Berel Wein is an Orthodox rabbi, lecturer, writer and an expert in Jewish history. Born into a family of Lithuanian rabbis in Chicago in the United States, he has held a variety of significant positions in the Orthodox rabbinate. After long service in the American rabbinate, he moved to Israel where he established The Destiny Foundation, devoted to teaching awareness of Jewish hsitory, in 1996.
Rabbi Wein was ordained at Hebrew Theological College and graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He received his law degree from De Paul University, qualifying with the Illinois Bar and practicing as as an attorney for a number of years in Chicago.
From 1964 unti 1972 he moved to Miami Beach, Florida to become rabbi of Beth Israel Congregation. In 1972 he moved to New York following his appointment as executive vice-president of the Union of Orthodox Organizations of America, known as the Orthodox Union. In that organization, he was the rabbinic administrator of the Kashrut supervision division of the Union of Orthodox Congregations until 1977.
Rabbi Wein subsequently founded Congregation Bais Torah of Suffern, New York in Monsey, New York which grew to become a large Orthodox congregation. It is presently described as:
- Congregation Bais Torah, a warm and friendly Orthodox shul founded by Rabbi Berel Wein over 30 years ago... We’re a kehilla that offers the best of all worlds. With over 350 members, we are one of the largest and most dynamic congregations in the vibrant Monsey area... We’re a shul where each individual counts and Jews of all ages and backgrounds are warmly welcomed into our midst. [1]
In 1977 he founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland with a large high school and a smaller post-high school division, in nearby Rockland County, New York and served as its Rosh yeshiva ("dean") until he made aliyah to Israel.
Rabbi Berel Wein is an internationally renowned Jewish historian, author, speaker and lecturer. His key four volume works on Jewish history are:
- Echoes of Glory: The story of the Jews in the classical era 350 BCE-750 CE
- Herald of Destiny: The story of the Jews in the medieval era 750-1650
- Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era 1650-1995
- Faith and Fate: The story of the Jewish people in the twentieth century
He lives in Jerusalem with his wife, but he travels the world giving many guest lectures in Jewish communities that are eager to hear his well-crafted lectures. He most recent projects revolve around producing high quality documentaries for film and television based on important themes and episodes in Jewish history focusing on on the lives of famous sages and rabbis such as Rashi (1040-1105) and Maimonides (Rambam) (1135-1204). Rabbi Wein also lectures at the Ohr Somayach yeshiva, Jerusalem to the mostly English-speaking student body. The yeshiva describes him as follos (also listing topics of his lectures and tapes):
- Rabbi Wein is a distinguished Torah scholar, author of works of Talmudic commentary and responsa. He is a former dean and community rabbi, author of a series on Jewish history, a member of the Illinois Bar, a former Director of the Orthodox Union and the creator of a highly regarded series of Jewish history tapes. He is presently a senior faculty member of Ohr Somayach Jerusalem. [2]
Throughout his career, Rabbi has retained personal and ideological lines to the worlds of both Modern Orthodox Judaism and Haredi Judaism, and both movement respect him. His early education in Chicago and work at the Orthodox Union identify him with Modern Orthodoxy, and at the same time his ideology and outlook as expressed in his voluminous writings, his acceptance at yeshivas such Ohr Somayach, reveal his deep affinity and appreciation for the world of Haredi Judaism in the modern world.
Books and publications
- Chikrei Halacha, (Hebrew) published by Mosad Harav Kook in (1976)
- Eyunim B'm'sechtot HaTalmud in (1989).
- Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era 1650-1990 (1990)
- Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews 750-1650 (1993)
- Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Era (1995)
- Second Thoughts: A Collection of Musings and Observations (1997)
- Buy Green Bananas: Observations on Self, Family and Life (1999)
- Faith & fate: The story of the Jewish people in the twentieth century (2001)
- Living Jewish: Values, Practices and Traditions (2002)
- Pirkei Avos: Teachings for Our Times (2003)
- Wein Haggadah by Berel Wein (2004)
- Rambam - The story of Maimonides (2006)
Co-authored books
- Real Messiah: A Jewish Response to Missionaries by Aryeh Kaplan, Berel Wein, and Pinchas Stolper (1976)
- Sand and Stars by Yaffa Ganz and Berel Wein (1996)
- The Pesach Haggadah: Orlofsky Edition by Berel Wein, Nosson Scherman, and Meir Zlotowitz (2004)
DVDs
- Berel Wein's Israel Journey - Jerusalem (co-authored with Wayne Kopping) (2003)
- Rambam-The Story of Maimonides by Leonard Nimoy, Armand Assante, Ashley Lazarus, and Berel Wein (2005)
Audio works
- Around the Jewish Year (2005)
- Jewish Brothers in Conflict (2005)
- Jewish Political Intrigue (2005)
- Koheles: Wisdom of Solomon (2005)
- Pirkei Avos: Ethics of the Fathers, Volume 1 (2005)
- Rav Hai Gaon (2005)
- Reflections of Reb Zadok: Volume 2 (2005)
- The Lost Communities (2005)
- Three Views of Jewish Philosophy (2005)
- Travels through Jewish History: Volume 2 (2005)
- Travels through Jewish History: Volume 3 (2005)
- Travels through Jewish History: Volume 4 (2005)
- Yeshivas of Eastern Europe (2005)
- Basic Books of Judaism (2004)
- Crash Course In Jewish History: 5000 Years In 5 Hours (2004)
- Koheles: The Wisdom of Solomon (2004)
- The Millennium/Jewish Christian Relations for 2000 Years (2004)
- Three Views of Jewish Philosophy (2004)
- Travels through Jewish History: Volume 1 (2004)
- RAMBAN - Rabbi Moses ben Nachman: His Life and Times (2001)
- Italy Tour 2000 (2000)
- Spectacular Spain Tour 1999 (1999)
Sources
- Vintage Wein: The collected wit and wisdom, the choicest anecdotes and vignettes of Rabbi Berel Wein, James David Weiss (Shaar Press, 1992: ISBN 0899065988)