Yaakov Bender Explained

Yaakov Bender^{[1] [2]} (born 1950) is an American Orthodox rabbi. He is the rosh hayeshiva (dean) of Yeshiva Darchei Torah (Far Rockaway).^[3] He was appointed^[4] first as a seventh-grade rebbi (Hebrew teacher) in 1978 and less than a year later as principal.^[5] Bender is a speaker, writer^[6] and adviser on Jewish education.

He is an active member of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva - the governing rabbinic board - of Torah Umesorah – National Society for Hebrew Day Schools.^[7]

His parents, Rabbi Dovid and Basya Bender, were pioneering educators on the American Jewish scene.^[8] His paternal grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Bender, traveled in the 1930s within the United States to raise funds for yeshivas in New York such as RIETS and Israel.^{[9] [10]}

In 1997 he was recognized as an outstanding Jewish educator by The Covenant Foundation.^[11]

In 2024, he wrote a letter offering character support for OB/GYN Aaron Weinreb, during Weinreb's sentencing for allegedly repeatedly raping two 14-15 year old boys.^[12]

COVID-19 vaccination advocacy

Bender encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, saying "We haven't lived through enough?"^{[2] [13]}

Works

• Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash^[14]
• Chinuch for Today^[15]
• Chinuch With Heart^[16]
• Chinuch With Chessed^[17]
• The Chinuch Haggadah^{[18] [19]}
• Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash Vol. 2^[20]
• Chinuch With Simchah^[21]

Notes and References

1. News: . DeVos Visits New York Schools, but Not Ones Run by the City . Sharon Otterman . May 16, 2018.
2. News: . For a Second Year, Jews Mark the High Holy Days in the Shadow of Covid . Liam Stack . September 6, 2021.
3. Web site: darchei.org. August 23, 2018 .
4. Web site: HEARTFELT. January 14, 2018.
5. News: . Showing off Yeshiva Darchei Torah: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visits Far Rockaway school . Jeffrey Bessen . May 16, 2018.
6. Web site: Mishpacha contributors: Rabbi Yaakov Bender.
7. Web site: Torah Umesorah Staff.
8. Book: Gliksman, Devorah. A Tale of Two Worlds. Artscroll. 2009. 9781422608883.
9. Ami. The Crown Has Fallen. Rabbi Eliezer Brand . February 3, 2021.
10. https://x.com/JSoundbites/status/1195890572956966918
11. Web site: 1997 Covenant Award Recipient .
12. Web site: zaakahig .
13. News: . Orthodox Rabbis Encourage the COVID Vaccine Ahead of Rosh Hashanah . September 3, 2021.
14. Book: 978-1-4226-2777-8 . Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash . . January 2021.
15. Web site: ArtScroll.com - Chinuch for Today - In Stock at ArtScroll!. 2022-02-20. www.artscroll.com.
16. Book: 978-1-4226-1967-4 . Chinuch With Heart: Rabbi Yaakov Bender . . January 2018.
17. Book: 978-1-4226-1340-5 . Chinuch With Chessed: Rabbi Yaakov Bender . . January 2013.
18. Book: 978-1-4226-2287-2 . The Chinuch Haggadah: Rabbi Yaakov Bender . . March 2019.
19. News: The Forward. The Best New Haggadot And The Best Of All Time. Jay Michaelson . April 5, 2019.
20. Book: Rav Yaakov * Bender on Chumash Vol. 2.
21. Book: Chinuch With Simchah.