Rabbi Yisrael Eliyahu Weintraub, known as Reb Yisroel Elya Weintraub, (1932–2010) was known as one of the leading Kabbalists

Kabbalah

Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...

 of his generation. Many people, including the leader

Gadol

Gadol or godol גדול , is a Hebrew term used mostly by Haredi Litvish Jews to refer to the most revered rabbis of their generation. These rabbis are usually held in high esteem by other Haredi or Orthodox Jews, though not necessarily to the same degree as by Litvish Jews...

 of Jewry, Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach, flocked to him for his advice on various matters of life.

Rabbi Weintraub was born in the Brownsville

Brownsville, Brooklyn

Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....

 neighborhood of Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

. While still a young lad, Rabbi Weintraub was known for his great diligence and devotion to the study of 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...

. He attended Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin or Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, is a Haredi Lithuanian-type yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1904 as Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim, it is the oldest yeshiva in Kings County...

 where he forged a student relationship with its dean, Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner

Yitzchok Hutner

Yitzchok Hutner was an Orthodox rabbi and American rosh yeshiva.-Early years:Yitchok Hutner was born in Warsaw, Poland, to a family with both Ger Hasidic and non-Hasidic Lithuanian Jewish roots. As a child he received private instruction in Torah and Talmud...

. As a student of Rabbi Hutner, Rabbi Weintraub also developed clear views on Jewish philosophy

Jewish philosophy

Jewish philosophy , includes all philosophy carried out by Jews, or, in relation to the religion of Judaism. Jewish philosophy, until modern Enlightenment and Emancipation, was pre-occupied with attempts to reconcile coherent new ideas into the tradition of Rabbinic Judaism; thus organizing...

, especially following the methodology of Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel

Judah Loew ben Bezalel

Judah Loew ben Bezalel, alt. Loewe, Löwe, or Levai, widely known to scholars of Judaism as the Maharal of Prague, or simply The MaHaRaL, the Hebrew acronym of "Moreinu ha-Rav Loew," was an important Talmudic scholar, Jewish mystic, and philosopher who served as a leading rabbi in the city of...

. Rabbi Weintraub briefly served as Mashgiach

Mashgiach

In Judaism, a Mashgiach is a person who supervises the kashrut status of a kosher establishment.A mashgiah may supervise any type of food service establishment, including slaughterhouses, food manufacturers, hotels, caterers, nursing homes, restaurants, butchers, groceries, or cooperatives...

 of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin before emigrating

Aliyah

Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...

 to Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

 in the early 1960s.

After a brief residence in Jerusalem, Rabbi Weintraub moved to Bene Barak in 1965. There, he lived on Rashbam

Rashbam

Samuel ben Meir after his death known as "Rashbam", a Hebrew acronym for: RAbbi SHmuel Ben Meir, was a leading French Tosafist and grandson of Shlomo Yitzhaki, "Rashi."-Biography:...

 street and was a neighbor to Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky

Chaim Kanievsky

Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky, , is an Israeli rabbi and posek. Kanievsky is considered a leading authority in Haredi Jewish society.-Biography:...

. In 1967, after the Six Day War, Rabbi Weintraub penned – at the behest of Rabbi Shach – a pamphlet to explain to perplexed Jews the spiritual meaning of the Israeli victory. In Bene Barak, Rabbi Weintraub studied in the illustrious Kollel Chazon Ish

Kollel Chazon Ish

Kollel Chazon Ish is an elite group of married Rabbis who study the Talmud. The Kollel is located in Bene Barak, Israel. It is located on Rashbam street.The Kollel was originally established by Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, who was known as the "Chazon Ish"...

, and studied 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....

 with Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky

Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky

Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as The Steipler or The Steipler Gaon , was a rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and posek .-Biography:...

.

Rabbi Weintraub also studied 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....

 under the guidance of Rabbi Abba Berman

Abba Berman

Rabbi Abba Mordechai Berman was a renowned Talmudist and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Iyun HaTalmud.Reb Abba was born on Tu BiShvat 5679 in Lodz, Poland to his father, Rabbi Shaul Yosef Berman, rosh yeshiva of Toras Chesed in Lodz and a student of the Chofetz Chayim. As a young child, Reb Abba's...

. Upon the latter's death, Rabbi Weintraub recited Kaddish

Kaddish

Kaddish is a prayer found in the Jewish prayer service. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the liturgy different versions of the Kaddish are used functionally as separators between sections of the service...

 in his memory, a rite usually given to a desceased's son. http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5766/EMR66features2.htm Rabbi Weintraub eulogized Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus

Shimshon Dovid Pincus

Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus was an Israeli Haredi Rabbi of American origin, who served in Ofaqim.-Biography:...

 http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5761/tazria/arpincustzm.htm.

Rabbi Weintraub was the leading signator on the ban

Cherem

Cherem , is the highest ecclesiastical censure in the Jewish community. It is the total exclusion of a person from the Jewish community. It is a form of shunning, and is similar to excommunication in the Catholic Church...

 on books written by Rabbi Natan Slifkin

Natan Slifkin

Natan Slifkin , also popularly known as the "Zoo Rabbi", is an ordained but non-pulpit serving Orthodox rabbi best known for his interest in zoology, science and for his books on these topics, which are controversial in the Haredi world.-Biography:Natan Slifkin was born and raised in Manchester,...

http://www.shmoozenet.com/yudel/mtarchives/001055.html.

In 2009, Rabbi Weintraub opposed an "Adopt a Soldier" program to link Orthodox Jews with soldiers of the Israeli army.