At first glance, Epstein would seem to be related to the many Yiddish-German “stein” names that have little historical significance other than their pretty sound, such as Goldstein (“gold stone”), Silberstein (“silver stone”), Perlstein (“pearl stone”), et. al.

However, while these names are less than 250 years old, the Epsteins take their family name from the town of Eppstein in central Germany, where they lived as far back as the 16th century.

Many people with this name, including many great Ashkenazi rabbis, tend to be Levites, tracing their lineage back to Levi, son of Jacob. It appears that these Epsteins, then using the family name Benveniste, came to the town from Spain, whence they fled from the Inquisition.

Some prominent members of this clan include:

● Rabbi Isaac Halevi Epstein of Homel (1780–1857), a noted Chabad chassid

● Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Halevi Epstein of Krakow (1753–1825), chassidic scholar, author of the Maor Vashemesh

● Rabbi Yechiel Michel Halevi Epstein (1829–1908), author of the Aruch Hashulchan, a classic work on Jewish law.