Remembering Rabbi Berel Wein
With the passing of Rabbi Berel Wein this past Shabbos, the Jewish people have lost a beloved rabbi, educator and overall distinguished Jewish leader. He was a scholar and teacher first, wrote dozens of books, and created hundreds of tapes on Jewish history that predated social media, iphones and You Tube. He was a realist, an historian who documented the story of the Jewish people. His mission was wanting to spread a love of Torah and pride in being Jewish.
My husband and I had the privilege of traveling with the beloved rabbi on many trips – Spain, Italy and as far as Australia, making the Jewish history of these places come alive.These trips were organized for observant Jews who wanted to be able to eat kosher and observe Shabbat no matter how far away we traveled. It was truly a privelege to be in Rabbi Wein’s company.
We might be on the road in some remote place in Italy and he would tell the bus driver to pull over because it was time for Mincha. The men would get off the bus to pray transforming a stretch of road by bringing kedusha to it. The practice of Judaism trumped everything.
While others searched for memorabilia to bring home from their travels, Rabbi Wein would shop for things that could ultimately be used to decorate his Sukkah. Everything he did seemed to have Judaism in mind.
Whether we were in the Swiss alps or on a boat in Sydney, Rabbi Wein always engaged in talking Torah. He had a wry sense of humor but most of all he had a love for the Jewish people. He spoke honestly about the many challenges Jews face, wanting always to instill Jewish pride.
Rabbi Wein often used the phrase “history is our rearview mirror” to emphasize the importance of learning from the past to understand the present and navigate the future. He believed that studying history, particularly Jewish history, provided valuable insights into current challenges and help shape a more informed future.
Rabbi Berel Wein’s passing is a loss for the Jewish people. He will be sorely missed. May his memory be a blessing.
