JERUSALEM – Rabbi Berel Wein, legendary Jewish historian, author, yeshiva founder, rabbi, and Giant Talmud Chacham, passed away Saturday in Israel at 91. Known for his extraordinary oratory and scholarship, he captivated audiences worldwide with thousands of recorded lectures on Jewish history and Torah, shared over decades via tapes, CDs, and online platforms.
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Born in Chicago, Rabbi Wein led Congregation Bais Torah and founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Monsey, New York, before moving to Jerusalem in 1997 to serve as rabbi of Beit Knesset Hanassi. He also transformed kosher supervision in North America through his leadership of the OU’s Kashrut Division, leaving a global impact on Jewish life.
Renowned for bridging generations, Rabbi Wein was personally connected to pre-Holocaust rabbinic leaders. He famously recounted meeting Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe—despite being an anti-Zionist while Rabbi Wein was pro-Zionist—and described him as one of the greatest minds and tzadikim he had ever encountered.
His funeral will be held Sunday at Beit Knesset Hanassi in Jerusalem, with burial on the Mount of Olives.
Baruch Dayan Emes. He was a great man who did a lot for Klal Yisroel in Chicago, Miami Beach, Monsey and Yerushalayim. And with his recordings and books throughout the world.
BDH, a big loss for Klal Yosroel.
Very unique person, super accurate historicaly, very broad views on Judaism, we should have more like him. I feel sad on his petira we lost a giant.
BDE & ZY”A. Best speaker I’ve heard.
ברוך דיין האמת
We’ve just lost another giant in Jewish leadership and he will be sorely missed
His writings were very informative
I read a lot of his books. He was very thorough and says a lot of information and stories.
Rosh Yeshiva would have been appropriate.
Reb Yakov Emden brings many proofs that Reb Shimon did not write the Zohar. And of course none of our Rishonim ever knew of such a thing, as the Zohar.
Will there be zoom
He did write about the opinions of many Achronim that held that the Zohar was not written by Reb Shimon. It was written by a Mekubal Moses de Leon after the time of the Ramban.
One of his greatest one liners – “some people imagine G-D as wearing a shtreimel” In other words, Am Haaaraztim all over the place!