The school was established in 1904 as Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim in Brownsville, Brooklyn, by Jews who moved there from the Lower East Side of New York City, thus making it the oldest yeshiva in Kings County. At the suggestion of Meir Berlin, it was renamed for his brother, Chaim Berlin, a rabbi who served in Valozhyn, the place where some of the yeshiva's founders were from. Jacob Rutstein, a real estate developer, businessman and, philanthropist, was essential in establishing Chaim Berlin Yeshiva in the United States. An article in the Brooklyn Eagle, on March 16, 1942, described one of the many donations he acquired for the institution, stating that “$2,000 was raised in outside gifts by Jacob Rutstein who recently returned from Florida.” On December 11, 1944, another article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle which stated, “Yesivah Rabbi Chaim Berlin, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish institutions of learning in the country, is dedicating its new seven-story building at Stone and Pitkin Ave... The opening ceremonies were attended by more than 3000 persons. Jacob Rutstein, chairman of the dedication committee, announced that $25,000 had been donated by those present towards the new $1,000,000 building.” On December 29, 1944, another article appeared stating the following about Rutstein.
Our congratulations to Jacob Rutstein for his constant activity on organizing activities for the advancement of orthodox Jewish secular and religious education. Outstanding in his philanthropic activities is his recent purchase of the seven-story $1,000,000 building at 350 Stone Ave. for the Mesivtah and Yeshivah Rabbi Chaim Berlin in the hearts of Brownsville. Already the institution has been recognized by the State Board of Regents through the granting of a charter and 800 students are now enrolled. Of this number 150 are studying for the rabbinate. Also 200 of its students have come from all parts of this country and 62 are refugees driven from their homelands by Hitler. This has been a truly humanitarian endeavor on the part of Mr. Rutstein.
The focus of Chaim Berlin is to encourage as many students as possible to become rabbis and Talmudic scholars.
Chaim Berlin consists of a preschool, a yeshiva ketana, a mesivta, a college-level beth midrash, and Kollel Gur Aryeh, its post-graduate kollel division. Total enrollment for all divisions approaches 2,000 students. The mesivta acts as a feeder school for the beth midrash. The yeshiva maintains a summer location, Camp Morris, in Sullivan County, New York. It is named after a former president of the yeshiva, Morris Meltzer.
Over 1,000 people attend services in Chaim Berlin on the High Holy Days.
Controversies
Shlomo Carlebach served as mashgiach ruchani of the yeshiva under Hutner. When Hutner appointed Schechter and David to lead the yeshiva after him, they ultimately fired Carlebach from his position, as they viewed him as a challenge to their authority. Carlebach summoned them to a beth din headed by Moshe Feinstein. The summons was ignored, and the yeshiva was given a status of lo tzeis dinah. Many leading rabbis urged Hutner and Schechter to heed the summons of Feinstein, but they were ignored.
Notable alumni
Notable alumni include many who served in rabbinic capacities throughout the world.
Shalom Z. Berger, Senior Content Editor of the Koren Talmud Bavli
Shlomo Carlebach, former mashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin
