Elyah Lopian
Encyclopedia
Eliyahu Lopian known as Reb Elyah, was among the most prominent rabbis of the Mussar Movement. As a disciple of the Kelm Talmud Torah
method, he was known for his strict keeping of order and strong self-control. It is told that he would not turn his head without a reason and a structured decision.
, Poland
in 1876. In his youth he studied at the yeshiva
in Łomża. He emigrated to England in 1928, where he served as the rosh yeshiva
of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva
in the East End of London
, working for many years alongside his distinguished colleague Rabbi Nachman Shlomo Greenspan
. His wife Soroh Leah Rotman died in 1934, shortly after the engagement of their daughter Leiba to Rabbi Leib Gurwicz
.
For many years, Rabbi Lopian had wanted to make his home in the Land of Israel
, and spoke a great deal about the Vilna Gaon
's intense yet unfulfilled desire to live there. In 1950 he left the Etz Chaim Yeshiva and moved to Israel
. At first he stayed in the home of his wife's brother, Yisrael Luria, in Jerusalem. That Sukkot
, he visited the Brisker Rov, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik
.
He initially refused to lead mussar seminars in Israel and sought to occupy himself with teaching and private moral work. Yet with the blessing of Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (the Chazon Ish), he finally reconciled himself with leading mussar courses. Despite his old age, he agreed in the end to act as Mashgiach Ruchani
at the Knesses Chizkiyahu
yeshiva located originally in Zikhron Ya'akov and later in Kfar Hasidim
), headed by Rabbi Noah Shimonowitz.
From the moment of his arrival, Reb Elya became a magnet for the young men. The yeshiva became firmly established and even drew many young people from neighboring yeshiva high schools such as the Bnei Akiva
Kfar HaRo'eh
yeshivah and Midrashiat Noam in Pardes Hannah
.
Reb Elya died in Israel on 21 September 1970 and was buried in the Har Hazaisim
cemetery.
Reb Elya Lopian had 13 children:
After his death, a street was named in his honor in the Ramat Shlomo
neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Kelm Talmud Torah
The Kelm Talmud Torah was a famous yeshiva in pre-holocaust Kelmė, Lithuania. Unlike other yeshivas, the Talmud Torah focused primarily on the study of Musar and self-improvement.-Under the Leadership of Simcha Zissel Ziv:...
method, he was known for his strict keeping of order and strong self-control. It is told that he would not turn his head without a reason and a structured decision.
Biography
Reb Elya Lopian was born in GrajewoGrajewo
Grajewo , is a town in north-eastern Poland with 23,302 inhabitants .It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Łomża Voivodeship...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1876. In his youth he studied at the yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in Łomża. He emigrated to England in 1928, where he served as the rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva
Etz Chaim Yeshiva (London)
Etz Chaim Yeshiva is an Ashkenazi Orthodox yeshiva in Golders Green, London, England. It is associated with the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.- History :...
in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, working for many years alongside his distinguished colleague Rabbi Nachman Shlomo Greenspan
Nachman Shlomo Greenspan
Rabbi Nachman Shlomo Greenspan was an outstanding Talmudic scholar, renowned rosh yeshiva of Etz Chaim in London and a brilliant and erudite author, penning a number of Torah works.-Early years:...
. His wife Soroh Leah Rotman died in 1934, shortly after the engagement of their daughter Leiba to Rabbi Leib Gurwicz
Leib Gurwicz
Aryeh Ze'ev Gurwicz was an influential Orthodox rabbi and Talmudic scholar. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Elyah Lopian and best known as Rosh Yeshiva of the Gateshead Yeshiva in Gateshead, England, where he taught for over 30 years.He studied at various yeshivas in Lithuania and Poland before...
.
For many years, Rabbi Lopian had wanted to make his home in the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
, and spoke a great deal about the Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
's intense yet unfulfilled desire to live there. In 1950 he left the Etz Chaim Yeshiva and moved to Israel
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
. At first he stayed in the home of his wife's brother, Yisrael Luria, in Jerusalem. That Sukkot
Sukkot
Sukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
, he visited the Brisker Rov, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik
Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik
Yitzchok Zev Halevi Soloveitchik , also known as Velvel Soloveitchik or as the Brisker Rov Yitzchok Zev Halevi Soloveitchik (Hebrew: יצחק זאב הלוי סולובייצ'יק), also known as Velvel Soloveitchik ("Zev" means "wolf" in Hebrew, and "Velvel" is the diminutive of "wolf" in Yiddish) or as the Brisker...
