Monsey Memories: Rav Alter Mordechai Berg, z”l

By: Yitzy Fried 

He headed Beis Medrash Ateres Rosh in Wesley Hills, where he drew the misplaleim toward a life of meaning of avodas Hashem through the incredible force of his love and passion. Having served as talented and dedicated educator who had gained the trust of Gedolei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel, he brought these qualities to the Monsey community, where he was deeply beloved. And then he was taken the midst of his community which still grapples with his loss. 

Rabbi Berg was born to immigrant parents on the Lower East Side. He made his way to Monsey in the early years, learning in the famed Mesivta Beis Shraga, where he was influenced by its rebbeim. Back on the Lower East Side, he learned in Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim, earning semicha from its Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l. 

After his marriage to Chana Goldstein, the couple settled in Flatbush. He would help out in his parents tie shop, but when it was held up at gunpoint, they took it as a sign to relocate to Eretz Yisroel. This would begin a glory era in the life of Rabbi Berg, as he would go on to become one of the most successful mechanchim as the educational infrastructure was beginning to flourish in the holy land. His talmidim from throughout the years loved him and felt connected to him, and this would remain a theme in his life; drawing in people with love. 

In 2004, the Bergs relocated to Monsey, and Rav Berg settled into the innovative Yeshiva Shaarei Arazim. Decades after he had himself learned as a bachur in old Monsey, he was ready to shape lives indelibly with the trademark talent and energy and love which he had so finely honed over the years. 

Through great siyatta diShmaya, Rabbi Berg was brought together with the Kehillah of Ateres Rosh. “From the outset, the new rav made his three primary goals clear: Torah, tzniyus, and chesed,” recalls one misplalel. “He never gave us mussar, never made us feel small. He made us feel big. We wanted to deliver for him. He would say, ‘Torah is wonderful, it’s such a gift, how can you not want to learn more? Do you know how you’ll feel, how proud your wife and children will be?’” 

The ensuing years saw a kehillah uplifted to unprecedented heights through the driving force that was their rov—and, in many ways, these influences are still being felt. But in 2016, eight years after accepting the position, Rav Alter Mordechai Berg—who spent every day of his 66 years on this earth making a difference in the lives of those around him—returned his soul to its maker. 

But his eternal legacy remains alive and well in Rockland County.

Many thanks to Rabbi Sruli Besser for his contributions to this column.