Rabbi Wein

About Rabbi Berel Wein

Rabbi Wein was born in Chicago to a family descended from Lithuanian rabbis and received Semicha (Rabbinic Ordination) from Hebrew Theological College having studied with some of the leading Rabbis of the time. He graduated from Roosevelt College in Chicago with a batchelors degree followed by a law degree from De Paul University Law School and a Doctorate from HebrewTheological College. He became a successful practicing lawyer in Chicago for a number of years but in 1964 changed course and assumed the pulpit of the Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach, Florida, where he remained until 1972.
In 1973 he became the Rabbi of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey (Suffern), New York and remained in that position for 24 years. He was then appointed Executive Vice President of the Union of Orthodox Organizations of America (OU) and was Rabbinic Administrator of the Kashrus Division for five years after that.
At the same time, he founded Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey (Suffern), New York, and served as its rabbi for the next 24 years.  In 1977 he founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern with a large high school and a smaller post-high school division  and remained its Rosh Hayeshiva until 1997.
In 1997 Rabbi Wein and his wife moved to Jerusalem where he continues to teach and write. He joined our Beit Knesset and taught regularly and in 2002 was invited to become the Mora D’Atra of the community.
Rabbi Wein is a prolific writer and one of his earliest books is a work of halachic essays, Chikrei Halacha which was published by Mosad Harav Kook in 1976 and Eyunim B’m’sechtoth Hatalmud was published in 1989.  Rabbi Wein has authored six Jewish history books – Triumph of Survival, The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era; Herald of Destiny, the Medieval Era; Echoes of Glory, the Classical Era, Faith and Fate/ The Story of the Jews in the Twentieth Century and The Oral Law of Sinai-The Illustrated History of the Mishnah and Vision and Valor- An Illustrated History of the Talmud– all of which have received popular and critical acclaim. In 2011, Rabbi Wein released Patterns in Jewish History, a thematic exploration of the history of the Jewish people. His latest book is co-authored with Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa, called “The Legacy – Teachings for Life from the Great Lithuanian Rabbis”.
Rabbi Wein also authors and edits a monthly newsletter – The Wein Press – a source of information and inspiration on topics of Jewish interest. Rabbi Wein appears on PBS television in Israel three times a week on “Ask the Rabbi.”
Rabbi Wein set up the Destiny Foundation which is in the process of translating his  riveting accounts of Jewish history into a series of films on Jewish personalities. The first, entitled Rashi-A Light After The Dark Ages, was released in 2000 and the next, on the life of the Rambam was completed in 2004, each receiving positive reviews and impacting the curriculum in Jewish schools the world over. Rabbi Wein then embarked on a major series of films spanning the 20th Century called “Faith & Fate”.
Rabbi Wein, a member of the Illinois Bar Association, is the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award from The Covenant Foundation in 1993. Rabbi Wein received the Torah Prize Award from Machon Harav Frank in Jerusalem for his achievements in teaching Torah and spreading Judaism throughout the world. He travels extensively lecturing to avid international audiences.