.
He initially refused to lead mussar seminars in Israel and sought to occupy himself with teaching and private moral work. Yet with the blessing of Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (the Chazon Ish), he finally reconciled himself with leading mussar courses. Despite his old age, he agreed in the end to act as Mashgiach Ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives.The position of mashgiach ruchani arose with the...
at the Knesses Chizkiyahu
Knesses Chizkiyahu
Knesses Chizkiyahu was one of the first Lithuanian yeshivas founded after the establishment of the State of Israel and one of the first Torah institutions in the northern part of the country...
yeshiva located originally in Zikhron Ya'akov and later in Kfar Hasidim
Kfar Hasidim
Kfar Hasidim , also known as Kfar Hasidim Alef to distinguish it from Kfar Hasidim Bet, is a moshav in northern Israel. Located near Kiryat Ata, it falls under the jurisdiction of Zevulun Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 572....
), headed by Rabbi Noah Shimonowitz.
From the moment of his arrival, Reb Elya became a magnet for the young men. The yeshiva became firmly established and even drew many young people from neighboring yeshiva high schools such as the Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva is the largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, with over 125,000 members in 37 countries. It was established in Mandate Palestine in 1929.-History:...
Kfar HaRo'eh
Kfar Haroeh
Kfar Haroeh is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,500....
yeshivah and Midrashiat Noam in Pardes Hannah
Pardes Hanna-Karkur
Pardes Hanna-Karkur is a town in the Haifa District of Israel. In 2009, it had a population of 31,800.-History:In 1913, 15 square kilometers of land was purchased by the Hachsharat Hayishuv society from Arabs in Jenin and Haifa for 400,000 francs...
.
Reb Elya died in Israel on 21 September 1970 and was buried in the Har Hazaisim
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
cemetery.
Reb Elya Lopian had 13 children:
- Rabbi Simcha Zissel Lopian of Yeshivat Toras Emes, London;
- Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Lopian, United States;
- RebbetzinRebbetzinRebbitzin or Rabbanit is the title used for the wife of a rabbi, typically from the Orthodox, or Haredi, and Hasidic Jewish groups...
Leiba Gurwicz, (wife of Rabbi Leib GurwiczLeib GurwiczAryeh Ze'ev Gurwicz was an influential Orthodox rabbi and Talmudic scholar. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Elyah Lopian and best known as Rosh Yeshiva of the Gateshead Yeshiva in Gateshead, England, where he taught for over 30 years.He studied at various yeshivas in Lithuania and Poland before...
); - Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian of Sunderland YeshivaSunderland Talmudical CollegeThe Sunderland Talmudical College , popularly known as Sunderland Yeshiva, was founded in the city of Sunderland in the United Kingdom during the 1940s. It re-located to Gateshead in June 1988, albeit keeping its original name. In its early years it catered for students from North Africa. The...
; - Rabbi Leib Lopian of Gateshead Yeshiva;
- Rabbi Eliezer Lopian of Yeshivat Toras Emes, London;
- Rebbetzin Pearl Klien, London and Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Benzion (Benzel) Lapian, Willesden (London), Edgware (London) and Hong Kong;
- Rabbi Zvi Hershel Lopian (perished in the Holocaust);
- Rebbetzin Rochel Vilenski, Jerusalem;
- Yisroel Nochum Lopian, London;
- Rebbetzin Chaya Pinski, Jerusalem;
- Yankel Yoel Lopian, Manchester
After his death, a street was named in his honor in the Ramat Shlomo
Ramat Shlomo
Ramat Shlomo Heights) is a large Jewish housing development in northern East Jerusalem. The population, mostly ultra-Orthodox, is 18,000-20,000....
neighborhood of Jerusalem.
External links
- Lectures given by Reb Elyah Lopian in Yiddish: iawaken.org