Yerachmiel Binyamin Klein

Rabbi Yerachmiel Binyamin HaLevi Klein (6 Av 5695/1935 – 18 Sivan 5775/2015) was a secretary to the Rebbe and was responsible for the Rebbe's secretariat's relations with senior officials in Eretz Yisroel. He was also a board member of Machane Yisroel and was in charge of the kollel for avreichim in Crown Heights.

Life History

Rabbi Klein in his youth (left) alongside the Rebbe during the farewell ceremony at the end of the month of Tishrei 5721

Rabbi Yerachmiel Binyamin Klein was born on 6 Av 5695 (1935) in Yerushalayim to R' Menachem HaLevi Klein, head of the Chevra Kadisha in Yerushalayim, and to Rachel. His mother passed away shortly after his birth, which is why he was named Binyamin, after Binyamin whom Rachel Imeinu died while giving birth to.

Rabbi Klein (left) in the secretariat room at 770

In his childhood, he studied at the "Eitz Chaim" Talmud Torah in the Meah Shearim neighborhood of Yerushalayim. In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Toras Emes Yerushalayim, and in the month of Av 5716, he came to study at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim 770. He managed the Mesibos Shabbos of Merkaz L'Inyonei Chinuch and the central Tzeirei Agudas Chabad in the United States. In Adar 5721, he married Leah, the daughter of R' Mordechai Shusterman.

In 5722, he traveled as the Rebbe's shliach to Australia, and in 5723, Rabbi Klein returned to the United States. During this period, the Rebbe suggested to Rabbi Klein to work in the secretariat, and he began serving as an assistant to the first secretary and director of the secretariat, Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aisik Hodakov. Over the years, mainly due to his complete fluency in Hebrew, he began to mediate between the Rebbe's secretariat and political, security, and political figures in Eretz Yisroel. Throughout the years, he met and worked extensively, on the Rebbe's mission, with senior officials from the Shin Bet and the Israeli Mossad. On rare occasions, he was even sent for short stays in Israel. Most of his activities in this area remained unknown due to their sensitive nature.

During the years, Rabbi Klein, alongside his secretariat colleagues Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, Rabbi Nissan Mindel, and Rabbi Shalom Mendel Simpson, was responsible for private correspondence with the Rebbe. Most of the personal letters were transferred by them to the Rebbe, and the Rebbe's replies were also delivered by them.

When Prime Minister Menachem Begin came to meet with the Rebbe in 5737, the Rebbe referred to him in front of the Prime Minister as "mein general" (= my general), and also at the end of the distribution of the Tanya on 11 Nissan 5742.

Beginning in 5754, he published a column in the Kfar Chabad newspaper called "From the Royal House," in which he published a photograph of a handwritten response from the Rebbe each week, with background to the response.

He was one of the regular activists in the Chabad House near the Ohel, and a board member of Heichal Menachem in Boro Park.

He passed away at the age of 79 on 18 Sivan 5775 at his home near Beis Chayeinu, and was buried in the Montefiore Cemetery behind and near the Ohel.

Family

Brothers-in-law

• Rabbi Moshe Nemenov from Crown Heights.
• Rabbi Gershon Shusterman from Los Angeles, California.
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wolf, manager of Kehot Publication Society branch in the Holy Land.
• Rabbi Shmuel Greisman, manager of the project for a letter in the Torah scroll of the children of Israel.
• Rabbi Elazar Halevi Gurevitch - Crown Heights.

Sons

• Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Klein - Chief Shliach to the state of Tennessee, United States
• Rabbi Yaakov Klein - The Rebbe's Shliach in the English-speaking community in Moscow

Sons-in-law

• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gordon - Mashpia in the Chabad Yeshiva in London, England.
• Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Sudak - Shliach in England.
• Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Garelik - Crown Heights.
• Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Krinsky - Shliach in New Hampshire, United States.
• Rabbi Pinchas Tzimand - Shliach in Arkansas, United States.
• Rabbi Mordechai Grossbaum - Shliach in Minnesota, United States.
• Rabbi Pesach Tzvi Schmerling - Chosson instructor and the Rebbe's Shliach in Far Rockaway, New York.
• Rabbi Meir Shimon Moskowitz - Chief Shliach to Illinois, United States.

Further Reading

• Stories from the Rebbe's Room - Menachem Ziegelboim, 5769 (2009).
• Articles about him in the Kfar Chabad weekly magazine: Issue 1610, 25 Sivan 5775 (2015) • Issue 1759, Sivan 5778 (2018) • Mendy Kortes, Secrets of the Secretary - Stories from his work that he shared with his sons-in-law, Issue 1862 page 35 • The Rebbe's Secret Agents, Issue 1910 page 22

External Links

• Menachem Ziegelboim, Man of Secrets: Portrait of Secretary Rabbi Binyamin Klein of blessed memory, from Beis Moshiach Weekly 976, 24 Sivan 5775 (2015)
• How did the Rebbe address the secretaries? What were the working hours? ● Rare interview - on the website 25 Adar 5774 (2014)
• Root of the Matters - Rabbi Klein interviewed for the 'My Encounter' program by JEM
• Secretary Rabbi Klein • Pictures from his life My General: Sixty moments of Rabbi Klein alongside the Rebbe
• Rabbi Binyamin Klein in the Rebbe's presence ● Special gallery - on the website 18 Sivan 5775 (2015)
• Shturem editorial, Special for 'Shturem': Judge Elyakim Rubinstein parts from his close friend Rabbi Klein of blessed memory - on Shturem website
• Rabbi Sacks: "Rabbi Klein was the 'face' of Chabad" ● Video - on the website 22 Sivan 5775 (2015)
• Rabbi Moshe Rabin, from the Shluchim in Coral Springs, Florida, The R' Binyamin I knew / Rabbi Moshe Rabin - on Shturem website
• Shimon Horowitz, Revelation: The secret 'Kollel' of Rabbi Binyamin Klein of blessed memory - on Shturem website
• Mein General - Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5 Teshurah surveying his life history
• As a bachur in Kvutzah I had a close relationship with Rabbi Klein. This is what he told me
• The Rebbe's Veteran Secretary (English)