Aaron Lopiansky

Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky, also known as Rav Ahron, is an Orthodox Jewish scholar, author, and educator who serves as the Rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington – Tiferes Gedaliah. He has written more than 20 works on Torah thought, liturgy, and philosophy.^[1][2][3][4]

He is a son-in-law of Beinish Finkel, longtime Rosh HaYeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva (Jerusalem).^[4][5]

Rav Aharon was born and raised in New York's Lower East Side, where his parents, both Holocaust survivors, settled after the war. His father had lost a wife and children in Europe.

His upbringing was deeply influenced by his parents.^[6][7] Growing up, he was immersed in a world of Torah learning.^[4][8]

He attended the local Rabbi Jacob Joseph School (RJJ).^[4][9] During his time at RJJ, Rav Aharon achieved high scores on statewide tests.^[4]

His formal rabbinic training began at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Under the guidance of scholars such as Chaim Shmuelevitz and Nachum Partzovitz, Lopiansky developed an understanding and appreciation for Torah learning.^[1][2][9] He was also greatly influenced by his father-in-law, Rav Beinish Finkel, the late Rosh Hayeshiva of the Mir, and by his close association as a talmid (student) of Harav Moshe Shapiro.^[3][4][5]

Lopiansky began his teaching career at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, where he taught from 1983 to 1990. He then taught at his alma mater, the Mir Yeshiva, for five years, delivering an advanced Gemarah shiur at the Yeshiva.^[1][2] During his time in Israel, he was extremely active in the cause of Soviet Jewry, traveling to the Soviet Union on numerous occasions and serving on resettlement organizations in Israel that assisted Soviet refuseniks in acclimating to Israeli life.^[2]

In 1994, the menahel (headmaster) of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Yitzchok Merkin, reached out to Rav Aharon, who was then serving as a maggid shiur at Mir Yerushalayim, with an offer to become the Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva Gedolah in Kemp Mill, Maryland.^[4] After spending most of the 1980s delivering advanced Gemara shiurim at Aish HaTorah's Jerusalem campus, Rav Aharon was intrigued by the opportunity, despite the significant challenge it posed, including uprooting his family for an uncertain future in a young institution.^[4]

Rav Aharon initially moved to America alone, enduring a demanding cross-continental commute for six years, ensuring he was never away from home for more than three consecutive Shabbosim.^[4]

In August 2001, his wife, Rebbetzin Yaffa Lopiansky, daughter of Rav Beinish Finkel, along with their four children, joined him in Kemp Mill.^[4]

Lopiansky is recognized for his extensive work in Jewish outreach and education.^[10] He played a significant role in teaching and aiding Soviet Jewry.^[1] In addition to his work with Soviet Jewry, Lopiansky taught in the Israeli Army's Hishtalmut program, which aims to broaden the perspective of the army's officer corps by exposing them to the diverse facets of Israeli society.^[2] He is a founding editorial board member of Klal Perspectives and an editorial board member of Dialogue.^[1]

Lopiansky has written more than 20 works on Torah thought, liturgy, and philosophy. His writings contribute to the Encyclopedia Talmudit and various journals.^[1]

He has received acclaim for his sefer, "Orchos Chaim: A Ben Torah for Life."^[11][5] During a speech at the 2019 Aguda convention, Rav Elya Brudny notably remarked, "Every family that has made that transition [from kollel to the workplace] should own the book". Rav Yosef Elefant spoke next. “In the modern era, there hasn’t been a sefer that touched on the topics critical to our existence, with honesty and clarity and respect, like this one has."^[7][12][13]

He also sits on several boards, including the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.^[2] Among his English-language works is "Time Pieces," a collection of essays on the Jewish holidays.^[3] Rabbi Lopiansky lectures widely both nationally and internationally, sharing his insights on Torah and Jewish philosophy.^[1][2][9]

Lopiansky continues the mesorah (tradition) of mentors, Chaim Shmuelevitz, Nachum Partzovitz, and his father-in-law, Beinish Finkel.^[3][1]

• "Shiurim lectures of Rav Aaron Lopiansky". shiurim.eshelpublications.com. August 13, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
• "Seforim books". Eshel Publications. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
• "Dialogue Magazine". April 1, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
• "Rav Aaron Lopiansky podcasts". Seforimchatter Podcast. June 23, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
• "Lopiansky articles". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2024.