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- Renowned Jewish Historian Rabbi Berel Wein Dies at 91
Renowned Jewish Historian Rabbi Berel Wein Dies at 91
From Chicago to Jerusalem, Rabbi Wein inspired generations through his scholarship, leadership, and passion for Jewish history.
Rabbi Berel Wein ZT”L, one of the foremost Jewish historians and educators of his generation, passed away Saturday morning in Jerusalem at the age of 91 after a brief illness. His death marks the close of a remarkable chapter in Jewish scholarship and teaching that influenced Jews around the world.
Born in Chicago to a family of Lithuanian rabbinic descent, Rabbi Wein combined a strong rabbinic background with broad academic training. He received ordination from Hebrew Theological College, a bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt College, a law degree from DePaul University Law School, and later a doctorate from Hebrew Theological College.
His rabbinic career spanned decades and continents. From 1973 to 1997, he served as rabbi of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey, New York, while also leading as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union and Rabbinic Administrator of its Kashrut Division. In 1977, he founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern, New York, serving as its dean until making aliyah with his wife in 1997.
Settling in Jerusalem, Rabbi Wein was appointed in 2002 as rabbi of Beit Knesset Hanassi, a position he held for more than two decades. Yet his influence extended far beyond any one pulpit. Known globally for his ability to make Jewish history accessible and relevant, Rabbi Wein authored numerous works, including the classic Patterns in Jewish History, and recorded thousands of lectures that reached broad audiences. His newsletters, educational initiatives, and even appearances on PBS introduced countless people to the depth and continuity of Jewish life.
For his dedication to Jewish education, Rabbi Wein received the Covenant Foundation’s Educator of the Year Award in 1993 and the Torah Prize Award from the Rabbi Frank Institute in Jerusalem. His teachings have become a touchstone for students and communities seeking both historical understanding and spiritual insight.
Rabbi Wein’s funeral will take place Sunday morning at Beit Knesset Hanassi, with burial on the Mount of Olives an eternal resting place in the land he loved and helped countless others connect with through his words.
His passing is a profound loss, but his legacy as a teacher, leader, and storyteller of Jewish destiny will endure for generations.
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