IN TRIBUTE: Rabbi Berel Wein, z"l, Prominent Monsey Torah Personality

YS GOLD 

This past Shabbos, Rabbi Berel Wein, a world-renowned historian, and an important Torah figure in Rockland Country for decades, left this world. He was 91 years of age, and had resided in Eretz Yisroel for the last decades of his life. 

Rabbi Wein was born and raised in Chicago, and hailed from a long line of Lithuanian Rabbonim who were associated with the most important Lithuanian yeshivos. He recalled many important historical anecdotes related to the early history of Jewish Chicago. 

He married Yocheved Levin, the daughter of Rav Eliezer Levin, a distinguished Rov in Detroit, and thus began Rabbi Wein's fascinating and multi-faceted life of great impact. 

After working as an attorney for a number of years, he became a rov in Miami Beach for close to a decade, a time in which he grew the community from 39 families to 250. He also forged close relationships with gedolei Yisroel during this time. 

In the 1970's, he founded Congregation Bais Torah in Suffern, and subsequently Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland, both of which remain important institutions in the Monsey community, and impacted countless people over the decades. Rabbi Wein remained at the helm of the Shul and Yeshiva until his move to Eretz Yisroel in 1997. 

Rabbi Wein was one of the most important historians in the Orthodox community, and published and lectured on Jewish history throughout his life. He produced countless audio tapes on Jewish history. He was a tremendous talmid chochom who shared his wealth of knowledge with anyone who came to his door. 

Upon his move to Eretz Yisroel, he became the rov of Beit Knesset Hanasi in Rechavia, and would deliver regular shiurim there. 

He was niftar over Shabbos in Yerushalayim, leaving behind an incredible legacy, and a beautiful Torah family. 

Yehi zichro baruch.