Chaim Walkin (September 1945 – 6 November 2022)[1] was a Chinese-born IsraeliOrthodox rabbi, dean, and lecturer.
Chaim Walkin was born into a rabbinical family. His grandfather, Rabbi Aron Walkin, was theChief Rabbi ofPinsk, Belarus.[2]
Walkin's maternal grandfather, RabbiMoshe Londinsky, headed the yeshiva inRadin with theChofetz Chaim. His uncle and namesake, Rabbi Chaim Walkin, served as the last dean of theVolozhin yeshiva[3] untilWorld War II.
Walkin's father, Rabbi Shmuel Walkin, was active in the rescue of Jews from Europe during World War II. He headed the Jewish community inShanghai, and was known for his warmth and care of all the refugees.[4] Upon arrival in the U.S. he founded asynagogue for the refugee families and provided for their needs. The Shanghai refugees were his closest family[5] until his death in 1979.
Using unauthorized transit visas, issued by the Japanese ConsulChiune Sugihara, the Walkin family escaped from theNazis together with theMir yeshiva (Poland) and its community fromVilna, Lithuania, via theTrans-Siberian Railway toKobe, Japan, then to China where they found relative peace.[6]
In 1946 the Walkin family left China for the United States and settled inCrown Heights,Brooklyn,New York. When Chaim Walkin was eight years old he was granted American citizenship. The ceremony was commemorated with a photograph and an article on the front page ofThe New York Times and theHerald Tribune.[7] He began his studies at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, then inTelshe yeshiva inCleveland, Ohio.
After his marriage in 1967, Walkin immigrated to Israel, settled inJerusalem and established his place of study at theMir yeshiva under the then head of the yeshiva, RabbiChaim Leib Shmuelevitz.
After studying at the Mir yeshiva, Walkin was appointed an instructor inTalmud atAish HaTorah Yeshiva in theOld City of Jerusalem, and Ohr Israel Yeshiva inPetah Tikva.
In 1989, after the death of the Mashgiach of Yeshiva Ateres Israel, Walkin moved back toJerusalem and took the position of Mashgiach of Rabbinical Academy and Yeshiva Ateres Israel.[8]
Walkin developed his signature method in line with the teachings of Rabbi Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz, with emphasis on personal attention to individual students, in groups of six to eight students at a time and short lectures with a clearly defined message. He espoused a way of education through cooperation and not by harsh methods.
In July 2008, Walkin suffered astroke in his home in Jerusalem, which prevented him for some months from continuing his obligations in the Rabbinical Academy. After a period of rehabilitation, he returned to his position.[9]
Rabbi Chaim Walkin died on 6 November 2022 at the age of 77.
City ofBnei-Brak Award for his book,The World Within, 1998.
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