- Elyah Lopian
Eliyohu Lopian (1872–1970), known as Reb Elyah, was among the most prominent
rabbis of theMussar movement . As a disciple of theKelm 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.Lopian was born in Kelm,
Lithuania . In his youth he studied at theyeshiva inŁomża . He emigrated to England in 1925, where he served as therosh yeshiva of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in theEast End of London , working for many years alongside his distinguished colleague RabbiNachman Shlomo Greenspan . His wife died in 1934, shortly after the engagement of their daughter Leiba to RabbiLeib Gurwicz .For many years, rabbi Lopian had wanted to make his home in the
Land of Israel , and spoke a great deal about theVilna 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 Luriain, inJerusalem . ThatSuccos , he visited the Brisker Rov, RabbiYitzchak 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 RabbiAvraham Yeshayahu 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 at the Knesset Hizkiyahu yeshiva (located originally inZikhron Ya'aqov and then moved toKfar Hasidim ), headed by Rabbi Noah Shimonovitz. From the moment of his arrival, Rabbi Lopian 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 theBnei Akiva Kfar HaRo'eh yeshivah and Midrashiat Naam inPardes Hannah .After his death, a street was named in his honor in the
Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem.His works
"Lev Eliyahu" - Mussar lessons. Edited by his students
Children
*Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Lopian of Sunderland Yeshiva
*Rabbi Leib Lopian ofGateshead Yeshiva
*Rabbi Eliezer Lopian of Yeshivas Toras Emes, London
*Leiba Gurwicz
*Rabbi Yisroel Nochum Lopian
*Rabbi Abraham Lopian
*Yankel Lopian
*Rochel VilenskiReferences
*"Reb Elyah: The Life and Accomplishments of Rabbi Elyah Lopian", David J. Schlossberg, Mesorah Publications Limited, February 1999.
External links
*Lectures given by Reb Elyah Lopian in
Yiddish : [http://www.iawaken.org/shiurim/rabbiElyaLopian.asp iawaken.org]
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