Elyah Lopian

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Rabbi Elyah Lopian (1872-1970) was among the most prominent rabbis of the Mussar movement.

Lopian was born in Kelmė and immigrated to the Land of Israel after the Holocaust. He was known as a Rabbinical scholar with extensive knowledge of the Talmud and grew famous mostly for his contributions to Mussar.

Upon making Aliyah, he initially refused to lead Mussar seminars and sought to occupy himself with teaching and private moral work. With the blessing of Rabbi Avraham 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 Hazakyahu Yeshiva (located originally in Zikhron Ya'aqov and then moved to Kfar 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 the Bnei Akiva Kfar HaRo'eh yeshivah and Midrashiat Naam in Pardes Hannah.

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.

After his death, a street was named in his honor in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem.

[edit] His works

Lev Eliyahu - Mussar lessons. Edited by his students

[edit] Descendants

Rabbi Haim Shmuel Lopian