Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

Not to be confused with Chaim Berlin.
Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin
Location
Brooklyn, New York
United States
Information
Type Yeshiva
Established 1904
Affiliation Lithuanian-style Haredi
Rosh Yeshiva Rabbis Aharon Schechter and Yonasan Dovid David (current). Past: Yitzchok Hutner
Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Mordechai Zelig Schechter (current). Past: Rabbis Avigdor Miller, Shlomo Freifeld, Shlomo Carlebach, Shimon Groner
Rabbi Aaron Schechter (white beard) celebrating Purim in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin during the late 1970s.

Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin or Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, (Hebrew: יְשִׁיבַת רַבֵּינוּ חַיִּים בֶּרלִין‎‎) is a Haredi Lithuanian-type yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1904 as Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim, it is the oldest yeshiva in Kings County.[1] At the suggestion of Rabbi Meir Berlin (Bar-Ilan), it was renamed for his brother, Rabbi Chaim Berlin, the chief rabbi of Moscow who had moved to Jerusalem and was one of its leading rabbis at the time of his death.

It is an American, Lithuanian-style Haredi boys' and men's yeshiva. Current enrollment is close to two thousand students including preschool, elementary school, yeshiva ketana, a high school mesivta, a college-level bais medrash, and Kollel Gur Aryeh, its post-graduate kollel division.

Establishment in Brooklyn, New York

Jacob Rutstein (1878-1946) was a real estate developer, businessman, and philanthropist who was critical in establishing Chaim Berlin Yeshiva in the United States. An article in the Brooklyn Eagle, on March 16, 1942, describes one of the many donations he acquired for the institution, stating that “$2,000 was raised in outside gifts by Jacob Rutstein who recently returned from Florida.” On December 11, 1944, another article appears in the Brooklyn Eagle which it states that, “Yesivah Rabbi Chaim Berlin, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish institutions of learning in the country, is dedicating its new seven-story building at Stone and Pitkin Ave. at ceremonies which will take place throughout the week. The opening ceremonies were attended by more than 3000 persons. Jacob Rutstein, chairman of the dedication committee, announced that $25,000 had been donated by those present towards the new $1,000,000 building.”

On December 29, 1944, another article appeared stating the following about Jacob Rutstein.

“Our congratulations to Jacob Rutstein for his constant activity on organizing activities for the advancement of orthodox Jewish secular and religious education. Outstanding in his philanthropic activities is his recent purchase of the seven-story $1,000,000 building at 350 Stone Ave. for the Mesivtah and Yeshivah Rabbi Chaim Berlin in the hearts of Brownsville. Already the institution has been recognized by the State Board of Regents through the granting of a charter and 800 students are now enrolled. Of this number 150 are studying for the rabbinate. Also 200 of its students have come from all parts of this country and 62 are refugees driven from their homelands by Hitler. This has been a truly humanitarian endeavor on the part of Mr. Rutstein.”

Leadership

The original founding Rosh Hayeshiva, from 1936 until his passing in 1963 was Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Shurkin zt"l, who lectured to the first 3 years post high school division 5 days per week. He was well known as the best "Magid Shiur" in the "Torah world." Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner zt"l (1906–1980) joined the faculty sometime during 1936-1937 and began giving monthly lectures as Rosh Yeshiva from 1943 to 1980. Under R' Hutner's leadership, the yeshiva achieved international prominence in the orthodox Jewish community. In the late 1970s a branch was opened in Jerusalem called Yeshiva Pachad Yitzchok ("Fear of Isaac"). The name is both a Biblical reference to Genesis 31:42 and named for Hutner's books on Jewish thought.

After Rabbi Hutner's death the New York yeshiva was headed by his disciple, Rabbi Aharon Schechter, and the Jerusalem branch was headed by his son-in-law, Rabbi Yonason David.

Although there has been some discussion with regard to who is destined to replace Rabbi Schechter, most agree that Rabbi Shlomo Halioua, Rabbi Schechter's son in law, will be the one chosen for the position. This position has become solidified after Rabbi Halioua delivered a maamar, a religious discourse, after Rabbi Schechter on Shavuos 2015. This has historically been reserved for only Roshei Hayeshiva.

The position of Mashgiach Ruchani has been held by (among others) Rabbi Avigdor Miller, Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, and Rabbi Shimon Groner. The current Mashgiach Ruchani is Rabbi Mordechai Zelig Schechter, older son of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Schechter.

Notable senior faculty include Rabbis Pinchas Kahn, R'Chaim Kitevits, R'Reuven Neirenberg, Shlomo Chai David Yitzchak Halioua, Avigdor Kitevits, Meir Simcha Kahn, Chaim Eliezer Kahn, Shmaryahu Yitzchok Efraim Kirzner, Bentzion Eliyahu Fruchthandler, Binyamin Cohen, Gershon Harrar, Yossi Halioua, Tzvi Fink, Menachem Kahn, Yitzchok Meir Sendrovitz, Eliyahu Yormark, Binyomin Fruchthandler, Yosef Yormark, Yehoshua Rapps and Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Green.

The yeshiva is lovingly maintained in its pristine original condition by Rabbi Ziskind Saschitzky, assisted by Mr. Earl Desalegn.

Rabbi Abraham C. Fruchthandler is the current president of the yeshiva; other members of the executive board include Tuvia Obermeister, Mendel Schechter, Yisroel Meir Lasker, Efraim Feuer, and Mayer L. Yanofsky. At the yeshiva's summer location, commonly known as Camp Morris, named after a former president of the yeshiva, Morris Meltzer; Bentzion Eliyahu Fruchthandler, Simcha Obermeister, Yehoshua Leib Fruchthandler, Yirmiyahu Lasker and Zyskind Sashitzky amongst a few others serve as board members. HaRav Meir Simcha Kahn serves as Menahel of the post high school division. Harav Bentzion Eliyahu Fruchthandler is Mashgiach. Rabbi Shimon Feldman is the menahel of the high school division. Rabbi Tzvi Silver is the executive director.

Alumni in senior rabbinic and Jewish communal positions

The yeshiva has alumni serving in Rabbinic capacities throughout the world including:

References

  1. ↑ "Kabbalas Hatorah at Three Landmark Flatbush Yeshivos". Flatbush Jewish Journal. May 13, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.kbyt.org/
  3. ↑ http://torahanytime.com/Rabbi/Yaakov_Perlow/index.html
  4. ↑ "The Roshei Kollel". North Miami Beach Kollel. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  5. ↑ http://www.shalomrav.org/staff_profiles.html

Coordinates: 40°37′38″N 73°57′47″W / 40.62718°N 73.96303°W / 40.62718; -73.96303

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