A great light extinguished: Rabbi Prof. Shlomo Slonim, scholar of two worlds – opinion
Former deputy president of the Supreme Court Elyakim Rubinstein laments the passing of a great scholar and friend.
Rabbi Prof. Shlomo Slonim, an esteemed scholar of both Torah and academia, passed away at the age of 95. Throughout his life, Slonim demonstrated an extraordinary ability to excel in both worlds, combining Torah study with rigorous academic scholarship. Born in Melbourne, Australia, to a family with roots in the Lithuanian Jewish scholarly tradition, Slonim received rabbinic ordination at the young age of 16 from the Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland.
He returned to Australia, where he pursued law studies but ultimately turned his attention to advanced academic research, earning a doctorate in international law at Columbia University in New York.
Slonim's unique approach allowed him to excel in both the religious and academic realms, as he remained devoted to Torah study while also making significant contributions to the field of American history and constitutional law. His doctoral dissertation, published as a book, became an authoritative work on South West Africa (Namibia) and the United Nations.
Slonim's perspective combined his religious values with his academic pursuits, as evidenced by his being the first to publicly wear a kippah at the University of Melbourne and Columbia University.
As a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Slonim taught American history and served as the chair of the American studies department. He authored numerous books and articles on the United States Constitution, earning the respect of renowned experts such as Stanford Law School Professor Gerald Gunther. Slonim's works on the Electoral College system were also widely regarded as the best analysis of its creation.
In addition to his academic achievements, Slonim remained committed to Torah study throughout his life. He studied diligently, maintained regular study partner relationships, and gave Torah lessons and published articles on Halacha and Judaism. Slonim's recitation of the Priestly Blessing, delivered in a powerful and emotional voice, was a cherished practice until the final years of his life when physical frailty forced him to give it up.
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