Our kehillah is always open and welcomes all who wish to pray here. The kehillah was founded over 20 years ago by a dedicated group of newcomers to Raanana, looking to establish a warm, supportive community focused around Torah learning and inspirational prayer. Today Kehillat Bnei Aharon is in its largest facility yet and boasts a regular contingent of shiurim throughout the week and Shabbat.
The kehillah is easygoing and open to newcomers or visitors looking for a special atmosphere. Insightful Divrei Torah are welcome, and you will always get an immediate sense of acceptance and belonging. Kehillat Bnei Aharon was founded and built by Rabbi Dovid Simon, who created and inspired a minyan with a true Torah atmosphere. He not only provided guidance and ensured for proper functioning of the minyan, but tirelessly availed himself for leading shiurim, speaking to the kehillah, and being open and available for questions and discussions - which created an ethos of open dialogue, continual learning and growth, in a warm and loving environment.
KBA is also privileged to now have Rav David Lapin as spiritual leader and teacher for the community:
Rabbi David Lapin is the son of Rabbi A H Lapin, one of the foremost rabbinic leaders in South Africa, and later in California, USA. He was raised in a rabbinic family (Reb Eliyah Lopian z''tzl was his grandfather's brother) and studied in Yeshivot in Gateshead and Israel. He was an intimate student of Reb Eliya Mishkovsky ztz"l and Reb Avrohom Gurwicz Rosh Yeshiva of Gateshead shelita. He also studied under his great-uncle Reb Elya Lopian ztz"l, Reb Chaim Shmuelewitz ztz"l, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ztz"l, Rabbi Chaim Lifschitz shelita and maintains a close contact till today with Reb Meir Soleveitchik shelita with whom he regularly consults. He gained Smicha from Rabbi Unterman ztz”l, then Chief Rabbi of Israel; Rav Fink, Dayan of Haifa ztz”l, Rav Shlesinger and Rav Frankel of Tel Aviv and from Rabbi Leib Gurwicz ztz”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Gateshead.
Rabbi Lapin was one of the three forces that spearheaded the baal teshuva movement in Johannesburg in the 1970s and 1980s (the others being Rabbi M Shakowitsky's Kollel and the Lubavitch movement, both with whom Rabbi Lapin worked closely, as he did with the community establishment). The movement was known for its vitality and its normality, and some of the credit for this is due to Rabbi Lapin's skills as a teacher, orator, and rabbi. He founded and led the Keter Torah community until his emigration to the USA in 1997. Keter Torah is still a vibrant centre of Torah learning and Jewish life now led by Rabbi Dayan Rappaport.
Rabbi Lapin and his family immigrated to the USA from where he has built an international reputation, both in Torah and as an expert in Leadership. He recently published Lead By Greatness, a book that outlines his Torah-based methodology and philosophy of leadership. Rabbi Lapin's teachings extend beyond the text. He never fails to offer rich insights and solutions to complex life issues, moving people into paradigms of thought they had never before considered. His reach extends beyond the walls of the Beit Midrash. Rabbi Lapin has successfully bridged the Torah and international business worlds, building sterling reputations in both.
Rabbi Lapin has recently made Aliya to Eretz Yisrael with the goal of engendering a fresh and dynamic approach to Torah and leadership activities in the Holy Land. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RABBI LAPIN AND TO ACCESS A FULL DATABASE OF HIS INSIGHTFUL SHIURIM VISIT http://rabbilapin.com/
Key Contacts
Shul Leadership: Uriel Gochin urielg@dotcorp.co.za0538455274 ; Ilan Chasen ilanchasen@gmail.com 0526007780
Spiritual Leadership: Rabbi David Lapin david@lapininternational.com
Finance & Donations: Pinchas Chasen - phillip1@zahav.net.il 054 751 4104