- Source: Yaakov Bender
Yaakov Bender (born 1950) is an American Orthodox rabbi. He is the rosh hayeshiva (dean) of Yeshiva Darchei Torah (Far Rockaway). He was appointed first as a seventh-grade rebbi (Hebrew teacher) in 1978 and less than a year later as principal. Bender is a speaker, writer 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.
His parents, Rabbi Dovid and Basya Bender, were pioneering educators on the American Jewish scene. 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.
In 1997 he was recognized as an outstanding Jewish educator by The Covenant Foundation.
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.
COVID-19 vaccination advocacy
Bender encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, saying "We haven't lived through enough?"
Works
Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash
Chinuch for Today
Chinuch With Heart
Chinuch With Chessed
The Chinuch Haggadah
Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash Vol. 2
Chinuch With Simchah