David Bar-Hayim

David Bar-Hayim (Hebrew: דוד חנוך יצחק ב"ר חיים‎) is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi who heads the Machon Shilo (Shiloh Institute) in Jerusalem, Israel.

Biography

Rabbi Bar-Hayim was born David Mandel on 24 February 1960 in Sydney, Australia. He studied at the Merkaz Harav Kook yeshiva in Jerusalem for 10 years. He now lectures in the greater Jerusalem area, and publishes articles in English and Hebrew on various web sites.^[1] Although an Orthodox rabbi, Bar-Hayim prefers the terms “Halakhic Judaism”, “Torah Judaism”, explaining that the term "Orthodox Judaism is flawed as it was by definition a response to the rise of Reform Judaism in the early 19th century Germany. Responding to the Reform movement’s complete disregard for traditional practice and established religious jurisprudence, the new and reactionary “Orthodox Judaism” (a previously unknown term) adopted an extreme and opposite approach, viz. that the Ashkenazi Jewish practice which had evolved in Europe until that time should be enshrined, denying the possibility of any change whatever, even where such change is mandated by the Torah itself."^[2]

Eretz Yisrael

He has proposed the re-establishment of Minhagei Eretz Yisrael, religious customs and practices that reflect those of the pre-exile Jewish communities in Israel, rather than those of Babylon or Europe. For this purpose, he has published a prayer book intended to reflect the ancient nusach tefillah of ancient Israel, "Nusach Eretz Yisrael", based upon the Jerusalem Talmud, for use at his Machon Shilo,^[3] a beth din and an institute of Jewish learning in Jerusalem dedicated to Torat Eretz Yisrael.^[4]

Halachic Rulings

In light of the fact that Israel, again, is a sovereign Jewish state with Jerusalem as its capital, Bar-Hayim has argued for increased utilization of the Jerusalem Talmud. Especially, in regard to Torat Eretz Yisrael and Minhagei Eretz Yisrael he finds lucidity in rulings contained therein,^[5] as opposed to "galut-mode Judaism" which gives supremacy to the Babylonian Talmud.^[2]

Kitniyot

In 2007, Rabbi Bar Hayim issued the ruling that any Jew worldwide, not only Ashkenazim in Israel, regardless of their origin and despite the practice of their forefathers, may eat kitniyot ("legumes") on Pesach,^[6][7] as most Sefardi Jews do, because it is a practice rejected by halachic authorities as early as the time of its emergence as an unnecessary precaution.

Other

Posek Bar-Hayim has ruled that when the first day of Sukkot falls on Shabbat, Israeli Jews should follow the Mishna and Talmud Yerushalmi's ruling and perform the lulav ritual.^[8]

He ruled that one should say Hallel on Israeli Independence Day.^[9]

References

External links

• Shiloh Institute website
• Rabbi Bar Hayim - Who or what is Machon Shilo?