Binyomin Paler
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Binyomin Paler was a Haredi
rosh yeshiva
and Talmud
ist who is regarded as one of those who brought the Brisk yeshivas and methods
from Europe to the United States.
He was considered one of the closest students of Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rov.)
He was born in Brisk
, then in Russia
, to his father, Rabbi Yitzchok Paler. The family claimed descent from such Torah
authorities as Rabbi Moses Isserles
and Rabbi Meir ben Isaac Katzenellenbogen
. Rabbi Yitzchok Paler, a full-time Talmudic scholar, was so well respected in the community of Brisk that when the Brisker Rov was not available to serve as a Sandek
at a Bris, Rabbi Yitzchok Paler served in that capacity instead.
As a child, Rabbi Binyomin Paler gained a reputation as a child prodigy
. He originally learned in the yeshiva in Brisk headed by Moshe Sokolowsky, author of Imrei Moshe. As he matured, he was allowed to join a small circle of select individuals who had the privilge to learn directly with the Brisker Rov. Even during World War II, Rabbi Binyomin Paler did not leave his beloved teacher, the Brisker Rov, rather, he followed the latter to Vilna to continue his studies.
While learning in Brisk, Rabbi Binyomin Paler's study partner was Rabbi Berel Soloveitchik
. The duo learned eight folios of the Talmud every day. Rabbi Paler was reputed to have learned the entire Nezikin
in one winter semester. He was also reputed to have been an expert in the all works of Maimonides
and memorized the latter's works as well as the entire Gemara
.
Eventually, Rabbi Binyomin Paler joined the Mirrer yeshiva
and escaped the horrors of the Holocaust
in Europe by finding refuge with the Yeshiva in Shanghai.
After the war, Rabbi Binyomin Paler joined his friend Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin
from the Mir in establishing Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud
in Brooklyn, New York. The next year, he was appointed as a lecturer in Yeshivas Chasan Sofer, the yeshiva headed by his father-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld
, the Mattesdorfer Rov
. Rabbi Binyomin Paler eventually became the Rosh Yeshiva
in his father-in-law's yeshiva.
In America, Rabbi Paler was the emissary of the Brisker Rov in terms of funds needed for the various yeshivas in Israel
, especially in Jerusalem. He also helped transmit the Brisker tradition to America.
In 1965 he left Chasan Sofer to open his own yeshiva, Yeshiva Mekor Chaim. The name of his Yeshiva was given by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
to show that Rabbi Binyamin Paler was continuing the Talmudic tradition established by Rabbi Chaim Brisker. In 1976, a high school attached to the yeshiva was opened,headed by Rabbi Chaim Blum
. Following his death, Rabbi Paler was succeeded as dean of Mekor Chaim by his three sons.
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
and Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ist who is regarded as one of those who brought the Brisk yeshivas and methods
Brisk yeshivas and methods
The Soloveitchik dynasty of rabbinic scholars and their students originated the Brisker method of Talmudic study, which is embraced by their followers in the Brisk yeshivas. It is so called because of the Soloveitchiks' origin in the town of Brisk, or Brest-Litovsk, located in what is now Belarus...
from Europe to the United States.
He was considered one of the closest students of Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rov.)
He was born in Brisk
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, then in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, to his father, Rabbi Yitzchok Paler. The family claimed descent from such Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
authorities as Rabbi Moses Isserles
Moses Isserles
Moses Isserles, also spelled Moshe Isserlis, , was an eminent Ashkenazic rabbi, talmudist, and posek, renowned for his fundamental work of Halakha , entitled ha-Mapah , an inline commentary on the Shulkhan Aruch...
and Rabbi Meir ben Isaac Katzenellenbogen
Meir ben Isaac Katzenellenbogen
Meir ben Isaac Katzenellenbogen was an Italian rabbi born in Katzenellenbogen, Germany. Meïr ben Isaac, who was generally called after his native town, was the founder of the Katzenellenbogen family...
