Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin,(Hebrew: (יְשִׁיבַת רַבֵּינוּ חַיִּים בֶּרלִין) is a major Haredi yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1904, it is the oldest yeshiva to be founded in Brooklyn. It was named for 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 passing.
It is primarily an American, Lithuanian-style Talmudic Haredi but non-Hasidic yeshiva. It presently has an enrollment of close to two thousand students ranging from its elementary division to its post high school beis midrash and kollel (known as Kollel Gur Aryeh) divisions. It allows boys to pursue a secular education while remaining in the yeshiva. Many of its graduates fill important positions in Orthodox educational institutions in the United States.
Its most famous rosh yeshiva was Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner (1906-1980) who was its head from 1936 until his passing in 1980. Under Rabbi Hutner's charismatic leadership, Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin grew to great prominence, and with it grew his reputation in the world of Torah scholarship. It has a branch in Jerusalem, established by Rabbi Hutner, called Yeshiva Pachad Yitzchok ("Fear of Isaac", a Biblical reference, Genesis 31:42) named for Rabbi Hutner's books on Jewish Torah thought.
Rabbi Hutner was succeeded by his disciple Rabbi Aharon Schechter, while the Jerusalem branch is headed by Rabbi Yonason David, son-in-law of Rabbi Hutner. Rabbi Schechter's son-in-law, Rabbi Shlomo Halioua serves as assistant Rosh Yeshiva during the summer months.
The best known Mashgiach Ruchani was Rabbi Avigdor Miller, who was followed by Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld (who was also a student at the yeshiva in his youth). Other Mashgichim have been Rabbis Shlomo Carlebach (not the singer) and Shimon Groner. The post is presently held by Rabbi Mordechai Schechter, oldest son of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Schechter. Major Rebbis include Rabbis Pinchas Kahn, Chaim Kitevits and Yosef Fruchthandler. Philanthropist Abraham H. Fruchthadler is the President of the Yeshiva.
Alumni in senior rabbinic and Jewish communal positions
The yeshiva has generated distinguished alumni serving in Rabbinic capacities throughout the world, most notably:
- Rabbi Joshua Shmidman zt"l , Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Noam HaTorah in Montreal.
- Rabbi Dr. Michael D. Shmidman, Rabbi of Congregation Orach Chaim in Manhattan and former dean of Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University
- Rabbi Simcha Krauss, retired Rabbi of the Young Israel of Hillcrest, Queens, and former leader of the Religious Zionists of America
- Rabbi Dr. David Ebner, Rosh Yeshiva and Mashgiach Ruchani of Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi and former Rosh Yeshiva and Mashgiach Ruchani of Yeshivat HaMivtar
- Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg zt"l, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel
- Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel
- Rabbi Pinchas Stolper, former Executive Vice-President of the Orthodox Union
- Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld zt"l, founding Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Shor Yoshuv
- Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion
- Rabbi Dovid Cohen, founder of Gvul Yavetz
- Rabbi Sidney Shoham, Rabbi Emeritus of Beth Zion Congeragation and founder of Kollel Torah Mitzion, Côte-St-Luc, Quebec
- Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, former mashgiach ruchani
- Rabbi Noah Weinberg zt"l, co-founder of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach and founder of Yeshivas Aish HaTorah
- Rabbi Moshe Bamberger, Mashgiach Ruchani of Bais Medrash L'Talmud in Kew Gardens Hills, N.Y.
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