Rafael Grossman

Rabbi Rafael G. Grossman (23 November 1933^[1] – 12 April 2018) was a noted American rabbi. For nearly three decades, he was the rabbi of Baron Hirsch Synagogue, an Orthodox congregation in Memphis, Tennessee, and one of the largest Orthodox congregations in the United States. Grossman was also the chairman of the Religious Zionists of America.^[2] Rafael G. Grossman grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey, and was a student of Rabbi Yisroel Gustman. Over the course of his illustrious career, Grossman held leadership roles at some of the nation's most respected Jewish organizations. He was a past president of the Beth Din of America and the Rabbinical Council of America, Chairman of the Rabbinical Council International, Chairman of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of Israel Bonds, a member of the executive Board of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of America and a member of the Board of the Development Corporation of Israel. A recipient of the OU's National Rabbinic leadership Award, Rabbi Grossman was one of ten rabbis to be honored at the centennial celebration of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of America. He was also awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from Yeshiva University in New York. Grossman is the author of Binah: The Modern Quest for Torah Understanding, on the Book of Genesis. His scholarly papers appeared in numerous journals and volumes, and his weekly column, “Thinking Aloud,” in the JEWISH PRESS and on numerous websites was read by approximately 500,000 people, making him one of the most read Jewish columnists in the world at the time.

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