Yeshayahu Leibowitz

Yeshayahu Leibowitz, born in Riga, studied chemistry, philosophy, and medicine at multiple European universities. He taught at the Hebrew University for almost sixty years and was a prolific writer and speaker. Orthodox in his observance, Leibowitz held controversial religious views, such as that reasons behind commandments are irrelevant and one should observe them for the sole sake of obeying God. He was also a sharp critic of the Israeli government, advocating complete separation of religion and state and accusing some officials of a Nazi mentality with regard to the occupied territories.