Yosef Avraham haLevi Heller is an American Orthodox Judaism rabbi and a member of the Chabad Hasidic Judaism movement. Rabbi Heller serves as an emeritus member of the Beth Din (Jewish Rabbinical Court) of the Chabad community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; he is an authority on Halacha (Jewish law) and Hasidic philosophy.[ "Teaching Kids to Hate Talmud". The Jerusalem Post.] Rabbi Heller holds the additional position of Rosh Kollel, head of the community's kollel, a yeshiva for married men.[ Collive.com.][ Collive.com.]
Rabbi of Crown Heights
As a member of the Crown Heights
Beth Din, Rabbi Heller is one of the community's
Marah D'Asra (
Aramaic מרא דאתרא, a title equivalent to "Chief Rabbi"). The rabbinical court is the spiritual and religious body governing the Crown Heights Chabad community. There are currently three rabbis serving on the Beth Din:
Each hold the title Marah D'Asra.[ Chabad.info. "Beis Din Recommends Eishel Kapparos". Chabad.info. September 23, 2012.][ Collive reporter. "Crown Heights Badatz Unites". Collive.com. Feb 1, 2011.][ Chabad.info. ]
The Crown Heights Beth Din is funded by the Va'ad Hakohol of Crown Heights, a religious corporation representing the Jewish community of Crown Heights.
Appointment
Rabbi Heller, along with Rabbis Yehuda Kalmen Marlow and
Avraham Osdoba, was elected to the rabbinical court in a communal election, following the passing of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin, the community's previous chief rabbi.
[ Beis Moshiach Magazine. "Chabad Mourns The Passing Of Rabbi Marlow, Zt’l". Beismoshiach.org.] After the passing of his wife Rabbi Heller stopped most public rabbinic activities, he still however answers rabbinic questions privately, as well as in the Kolel.
Rosh Kollel
Rabbi Heller holds the additional position of
Rosh Kollel, head of the community's
kollel, a
yeshiva for married men.
[ "Rabbi Heller and Kollel Members Visit Park Slope Mikva". Shmais.com.]
In Orthodox Judaism, it is customary for every community to establish a communal institution where a group of adult men study during the day. The men are in turn supported financially by the community.
Statements on Jewish Law
Rabbi Heller has publicly stated that stringencient practices in
Halacha (or
), may not be practiced if they are at the expense of other members of one's household. Heller referred to practices common in Orthodox circles, where additional stringencies are practiced on
Passover.
[ Heller, Yosef. "Taking Chumros to Task". Transcribed by Agudas Avreichei Lubavitch of Kolel Menachem. Collive.com. April 5, 2009.]
External links
