Yosef Heller

For the person whose name is also spelled Yosef, see Joseph Heller (historian).

Rabbi Yosef Heller

Occupation(s)| Rabbi, Member of the Crown Heights Beth Din

Yosef Avraham haLevi Heller is an American Orthodox rabbi and a member of the Chabad Hasidic movement. Rabbi Heller serves as an emeritus member of the Bais Din Tzedek (Jewish Rabbinical Court) of the Chabad community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; he is an authority on Halacha (Jewish law) and Hasidic philosophy.[1] Rabbi Heller holds the additional position of Rosh Kollel, head of the community's kollel, a yeshiva for married men.[2][3]

## Rabbi of Crown Heights

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Part of a series on

Chabad
(Rebbes and Chasidim)

Rebbes of Chabad

* Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Alter Rebbe)
* Dovber Schneuri (Mitteler Rebbe)
* Menachem M. Schneersohn (Tzemach Tzedek)
* Shmuel Schneersohn (Rebbe Maharash)
* Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (Rebbe Rashab)
* Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (Rebbe Rayatz)
* Menachem M. Schneerson (the Rebbe)

Schneersohn family

* Chaim S. Z. of Liadi (1814–1880)
* Yitzchak Dovber of Liadi (1833–1910)
* Chana Schneerson (1880–1964)
* Chaya M. Schneersohn (d. 1860)
* Chaya M. Schneerson (1901–1988)
* Levi Y. Schneerson (1878–1944)
* Moshe Schneersohn (ca. 1784–before 1853)
* Sheina Horenstein (d. 1942)
* Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn (1830–1900)
* Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn (1842–1924)
* Yehuda Leib Schneersohn (1808–1866)

Rabbonim

* Avraham Osdoba
* Chaim Gutnick
* Avraham Chaim Naeh
* Meir Ashkenazi
* Mordechai Ashkenazi
* Mordechai Gutnick
* Moshe Gutnick
* Pinhas Hirschprung
* Shneur Z. Fradkin
* Yaakov Schwei
* Yehuda K. Marlow
* Abraham Hecht
* Yitzchak Hendel
* Yosef Heller
* Yosef Y. Braun
* Zalman Dworkin
* Zelig Sharfstein
* Shmuel L. Medalia
* Shmarya Y. L. Medalia
* Sholom Rivkin

Mashpiim and scholars

* Aaron of Staroselye
* Herman Branover
* Yehuda Chitrik
* Manis Friedman
* Mendel Futerfas
* Yitzchak Ginsburgh
* Menachem Z. Greenglass
* Moshe Gutnick
* Moshe Havlin
* Aizel Homiler
* Simon Jacobson
* Yisroel Jacobson
* Yosef Y. Jacobson
* Yoel Kahn
* Abraham Y. Khein
* Yehoshua Mondshine
* Avraham C. Naeh
* Nissan Neminov
* Hillel Paritcher
* Ezra Schochet
* Adin Steinsaltz
* Shais Taub
* Shlomo Y. Zevin

Mazkirus and other leaders

* Leib Groner
* Jacob J. Hecht
* Chaim M. A. Hodakov
* Yehuda Krinsky
* Nissan Mindel
* Dovid Raskin
* Abraham Shemtov

Shluchim

* Menachem Brod
* Azriel Chaikin
* Shlomo Cunin
* Pinchus Feldman
* Gershon Garelik
* Yitzchok D. Groner
* Hanoch Hecht
* Gavriel Holtzberg
* Berel Lazar
* Shimon Lazaroff
* David Masinter
* Zalman I. Posner
* Menachem S. D. Raichik
* Aaron Raskin
* Arie Z. Raskin
* Shlomo Sawilowsky
* Mordechai Scheiner
* Abraham Shemtov
* Levi Shemtov
* Yehudah Teichtal
* Simcha Weinstein
* Manis Friedman

Other notable figures

* Shmuley Boteach
* Avraham Fried
* Benny Friedman
* Aharon Gurevich
* Joseph Gutnick
* Moshe Hecht
* Shea Hecht
* Bernard Levy
* Hendel Lieberman
* Michoel Muchnik
* Mendy Pellin
* Zvi Yair

Controversies

* Chabad messianism
* Chabad offshoot groups
* Barry Gurary
* Public menorah

*     * Category
* Media on Commons

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As a member of the Crown Heights Beth Din (rabbinical court), 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:

* Rabbi Avraham Osdoba
* Rabbi Yosef Heller
* Rabbi Yosef Braun

Each hold the title Marah D'Asra.[4][5][6]

The Crown Heights rabbinical court is funded by the Va'ad Hakohol of Crown Heights, a religious corporation representing the Jewish community of Crown Heights.

### Appointment

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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.[7] 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.[citation needed]

## Rosh Kollel

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Rabbi Heller holds the additional position of Rosh Kollel, head of the community's kollel, a yeshiva for married men.[6][2][3][8]

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.[citation needed]

## Statements on Jewish Law

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Rabbi Heller has publicly stated that stringencient practices in Jewish Law (or chumras), 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.[9]

## References

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1. ^ "Teaching Kids to Hate Talmud". The Jerusalem Post.
2. ^ a b Collive.com.
3. ^ a b Collive.com.
4. ^ Chabad.info. "Beis Din Recommends Eishel Kapparos". Chabad.info. September 23, 2012.
5. ^ Collive reporter. "Crown Heights Badatz Unites". Collive.com. Feb 1, 2011.
6. ^ a b Chabad.info. Archived November 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Beis Moshiach Magazine. "Chabad Mourns The Passing Of Rabbi Marlow, Zt’l". Beismoshiach.org.
8. ^ "Rabbi Heller and Kollel Members Visit Park Slope Mikva". Shmais.com.
9. ^ Heller, Yosef. "Taking Chumros to Task". Transcribed by Agudas Avreichei Lubavitch of Kolel Menachem. Collive.com. April 5, 2009.

## External links

[edit]

* CHJCC directory for the Beth Din

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* t
* e

Chabad

Rebbes|

* Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Alter Rebbe)
* Dovber Schneuri (Mitteler Rebbe)
* Menachem M. Schneersohn (Tzemach Tzedek)
* Shmuel Schneersohn (Maharash)
* Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (Rashab)
* Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (Rayatz)
* Menachem M. Schneerson (the Rebbe)

Places and landmarks|

* Crown Heights
* 770
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Holidays|

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Organizations|

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Schools|

* Bais Chana
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Texts|

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Practices and concepts|

* Chabad house
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* Nusach Ari
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* Mivtzoim
* Niggunim
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* Seder hishtalshelus
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Chabad offshoots|

* Strashelye
* Kopust
* Liadi
* Niezhin
* Avrutch
* Malachim

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