Rabbi Gil Student
March 5, 2019
Rabbi Gil Student came to his rabbinic calling later in life. He attended Frisch and Yeshiva University, moving on to a career as an actuary in insurance and finance. As he began publishing on Torah subjects, he earned private Rav uManhig semicha. He later received Yoreh Yoreh semicha from Rav Hershel Schachter, Rav Menachem Genack and Rav Elazar Teitz. In 2004, he started the popular Hirhurim blog, which has since transformed into an online magazine titled Torah Musings (www.torahmusings.com). The website specializes in contemporary issues of halachah and hashkafah, including controversial topics in the news. It offers surveys and perspectives based on classical Torah texts and contemporary scholarship from a traditional perspective. In 2004, Rabbi Student founded Yashar Books, a publishing house of Modern Orthodox scholarship which has since been sold to Lambda Publishing. From 2009-2011, Rabbi Student worked as Managing Editor of OU Press. He currently serves on the Editorial Committee and as the Book Editor of Jewish Action magazine, on the board of OU Press, on the Executive Committee of the RCA, as Editorial Board Facilitator of Traditional Orthodox Rabbis of America (www.torarabbis.org), and as Director of the Maitiv Institute (www.maitiv.org). He is a regular contributor to Jewish Action, the Jewish Link of NJ, Jewish Echo Magazine and The Vues of Brooklyn. His writings have also appeared in academic, secular and Christian publications. He gives local shiurim, mentors younger rabbis in writing and publishing, maintains an active presence on social media and attempts in various ways to be a catalyst for positive change in the Orthodox community. His books include Can The Rebbe Be Moshiach? (2002), Posts Along The Way (2009) and two volumes of Torah Musings (2015 & 2016, with a third forthcoming in 2017). Rabbi Student lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Miriam. They have four children. Rabbi Student currently works in a large insurance company, focusing on implementing actuarial best practices and effective governance.
