Remembering Rabbi Berel Wein zt”l
- Tehilla Kanter
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 30
With great sorrow, Hebrew Theological College mourns the loss of our illustrious Musmach (HTC ’56), Rav, Rosh Yeshiva, Talmid Chacham, historian, and master teacher, Rabbi Berel Wein zt”l.
Born in Chicago to a family steeped in Lithuanian rabbinic heritage, Rabbi Wein carried the legacy of Torah and scholarship with him throughout his life. He received semicha from HTC, studied under some of the leading rabbis of his time, and also pursued advanced secular learning, earning a law degree from DePaul University and practicing successfully as an attorney. In 1964, however, he followed his true calling and entered the rabbinate, first serving at Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach, and later for 24 years as the beloved Rav of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey, where he also founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah and shaped generations of talmidim.
In 1997, Rabbi Wein moved to Jerusalem, where he became a guiding figure in his community and a Mora D’Atra, while continuing to teach and write. A prolific author and lecturer, Rabbi Wein authored seminal works on Jewish history such as Triumph of Survival, Herald of Destiny, Faith & Fate, and Vision and Valor. Through his Destiny Foundation, he brought Jewish history to life on screen, producing acclaimed films on Rashi, the Rambam, and the story of 20th-century Jewry, inspiring classrooms and communities across the world.
HTC was privileged to host a Shloshim in his memory on Monday, September 15th, honoring his extraordinary life and legacy. The program, held in our Beis Midrash and livestreamed worldwide, featured divrei zikaron from his son Rabbi Chaim Wein, his nephew Harav Shmuel Yeshaya Keller, his chaver Rabbi Colman Ginsparg (HTC ’59), and his grandson R’ Binyamin Teitelbaum.
Rabbi Wein will be remembered not only for his brilliance as a historian and educator but also for his warmth, wit, and ability to make Torah and Jewish history come alive. His teachings continue to echo across generations, leaving an indelible mark on Klal Yisrael and on the Yeshiva that proudly claims him among its most distinguished alumni.
יהי זכרו ברוך.
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