Reb Bentzion Bernstein, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Reb Bentzion Bernstein, a husband, father and grandfather from London, England who was a lawyer by profession, passed away on Tuesday, 21 Adar, 5783.

Reb Bentzion was born, raised, and educated in England, earning a law degree from London University. But, early on, he became disillusioned with practicing law and, in 1959, he decided to pursue a career in Jewish education instead, he told JEM in an interview.

About that time, he was introduced to Chabad, when he participated in the organization of the first Lag B’Omer children’s parade in London for nearly one-thousand children. He soon headed to New York where he had Yechidus with the Rebbe for the first time, he told.

During the Yechidus, he asked the Rebbe about remaining joyful all the time, and the Rebbe answered as follows: “If you keep in mind that the soul of a Jew is a part of G-d above, how can you not be constantly joyful?” Then he added, “I see that you are by nature a melancholy type of fellow, but if you bear this fact in mind at all times, you will be joyful.”

“After this audience, the Rebbe looked out for me. Whenever there was a farbrengen and the Rebbe was handing out wine from his cup – what is known as Kos Shel Bracha – he would say to me ‘Un vos iz mit simcha? – And what’s with the joy?’,” he told.

After studying the 770 Yeshiva in New York, Reb Bentzion returned to England and became a lawyer at the direction of the Rebbe. “The Rebbe wanted to create a “taskforce” (as he put it) of religious Jews in the sciences and professions. He explained, ‘I want to build up a group of Torah observant people who would be able to relate to those in the sciences and in the professions from the inside. I want these Torah observant people to be role models, to show that it’s possible to be a professional and to be committed to Yiddishkeit.’”

“There were moments when it was very difficult, and I wanted to give up – especially when I was offered easy opportunities to go into business – but the Rebbe always said, “No. This is what you have to do. This is your mission in life,” he told.

Reb Bentzion related that the last time he saw the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him, “You’ll be a solicitor, and you’ll be a good solicitor.” The Rebbe also gave him a bottle of vodka for l’chaim, to “share with all the other lawyers, so that they too can say l’chaim.”

He is survived by his children, Rabbi Mendel Bernstein (Toronto, Canada), Rabbi Avrohom Bernstein (Freehold, NJ), Reb Shmuel Bernstein (Toronto, Canada), Mrs CS Ifergan (London, UK), Mrs Esther Miriam Fried (Manhattan, NY), Mrs Devorah Leah Vorst (Rotterdam, NL), Mrs Brochi Muller (Ilford, UK) and Mrs Nechama Dina Serebryanski (Kingston, PA), and grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Mrs. Rochel Bernstein obm.

The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Wednesday.
1 Lippa Court, Reizel Close, London N16 and will be passing Lubavitch House on the way to Addas Yisroel Cemetery, Carterhatch Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4BG.

Shiva will be at 1 Lippa Court, Reizel Close, London N16, davening: 3 Minyanim required

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – R’ Benzion Chaim ben Yitzchok Halevi.