Aryeh Leib Bernstein

Aryeh Leib Bernstein was born in Brody, Ukraine. In his youth he served for a brief period as rabbi of Zbarazh, subsequently returning to Brody where he entered commerce. From the beginning of the 18th century Jews were encouraged to engage in all branches of commerce and crafts in Brody, and the 1740s was a period of prosperity. Bernstein succeeded in concentrating a large part international commerce of Brody in his hands.

In 1776 Bernstein was elected to a position of a chief rabbi (Oberlandesrabbiner) of Galicia, and moved to Lviv from where he took over control of the religious functionaries and the administration of taxes in the communities under his jurisdiction. He continued to be deal in commerce what caused complaints and investigation against him in 1785. The charges were dropped and his accusers were punished but his authority was undermined. In 1786 the chief rabbinate was abrogated and Bernstein retained the title but had no influence on religious affairs. He devoted himself mainly to commerce and left a large fortune to his heirs.