Alexander Moshe Lapidos Explained

Alexander Moshe Lapidos^[1] (1815–1906)^[2] is known for his authorship of Divrei Emes, a Mussar sefer, published posthumously (Vilna, 1910).^[3]

Biography

His father, Rabbi Tzvi Lapidos, was a wealthy scholar who arranged that the 13 year old Alexander Moshe, whose in-person high-level interaction with many of the famous rabbis of that era were well known, should marry the only daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Yanova, a suburb of Kovna, Shimon Shushitzky. Over time Yenta and Alexander Moshe Lapidos had three daughters.

After the death of Rabbi Lapidos' first wife, he married a second time. With this wife, Gruna, he had a son and 3 more daughters.

The obituary describing her death at age 36^[4] mentioned both the poverty under which they had lived and her unusual involvement in dealing with local Maskilim.

Thirty six years before his death, Rabbi Lapidus married again. His third wife, Mina, was from Mir; her father was Rav Chaim Yehudah Leib Tiktinsky, rav of Mir.^[5]

Training

A year after marrying Rebbetzin Yenta, Rabbi Lapidos traveled to Salant where his main teacher was Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Braude. He also began a life-long student-colleague^[6] of the decade-older Rabbi Yisroel Salanter.

Rabbinical career

At age 17 he left Salant to become the rabbi of Yanova, his father-in-law's hometown, staying there over 30 years.^[7] His next and final position was as the rabbi and Av Bais Din^[1] for the city of Rassein.^[8] His monument mentions a career span of 70 years.

Writings

Although he corresponded with many rabbis and gave written rulings on their questions, most of what has survived of his writings are in the form of short articles in religious journals of the day and books written by others. Despite indication that he had many manuscripts in semi-final form,^[5] most of it was lost. Mainly it is his Divrei Emes,^[9] which has survived and been reprinted.^[10]

Lacking funds for his thoughts of founding a newspaper to serve as a counterweight to one being published by local Maskilim, he partnered with an existing newspaper.^[11]

Rabbi Lapidus wrote supportingly about Hovevei Zion in Shivath Zion (volume 1 p. 35).^[12]

Notes and References

1. News: Hamodia . March 7, 2017. This day in History .
2. Alternate YOB 1819, Alternate spelling of family name: Lapidus: Web site: R'Alexander Moshe Lapidus, A.B.D. Raseinai (1819 - 1906).
3. The same book title was used by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz (1745-1815)
4. News: HaLevanon (Volume 27, Issue 7) . Rebbetzin Gruna Lapidus, A"H. 1870.
5. Yatid Neeman article, posted with permission on TzemachDovid.org as ravlapidus.html; archived: Web site: Rav Alexander Moshe Lapidus . Shlomo Engel. Yatid_Neeman.arc.
6. Talmid-Chaver
7. until 5626/1866
8. Web site: Harav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Zt"l, the Alter of Slabodka.
9. sometimes referred to in English as Divrei Emmes
10. Avnei Zikaron was published 1896 in Warsaw.
11. "The wealthy buy their clothing custom-made from a tailor with materials of their choice; the poor must buy old clothing. We are poor - we do not have the means to found our own periodical, but we can join an existing one and turn its face around. The Halevanon of Paris is published by Mr. Yechiel Brill, who is a Torah-oriented individual. If he will agree to our plans then we have an existing periodical that we can restructure to suit our needs."
12. Quote: :There were days – at the beginning of this movement (-Hovevei Zion) – that the settlement idea had many opposes, but now the opposition is almost gone. The people are already convinced that we are not here to take over the land from the Turks with weapon and we are not planning to establish a government over there. Our only goal is to organize farmers to work in field ... so there is nothing to be afraid about hurrying the exile-end... http://www.tzemachdovid.org/Musar/ravlapidus.html