Rabbi Burton Malcolm Zeffren

Rabbi Burton Zeffren (Rav Binyomin Mordechai) passed away September 24, 2024 in Brooklyn, NY at the age of 91. Born in St. Louis in 1933 to the late Israel and Jean Zeffren. Brother of the late Dr. J. Lester Zeffren and beloved Uncle to Jacob (Yak), Dov, David and the late Rabbi Gershon Zeffren, their wives, children and grandchildren.

He received his B.A. in education from Roosevelt University, an M.A. in American history from St. Louis University and semicha from the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago. He taught in the HF Epstein Hebrew Academy as well as the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (New York) for over 30 years. He was the founding principal of the Torah Academy High School for Girls in St. Louis from 1966-1971. He lived in Israel in both the early 1950’s and 1970’s where he learned at the Mir Yeshiva, took courses at Hebrew University and taught in several institutions of higher learning with renowned colleagues such as Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and Dr. Pinchas Peli. He also worked for Israel’s Misrad HaChinuch (Department of Education) He left behind a legacy of hundreds, if not thousands of students and friends who warmly remember him as a brilliant Talmid Chacham (Torah Scholar) who personified humility and could relate to everyone warmly, with a big smile and sense of humor.

A graveside service was held on Thursday, September 26th, at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery.