To Be Holy but Human: Reflections Upon My Rebbe, Harav Yehuda Amital

In To Be Holy But Human, Rabbi Moshe Taragin offers powerful and compelling reflections on Rav Yehuda Amital zt”l. As a Holocaust survivor, founder of Yeshivat Har Etzion, moral philosopher, and pioneer of Religious Zionism, Rav Amital’ shaped a generation of students, educators, and thought-leaders in the world of Orthodox Judaism. Rabbi Moshe Taragin writes with heartfelt candor and deep hashkafic insight about his religious mentor.

The book is divided into two sections:

• Part I: Stories – 23 vivid, character-defining encounters and personal memories. From the legendary “crying baby” to his compassion for struggling students, these stories reveal a rebbe who was grounded, accessible, and deeply attuned to the human experience.
• Part II: Teachings – 29 thought-provoking chapters exploring Rav Amital’s worldview. This section explores topics like Jewish history, faith after the Holocaust, the spiritual challenges of Israeli sovereignty, Religious Zionism, moral courage, authentic tefillah, halachic sensitivity, and the pursuit of religious simplicity in an age of complexity.

Key themes explored:

• The role of emunah (faith) and courage in a post-Holocaust Jewish identity
• Rav Amital’s nuanced Zionism, deeply rooted in Torah yet critical of idealized nationalism
• The founding of Yeshivat Har Etzion and the creation of the Hesder model
• A new tone for Torah education: humility, honesty, moral responsibility, and compassion
• How a great rebbe taught his students to be both holy and human

To sum up, To Be Holy but Human represents Rabbi Taragin’s thoughtful reflections on Rav Yehuda Amital. In conclusion, Rav Amital’s legacy reminds us that the path of kedushah (holiness) must always begin with the courage to be fully human.

Publisher:

Kodesh Press