DAYAN GERSHON LOPIAN, zt”l (1938-2014) learned in Gateshead Yeshiva under his father, Rabbi Leib Lopian zt”l, until the age of 21. He then travelled to Kfar Chasidim to learn under his grandfather Rabbi Elya Lopian zt”l , with whom he developed a strong bond. Reb Elya encouraged his grandson to specialize in Halachah in Chevron Yeshivah. During this time, he received semichah from Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l (one of only six people to do so); Harav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, and others.

Aged 35, encouraged by his Rebbetzin, Rabbi Lopian travelled to America for five months to do shimush under the Posek HaDor, Hagon HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, from whom he received  a Yoreh Yoreh-Yadin Yadin semichah.  Dayan Lopian served as the community Rabbi at Edgeware’s Yeshurun Synagogue and sat on the Federation beit din.

Rabbi Gerzi received his first semicha and his first shimush with Dayan Lopian, learning a tremendous amount of Torah, gemara, and halacha together. In this extremely formative time, Rabbi Gerzi learned that applied halacha involves constantly supporting, caring for, and believing in one’s kehilla, and developed an understanding of how relationships, family dynamics, and a need for humor play out in the most complex areas of Jewish law. Rabbi Lopian gave over many stories about the halachik giants with whom he had learned, allowing Rabbi Gerzi to learn vicariously from Rav Feinstein, Rav Auerbach, and Rav Ovadia Yosef. While Rabbi Gerzi had been influenced by many great Rabbaim in his youth, Dayan Lopian was a big part of the Rav’s individuation, the first teacher who Rabbi Gerzi chose to learn from outside of family connections, and his Torah retains a strong presence in Rabbi Gerzi’s teachings.

I learned from Dayan Lopian the importance of humor blending with Torah and Psak halacha, and
how it’s so important to make Torah relevant to people’s lives. To have the ability to treat
every single person individually as they come your way.