair of a Task Force proposing a plan to continue the school. Michael Eisenberg, "Revel Task Force Submits Recommendations," Yeshiva College Commentator (Feb. 19, 1992, 1). He was "wary" of the outcome from the start Gitelle Rapoport, "Y.U. hopeful of saving Revel degree programs," New York Jewish Week (Jan. 24, 1992),4. and the Task Force’s recommendations were not fully accepted. Nonetheless, the school remained open. Michael Eisenberg, "Board Preserves Revel School," Yeshiva College Commentator (April 7, 1992), 12. In 2018, Leiman was named distinguished professor of Jewish history and literature at Touro College, in their newly-formed Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Joanne Palmer, "Learning the nuances of Jewish Studies," New Jersey Jewish Standard (July 12, 2018); "Jewish studies Ph.D. at Touro," Lynbrook, New York Jewish Star (July 4, 2018), 1. Touro College became Touro University in 2022 (New Jersey Jewish Standard, Feb. 23, 2022).

Leiman has also been a visiting professor at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington (Jewish law and ethics, 1977-78);"Leiman, Sid Zalman," Who’s Who in America. 47th edition, 1992-1993, Volume 2 (New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who’s Who, 1992), 2016. Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Bible, Spring 1985, and Jewish Studies, Summer 1992); and Harvard University (Center for Jewish Studies and Center for the Study of World Religions, Fall 1989). At Oxford University he was a Skirball Fellow in Jewish Studies at the Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studies (1994).

Lecturing Academic or religious Leiman has lectured at Jewish religious institutions since 1967. Philadelphia Jewish Exponent (Jan. 13, 1967), 10. During this time, in the United States he was a guest speaker in (among other places) California, Los Angeles Times (June 3, 2000), B3, B7. Connecticut,"Yale Judaic Scholar To Lecture at JCC," Bridgeport Connecticut Post (Feb. 22, 1976), 45. Florida, For example: Miami News (Aug. 17, 1978), 88. Illinois, Arlington Heights, Illinois Daily Herald (June 1, 2023), 9. Massachusetts, For example: Earl Lefkovitz and Morris Berger, "Experts Discuss Bible At Hebrew College," Boston Jewish Advocate (June 13, 1974), A3. Michigan,"Community Calendar," Detroit Jewish News (Feb. 16, 2001), 46. Missouri,"Young Israel hosts scholar-in-residence," St. Louis Jewish Light (Feb. 10, 1988), 40. New Jersey, Hackensack, New Jersey Record (March 20, 1985), C6. New York, For example: New York Jewish Week (Feb. 19, 1978), 35. Ohio, For example: "Church activities," Bowling Green (Ohio) Daily Sentinel-Tribune (Nov. 17, 1978), 6. Pennsylvania, For example: Philadelphia Jewish Exponent (Aug. 18, 1972), 38. Tennessee,"Leiman To Speak at Heska Amuna," Knoxville News-Sentinel (Jan. 11, 1975), 2. and Texas. Aaron Howard, "Yom Limmud scholar: The Bible in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls," Houston Jewish Herald-Voice (Feb. 2, 2017). He has also spoken in Canada Advertisement, Montreal Gazette (Nov. 16, 1979), 4. and Israel."Conference wants new study centre," Australian Jewish Times (Feb. 21, 1980), 4. Favored subjects included biblical and Bible-related topics For example: "Don Isaac Abarbanel: A Bridge Between the Old World and the New," Philadelphia Jewish Exponent (Jan. 13, 1967), 10. (often in light of archeological and advanced scholarly discussion), For example: Leiman, "Issues in the Contemporary Study of 'Tanakh' (The Hebrew Bible)," New York Jewish Week (Oct. 19, 1984), advertisement, 17. the Emden-Eibeschutz controversy,For example: Leiman, "Aspects of the Rabbi Emden-Rabbi Eybschütz Controversy," advertisement, New York Jewish Week (May 13, 1983), 29. Jewish ethical teachingsFor example: Leiman, "Jewish Ethical Teaching in Light of Technology," Hackensack, New Jersey Record (March 20, 1985), C6. (including Jewish ethics in medicine, such as the controversies surrounding Karen Ann Quinlan For example: "Scholar to Discuss Karen Quinlan Case," Bridgeport, Connecticut Connecticut Post (Feb. 24, 1976), 14. and John Harris’ "survival lottery"For example: Joyce Leffler Eldridge, "Jewish Ethics Conference Examines 6th Commandment," Boston Jewish Advocate (May 20, 1982), 5; Leiman, "Therapeutic Homicide: A Philosophic and halakhic critique of Harris’ ‘Survival Lottery’," Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 8 (Aug. 1983), 257-267.), separation of church and state,For example: Adon Taft, "Splitting Religion, Schools ‘Helped Cause Ethics Crisis’," Miami Herald (Aug. 25, 1978), 7-C. Jewish personalities,For example: Leiman, "Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook: Portrait of a Gadol," Boston Jewish Advocate (May 22, 1986), advertisement, 18. and modern Orthodox Judaism.For example: Lynne Schreiber, "Modernity’s Impact: Scholar explores what it means to Orthodox in modern world," Detroit Jewish News (March 2, 2001), 53; "Scholar-in-Residence ... ‘The Emergence of Modern Orthodoxy in 19th Century Western Europe’," New Jersey Teaneck Suburbanite (Dec. 11, 2014), A14. He was a contributor to "A Symposium: The State of Orthodoxy," Tradition 20 (Spring 1982), 43-47. He has also spoken on Jewish-Christian relations, For example: Philadelphia Jewish Exponent (Aug. 18, 1972), 38. and to Christian groups on Judaism"Judaism Seminar Planned. Catholic Diocese, 3 Jewish Agencies Sponsor Program," Toledo, Ohio Blade (Nov. 11, 1978), 6. and the Jewish contribution to Western civilization."Judaic Seminar Is Here," Springfield News-Sun (Ohio) (May 4, 1976), 5.

Jewish heritage site lectures There are 19th century antecedents to Jewish heritage tourism from the United States, but the growth in such travel occurred from the 1970s, dramatically increasing after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Daniel J. Walkowitz, The Remembered and Forgotten Jewish World: Jewish Heritage in Europe and the United States (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2018), 13-16. The phenomenon has become notable, and is the subject of academic study.For example: Magdalena Duda-Seifert, "The Characteristics of cultural tourists who visit urban Jewish heritage centres: The case study of visitors to the White Stork Synagogue in Wroclaw," Tourism 26 (2016), 57-64; Magdalena Duda-Seifert and Katarzyna Kajdanek, "The experience and satisfaction of visiting a Jewish heritage site in the context of cultural and Jewish heritage tourism. Evidence from Krakow, Poland," Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change 20 (2022), 419-435.