Netanyahu eulogized: 'In the eyes of the Rebbe and his student Rabbi Steinsaltz, I saw him as a great light'

August 7, 2020   

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute this morning (Friday) to the late Rabbi Adin Even Israel-Steinsaltz. Regular income from National Insurance? Check your eligibility for a monthly pension today ""I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz zt"l – a tremendous scholar, a Torah genius, and a wonderful spiritual man. I grew up close to Rabbi Steinsaltz in the Jerusalem of my childhood, but I only got to know him personally years later. I met with him several times at his home, and I heard his fascinating lessons that always made me wiser. These were not lessons in the usual sense, but uplifting conversations that embraced the world and its entirety – the Bible, the teachings of the Sages, history, philosophy, culture, linguistics, and more. I also read his books that are imbued with wisdom and knowledge, thought and faith. Rabbi Steinsaltz clearly represented the image of the Jewish 'perpetual'. He invested endless effort in his works of interpretation, foremost among which is the commentary on the Talmud that makes the study of the Gemara accessible to a wide audience in clear and understandable language. His important works will stand for generations – as cornerstones of the Jewish heritage, and will always be a beacon to his memory. Rabbi Steinsaltz's love of Israel was greatly influenced by his closeness to the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Chabad Hasidism. The Rebbe's extraordinary personality left a strong mark on him, as it did on me in my encounters with him. In the eyes of both of them – the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and his disciple Rabbi Steinsaltz – I saw him as a great light of love for humanity and the people of Israel. I send my deepest condolences to the Steinsaltz family and the tens of thousands of students of the rabbi in Israel and around the world. May his memory be blessed." President Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin also paid tribute: "I heard with pain and sorrow about the passing of Rabbi Adin Even Israel (Steinsaltz) of blessed memory, a Talmud scholar, and Israel Prize laureate. Rabbi Adin was a man of spirit, with spiritual courage, depth of knowledge, and depth of thought. The rabbi drew from the depths of the spiritual treasures of the Jewish people pearls, and made the Talmud accessible to the Jewish people in clear and lucid Hebrew, as a modern-day Rashi would have been. Faithful to his mission and principles, he did not hesitate to forge his own unique path, out of devotion to the Torah of Israel and the people of Israel. My deepest condolences to his many students and his dear family. May his memory be blessed.""