A large gathering of roshei yeshivos, talmidim
and bnei Torah accompanied HaRav Berel Eisenstein
zt'l, rosh yeshivas Kiryat Melech in Bnei Brak,
to rest on Wednesday after his petiroh at the age of
53.
HaRav Eisenstein was born in 5710 (1950) in Chicago to R'
Yosef z'l and his mother tlct'a, both of whom
had been living as refugees in Shanghai where they got
married. R' Yosef had been studying in Kobrin, Lithuania by
HaRav Pesach Pruskin until the War broke out, when he fled to
Shanghai and eventually settled in Chicago.
In his youth R' Berel studied in Chicago at yeshivas under
the direction of survivors from the generation of great Torah
scholars that perished in the Holocaust, particularly under
HaRav Mordechai Rogov, author of Ateres Mordechai, and
the current Admor from Novominsk when he served as a
ram in the yeshiva in Chicago.
At a young age he was already known for his exceptional
talent, industriousness and hasmodoh, and it was
widely acknowledged that R' Berel was destined to stand in
the forefront of the Torah world as a leading marbitz
Torah.
In the summer of 5729 (1969) he arrived in Eretz Yisroel,
where he began to study at Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem.
Immediately upon his arrival he was received as one of the
leading talmidim. He cleaved to his rabbonim --
including HaRav Chaim Shmulevitz zt'l and HaRav
Nochum Partzovitz zt'l, with whom he had the merit to
study for several years in chavrusa -- and his Torah
learning and his day-to- day conduct were based on the
fundamentals he acquired from them.
He took part in the publication of the shiurim of his
rebbe HaRav Nochum Partzovitz and, during the
shiurim he was to give in later years he would often
mention Torah learning he had heard from Rav Partzovitz.
After marrying into the Rosenthal family of Petach Tikva, he
continued learning in the kollel of the Mir Yeshiva.
Later, HaRav Eisenstein served as a ram at Yeshivas
Beis HaTalmud, Yeshivas Yad Aharon and Yeshivas Beis Yisroel.
Later he was called upon by HaRav Yehoshua Neuwirth,
shlita, to help him found Yeshivas Chochmas Shlomoh in
Jerusalem's Beit Vegan neighborhood, where he taught and
guided numerous talmidim.
Three years ago he was asked to serve as rosh yeshivas
Kiryas Melech, in Bnei Brak a branch of Yeshivas Tiferes
Tzion (which was founded by the Chazon Ish). Here as well,
HaRav Eisenstein's prodigious talents and strengths gained
recognition. Since his arrival at the yeshiva, HaRav
Eisenstein devoted his entire being to his talmidim,
many of whom forged bonds of love with him. He treated every
talmid as if he were his only son. In addition to his
dedication to the progress of every individual talmid,
he was a great educator whose elevated middos radiated
unto everyone who came into contact with him. He also kept in
constant touch with talmidim who went to other
yeshivas. He was always concerned about their welfare and
even helped with their shidduchim.
He attached special importance to the need to subordinate
oneself to gedolei hador and to respect all
marbitzei Torah. Whenever he saw or heard that a well-
known figure was voicing even slightly disparaging remarks
about gedolei Torah he was deeply disturbed and would
gather the entire yeshiva for a special talk on the
importance of emunas chachomim and respect for
talmidei chachomim.
Although recently he suffered with great yissurim,
which he accepted with love, HaRav Eisenstein continued to
teach and guide his talmidim until his very last day.
Just one day before his petiroh he traveled to the
yeshiva in Bnei Brak to deliver a shiur, providing a
fabulous example of mesirus nefesh for Torah.
Upon receiving news of his sudden passing, his many
talmidim in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem as well as his
peers who knew him since their days of learning under R'
Nochum, were struck with grief. Many of his talmidim
tore kriya when they heard of the petiroh of
their beloved rebbe.
The levaya set out on Wednesday from Beis Knesses
Ahavas Torah in Jerusalem's Kiryat Sanz where he regularly
davened. Hespeidim were delivered by HaRav Shmuel
Auerbach; HaRav Aryeh Finkel, rosh yeshivas Mir of
Brachfeld; HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, one of the roshei
yeshiva of Mir; HaRav Nosson Cohen, the mashgiach
of Yeshivas Kiryat Melech; HaRav Tzvi Eisenstein, rosh
yeshivas Tiferes Tzion; and HaRav Nochum Eisenstein, the
deceased's brother. One of his sons said words of parting.
All of the speakers spoke of HaRav Eisenstein's greatness and
mesirus nefesh for Torah study, helping guide and
teach many talmidim despite difficult yissurim,
as well as his closeness to his rabbonim during his years of
study in yeshiva.
HaRav Eisenstein zt'l is survived by his mother, wife,
sons, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, all of whom
are following in his footsteps of Torah and yir'oh.
