[6][7] He is a 1994 graduate of Yeshiva College and was listed in the 2005 alumni directory as a rabbi and a quantitative analyst working in financial reinsurance.

"[18] Student founded and operated a now-defunct small Jewish publishing house, Yashar Books, that, in addition to traditional Orthodox scholarly works, used to distribute the writings of Orthodox thinkers who defy the accepted norms of publications in the Haredi world; the latter include works that were previously distributed by prominent publishers such as Feldheim.

I believe we have witnessed such an event with the recent controversy surrounding three books about Torah and science by Rabbi Natan (Nosson) Slifkin.

The bans promulgated on his books have come to represent more than just disapproval of those specific works; they have come to signify the lack of centralized rabbinic authority in our globalized world and the increased empowerment of the individual afforded by the Internet.

[22]Key areas discussed with relevant sources include: Though his stance in the Slifkin controversy put him at odds with much of the Haredi world, Student nevertheless opposes many trends within Modern Orthodoxy, especially regarding women's issues (e.g. women's prayer groups), taking a particularly strong stance against the now-defunct Edah organization;[23] and other groups.

In an interview with The Jewish Press[26] in September 2009, in response to a question if he can talk about his opinions on the Lubavitcher rebbe not being Moshiach, he replied, I actually prefer not to.

I have no interest in fighting with Lubavitch.Student is often cited by rabbis belonging to the Rabbinical Council of America,[27] and eminent writers frequently respond to Student's writings and statements on their own websites and blogs.

[28]The publishers of American Theocracy, discussing the role of women in Judaism, write, "Rabbi Gil Student's Hirhurim Musings, described as the Best Jewish Religion Blog of 2005 by the Jerusalem Post, had this to say on December 31, 2004: 'It must be remembered that a substantial segment of the Orthodox community considers the advanced learning of the Torah by women to be forbidden.