Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Yeshayahu Leibowitz (Hebrew ישעיהו ליבוביץ, also Yeshayahu; born January 29, 1903 in Riga, † August 18, 1994 in Jerusalem) was an Israeli scientist and philosopher of religion.
Life
Leibowitz was raised Jewish in his parents' home and attended the common school in Riga. From 1919, he studied chemistry and philosophy in Berlin, in 1924 he received his doctorate in philosophy. 1926-1930 he worked as a biochemist assistant at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, and later at the University of Cologne. From 1929 he studied medicine in Cologne and Heidelberg. In 1934 he completed his habilitation in Basel in medicine and in the same year emigrated to Palestine. In 1936, he joined the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he received in 1941 a Department of Biochemistry and in 1952 promoted to full professor of organic chemistry and neurophysiology. In 1970 he was retired, but still taught philosophy and history of science.
As an Orthodox Jew Leibowitz is primarily known for his religious and philosophical writings and for his sharp criticism of Israeli policies. He campaigned for an absolute separation of religion and state in Israel and defied immediately after the Six Day War, the annexation of the occupied territories. Although he was frequently referred to by opponents as anti-Zionist, he reiterated to the end of his life, his siding with the Zionist idea.
From the beginning, Leibowitz worked with as an editor at the Hebrew Encyclopedia and in 1953 its editor. In addition to hundreds of articles and essays he has published numerous books on philosophy, politics, and the writings of Maimonides. Some of his lectures were first sent " Open University " on the radio the Israeli army under the, and later published as a book.
Born in Berlin in 1933, Israeli journalist and politician Michael Shashar, Secretary of Moshe Dayan and Consul General in New York, son of childhood friends from Leibowitz from his studies in Germany, in 1987 led under a long interview with Leibowitz, which he published in book form in 1990 entitled " talks about God and the world " in German language appeared.
1993 should receive the Israel Prize Leibowitz. When it became clear that the then Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin would refuse to attend the ceremony, pointed Leibowitz the price back. After his death in 1994 named him President Ezer Weizman "one of the greatest figures in the life of the Jewish people and the State of Israel in recent generations."
Leibowitz's younger sister, Nechama Leibowitz, was a well-known Bible researcher; the eminent Polish-French composer, music theorist and conductor René Leibowitz was his cousin.
Literature (English selection)
- Michael Shashar (ed.): Yeshayahu Leibowitz. Talks about God and the world. Frankfurt, 1990, Island No. paperback it in 1568, ISBN 3-458-33268-5
Honors
After many years of discussion, the city Herzliya decided in March 2011 to name a street after Yeshayahu Leibowitz. This is the first time that an Israeli city honors the controversial scientists in this way.