. Rabbi Yitzchok Paler, a full-time Talmudic scholar, was so well respected in the community of Brisk that when the Brisker Rov was not available to serve as a Sandek
Sandek
Sandak is the term for a person honored at a Jewish brit milah ceremony, traditionally either by holding the baby boy on the knees or thighs while the mohel performs the brit milah or by handing the baby to the mohel...
at a Bris, Rabbi Yitzchok Paler served in that capacity instead.
As a child, Rabbi Binyomin Paler gained a reputation as a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
. He originally learned in the yeshiva in Brisk headed by Moshe Sokolowsky, author of Imrei Moshe. As he matured, he was allowed to join a small circle of select individuals who had the privilge to learn directly with the Brisker Rov. Even during World War II, Rabbi Binyomin Paler did not leave his beloved teacher, the Brisker Rov, rather, he followed the latter to Vilna to continue his studies.
While learning in Brisk, Rabbi Binyomin Paler's study partner was Rabbi Berel Soloveitchik
Berel Soloveitchik
Berel Soloveitchik was a rabbi and the son of Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik and one of the leading Rosh Yeshivas of the Brisk yeshivas in Jerusalem, Israel. He was a first cousin to Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who was named after the Beis HaLevi, as he was...
. The duo learned eight folios of the Talmud every day. Rabbi Paler was reputed to have learned the entire Nezikin
Nezikin
For Jewish law on damages, see Damages Nezikin or Seder Nezikin is the fourth Order of the Mishna...
in one winter semester. He was also reputed to have been an expert in the all works of Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
and memorized the latter's works as well as the entire Gemara
Gemara
The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Rabbi Judah the Prince The Gemara (also transliterated Gemora or, less commonly, Gemorra; from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or "learning by...
.
Eventually, Rabbi Binyomin Paler joined the Mirrer yeshiva
Mir yeshiva (Poland)
The Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, was a Haredi yeshiva located in the town of Mir, Russian Empire...
and escaped the horrors of the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
in Europe by finding refuge with the Yeshiva in Shanghai.
After the war, Rabbi Binyomin Paler joined his friend Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin
Aryeh Leib Malin
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin was a Rabbi, Talmudist, and Mussarist in both Europe and America.-Biography:Rabbi Malin was born in Białystok. In his early years, Reb Leib learned in Grodno under Rabbi Shimon Shkop. Later, he learned by Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman and Rabbi Baruch Ber Lebowitz...
from the Mir in establishing Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud
Beth Hatalmud Rabbinical College
Beth Hatalmud Rabbinical College, also known as Bais Hatalmud, is a small and selective Rabbinical college located in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York.-Founding and Mission:...
in Brooklyn, New York. The next year, he was appointed as a lecturer in Yeshivas Chasan Sofer, the yeshiva headed by his father-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld
Shmuel Ehrenfeld
Shmuel Ehrenfeld , known as the Mattersdorfer Rav, was a pre-eminent Orthodox Jewish rabbi in pre-war Austria and a respected Rav and community builder in post-war America. He established Yeshivas Chasan Sofer in New York and taught thousands of students who went on to become leaders of American...
, the Mattesdorfer Rov
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
. Rabbi Binyomin Paler eventually became the Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
in his father-in-law's yeshiva.
In America, Rabbi Paler was the emissary of the Brisker Rov in terms of funds needed for the various yeshivas in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, especially in Jerusalem. He also helped transmit the Brisker tradition to America.
In 1965 he left Chasan Sofer to open his own yeshiva, Yeshiva Mekor Chaim. The name of his Yeshiva was given by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
to show that Rabbi Binyamin Paler was continuing the Talmudic tradition established by Rabbi Chaim Brisker. In 1976, a high school attached to the yeshiva was opened,headed by Rabbi Chaim Blum
. Following his death, Rabbi Paler was succeeded as dean of Mekor Chaim by his three sons.