Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

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Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin (also known as Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, MYRCB or Chaim Berlin, is a major 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. 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. A Jerusalem branch called Yeshivas Pachad Yitchak is headed by Rabbi Yonason David, son-in-law of Rabbi Hutner.

The best known Mashgiach Ruchani was Rabbi Avigdor Miller, who was followed by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (a cousin to the other Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach - the "singing rabbi" - who was also a student at the yeshiva in his youth.) The next Mashgiach was Rabbi Shimon Groner, and the post is presently held by Rabbi Mordechai Schechter, oldest son of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Schechter. The other senior Rosh Yeshiva is Rabbi Pinchas Kahn.

[edit] Alumni in senior rabbinic and Jewish communal positions

The yeshiva has generated distinguished alumni serving in Rabbinic capacities throughout the world, notably:

The late Rabbi Joshua Shmidman , Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Noam HaTorah in Montreal.
Rabbi Dr. Michael D. Shmidman, Rabbi of Congregation Orach Chaim in Manhattan and dean of Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University
Rabbi Simcha Krauss, retired Rabbi of the Young Israel of Hillcrest,Queens
Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel
Rabbi Aharon Feldman current Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel
Rabbi Pinchas Stolper former Executive Vice-President of the Orthodox Union
Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld founding Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Shor Yoshuv
Rabbi Aaron Lichtenstein Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion
Rabbi Dovid Cohen founder of Gvul Yavetz
Rabbi Avrohom Nesanel Zucker, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Yisroel of Marine Park