Shlomo Miller

Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller is a Rosh Kollel (dean) of the Kollel Avreichim Institute for Advanced Talmud Study, [ [http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13753&Itemid=86] , paragraph #15.] the leading haredi post-yeshiva educational institution in Toronto and head of its Beis Din (Rabbinical court). He is the foremost Litvish Haredi Posek (decisor of Rabbinic law) in Toronto, and one of the most prominent Litvish Poskim in North America.

Rabbi Miller has been chosen by the Lakewood Yeshiva to head the Beis Din of the Vaad Harabanim (Association of Rabbis) of Lakewood, NJ and heads a Kollel there as well [ [http://lakewoodhockers.blogspot.com/2008/06/rav-shlomo-miller-to-spend-shabbos-in.html Rav Shlomo Miller to spend Shabbos in Lakewood] ] ] . Many members of the Haredi community, view Rabbi Miller as taking a strong stand against any weakening of the rule of Halacha (Rabbinic law), while many in the wider Jewish community (including some Haredi members as well), see his opinions as being overly stringent, and intolerant of more lenient viewpoints that are based on the ruling of other prominent authorities.

ome Major Rulings

habbos Mode Ovens

Rabbi Miller was one of the signatories to the ruling forbidding changing the temperature of Shabbos Mode ovens on Yom Tov, admonishing Rabbi Moshe Heinemann for being, in his view, the sole Haredi authority to permit it. However, it has been pointed out that Rabbi Heinemann's opinion is fully consistent with the rulings of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, who was not only one of the greatest Poskim of his generation, but whose understanding of electricity and technology was probably unparalleled among any of his peers. [This is evidenced by the fact that Rabbi Auerbach wrote a pioneering Halachic work on electricity when he was only 25 years old ("Meorei Aish", first published in 1935, with glowing approbations from, among others, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski).] ["See" [http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/3422115356094084166/#584307] , [http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/3422115356094084166/#584321] , [http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/3422115356094084166/#584510] , [http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/3422115356094084166/#584561] , [http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/3422115356094084166/#584614] , and [http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/3422115356094084166/#584789] .] Indeed, none of Rabbi Auerbach's sons or sons-in-law, including Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, Rabbi Ezriel Auerbach, [Rabbi Ezriel Auerbach is a son-in-law of one of the prominent signatories of the Kol Koreh, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv.] and Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, all prominent Poskim in their own right, participated in the Kol Koreh. [Rabbi Auerbach took a more lenient position regarding electricity than did the Chazon Ish. However, although the Chazon Ish was perhaps the greatest Posek of his generation, his view, that virtually all use of electricity on Shabbos and Yom Tov involves a Biblical prohibition (even where no light or heat is created) is not the majority opinion. "See" [http://www.daat.ac.il/DAAT/english/Journal/broyde_1.htm] ; "see also" Electricity on Shabbat in Jewish law.]

lifkin Controversy

Rabbi Miller wrote a letter voicing his support of the controversial ban of Rabbi Natan Slifkin's books by a number of prominent rabbis [ [http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5766/vayigash/ormillervyg66.htm A letter of admonishment regarding N. Slifkin's opinions] ] . His defense of the rabbis and the ban, was itself controversial, as evidenced by the responses it generated. ["See " [http://zootorah.com/controversy/controversy.html] ] Rabbis Miller and Slifkin met in Toronto in December 2007. Rabbi Slifkin reported that, despite their “strong disagreements,” they had “a very pleasant conversation” in “a nice, polite atmosphere.” Rabbi Slifkin noted, however, that nothing was resolved. [ [http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13753&Itemid=86] ]

Ted Floyd/Natan Levy

Rabbi Miller was the head of the beis din that ruled that Ted Floyd who assumed the name Natan Levy retained the status of a non-Jew and that his wife was Jewish and not complicit in his subterfuge.

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