NYC Gazette

This past summer, two Straus Scholars from the Zahava and Moshael J. Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought engaged in research projects focused on key figures in Jewish intellectual history. These scholars, Josh Shapiro (YC ‘25) and Matthew Minsk (YC ‘26), showcased their academic dedication through their work.

Josh Shapiro concentrated his research on Samuel David Luzzatto (Shadal), a 19th-century Italian biblical scholar and philosopher. His senior thesis project, supervised by Rabbi Shalom Carmy, explored Shadal’s approach to Jewish Oral Law in relation to the Written Law. Shapiro examined how Shadal depicted Jewish Sages as morally sensitive in their legislative efforts. He also studied how Shadal attempted to reconcile modernity with tradition by reframing Judaism to align with values such as nationalism, equality, and freedom.

Reflecting on his research experience, Shapiro noted the impact of engaging directly with primary sources, which led to new insights. He credited the Straus Center for equipping him to appreciate figures like Rav Soloveitchik and Rav Kook: “Whether it be my classes on Rav Soloveitchik, Rav Kook, or Menachem Begin, I have been taught to find these figures, examine their writings closely, and ponder the broad impact they have on the world.”

Matthew Minsk’s research centered around organizing the Lamm Heritage Archives under Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky's guidance. This involved cataloging tens of thousands of pages of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm zt”l’s works into a searchable database for researchers and public use. Through this process, Minsk gained insight into Rabbi Lamm's intellectual contributions including his articles on halakha and Modern Orthodoxy.

Minsk discovered biographical details about Rabbi Lamm’s early work in Yeshiva College’s French journal Le Flambeau and materials related to Yavneh, an Orthodox campus movement active between the 1960s-1980s. As a Straus Scholar reading Rabbi Lamm’s writings was significant for Minsk: “It was clear to me that leaders of the past generation grappled with many of the same lightning-rod topics.” He found parallels between Rabbi Lamm's views on presidential immunity during Nixon's era and current debates.

Both scholars’ projects highlight their commitment to Jewish scholarship reflecting the mission of training Yeshiva University students as Orthodox intellectual leaders knowledgeable in both Torah and Western thought.