Rabbi Berel Wein: Beloved US rabbi in Jerusalem

Rabbi Berel Wein, a charismatic and eloquent Illinois-born spiritual leader and scholar, educator and historian, writer and orator who made aliyah in 1997, was niftar in Jerusalem on Saturday at the age of 91.

“We mourn the passing of this unique rav, educator and communal leader and will remain forever indebted to him both for his enduring impact on Klal Yisrael and for his lifelong support and involvement in the work of the Orthodox Union,” the OU said. “Rabbi Wein was a uniquely impactful rav whose work, perspective and voice profoundly influenced generations of Orthodox Jewry.”

Rabbi Wein authored dozens of books in both Hebrew and English, focusing on Judaism and Jewish history, recorded more than 1,000 audio tapes and wrote regular newspaper columns in the Jewish and Israel press. He also authored and edited a monthly newsletter, The Wein Press, and appeared on public television in Israel as part of a program called “Ask the Rabbi.”

Born in Chicago to a family descended from Lithuanian rabbis, he received semicha from the Hebrew Theological College, which was founded by his maternal grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Rubinstein.

At age 38 he became executive vice president of the OU, later heading OU Kosher for five years. He is credited with transforming kosher supervision in North America through his leadership of the OU’s Kashrut Division.