Yisroel Eliyahu Weintraub

Rabbi Yisrael Eliyahu Weintraub, known as Reb Yisroel Elya Weintraub, (1932–2010) was known as one of the leading Kabbalists of his generation. Many people, including the leader of Jewry, Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach, flocked to him for his advice on various matters of life.

Rabbi Weintraub was born in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. While still a young lad, Rabbi Weintraub was known for his great diligence and devotion to the study of Torah. He attended Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin where he forged a student relationship with its dean, Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner. As a student of Rabbi Hutner, Rabbi Weintraub also developed clear views on Jewish philosophy, especially following the methodology of Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel. Rabbi Weintraub briefly served as Mashgiach of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin before emigrating to Israel in the early 1960s.

After a brief residence in Jerusalem, Rabbi Weintraub moved to Bene Barak in 1965. There, he lived on Rashbam street and was a neighbor to Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. 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, and studied Talmud with Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky.

Rabbi Weintraub also studied Talmud under the guidance of Rabbi Abba Berman. Upon the latter's death, Rabbi Weintraub recited Kaddish in his memory, a rite usually given to a desceased's son. [1] Rabbi Weintraub eulogized Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus [2].

Rabbi Weintraub was the leading signator on the ban on books written by Rabbi Natan Slifkin[3].

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