Yitzchak Berkovits

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits is an Orthodox rabbi and posek ("decisor" [of Jewish law]), teacher of Torah and lecturer to the english-speaking community in Jerusalem, Israel. He is also one of the spiritual leaders of the Baal teshuva ("returnees" to Orthodox Judaism) movement across the globe.

For nearly twenty years, he served as Menahel Ruchani of Yeshiva Aish HaTorah, where he supervised the rabbinic ordination of hundreds of students. Today, Rabbi Berkovits acts as a Dayan also known as a Mot"z (Moreh Tzedek "religious guide") in Jerusalem's Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood, and leads Congregation Minyan Avrechim.

He is the founder and Rosh Kollel of The Jerusalem Kollel [1], an institute dedicated to training rabbis and Orthodox Jewish outreach counselors for Jewish communities in the Jewish diaspora. Rabbi Berkovits's students fill prominent positions around the globe[2]. He is regarded as a "Rabbi's Rabbi" by his admirers; and as an adviser to hundreds of rabbis.^[1] Additionally, Rabbi Berkovits is a leading proponent of what is known as the 'Kiruv Movement'. This means that he actively exhorts his students and followers to enter the field of Outreach to other Jews, as seen here:[3].

He is a leading authority on Mitzvot Bein Adom L'Chavero the Torah's guidelines for interpersonal relationships. He is well-known for his expertise in the Laws of Lashon Hara (Proper Speech) and is author of Chofetz Chaim: A Lesson a Day (2 volumes)^[2] .Rabbi Berkovits also serves as Dean of the Center for Jewish Values [4] , based in Jerusalem. The Center for Jewish Values promotes Mitzvot Bein Adam L'Chavero,. Additionally, the Center for Jewish Values has published six volumes of Rabbi Berkovits's writings on Mitzvot Bein Adom L'Chavero.

In 2007, Rabbi Berkovits founded the rent control "Vaad" in the Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood of Jerusalem, and many other neighborhoods immediately followed his lead. Subsequently, this policy was also adopted by such noted Haredi leaders as Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman of Bnei Brak and the Rebbe of Belz. This effort has served to maintain reasonable rental prices for foreigners living in Jerusalem.