What True Kindness Looks Like: Rabbi Lopian’s Life Lessons

The great mashgiach, Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian, of blessed memory, was known for his deep compassion and refined character. His student, Rabbi David Schlossberg, shared a collection of powerful stories that reveal the depth of his kindness, humility, and sensitivity.

These moments offer a rare glimpse into what true character looks like in everyday life.

Quiet Kindness Before Yom Kippur

A student once wanted to know how Rabbi Lopian spent the final moments before Yom Kippur. Curious, he quietly followed him.

To his surprise, the rabbi went to the dormitory, left his tallit outside, and entered the restroom to prepare small pieces of paper for the students to use during the fast.

At the time, this task usually belonged to a staff member. But Rabbi Lopian realized that on the busy eve of Yom Kippur, she might not have the time. Without drawing attention to himself, he chose to take care of it personally.

Sensitivity Even to the Smallest Creatures

Rabbi Lopian’s compassion extended far beyond people. One day, he was seen walking in a zigzag pattern along a path. When asked why, he explained that he was carefully avoiding stepping on lines of ants.

In another well known story, Rabbi Lopian noticed a cat near the yeshiva and asked about it. A student explained that the cat had been brought in to deal with a mouse problem in the storeroom.

When Rabbi Lopian heard this, his first question was simple: “Did you feed it?”

The student responded that the cat eats mice. But Rabbi Lopian gently pointed out that if the cat had already taken care of the mice, it may have been left hungry for days. He reminded them of the principle that a person must feed an animal before feeding themselves, and immediately went to ensure the cat was given food.

Gratitude for Everything

His sense of gratitude, hakarat hatov, extended even to inanimate objects.

One morning after prayers, Rabbi Lopian was folding his tefillin on a bench. When someone offered to clean the bench, he stopped them and said he would do it himself. He explained that since he regularly used that bench, he felt a sense of gratitude toward it.

At the same time, he added gently that others were not obligated in that same way, since they did not benefit from it as he did.

A Gentle Way to Wake Students

Rabbi Lopian took personal responsibility for waking students in the morning for prayer. But he was careful never to do so harshly.

He believed that waking a student with criticism could ruin their entire day. Instead, he would walk through the dorms early in the morning, wrapped in his tallit and tefillin, softly encouraging the boys to get up.

When one student questioned whether it was appropriate for him to take on this role, Rabbi Lopian responded with humility. He explained that opportunities for acts of kindness in the yeshiva were limited, and he treasured even this small chance to help others.

Even when students overslept, he did not scold them. Instead, he would gently remind them that the dining hall would soon close, so they would not miss their next meal.

A Teacher Who Never Stopped Learning

Rabbi Schlossberg also shared the story behind the recordings known as Kol Eliyahu, which preserved Rabbi Lopian’s teachings.

At first, Rabbi Lopian resisted being recorded. But after a student once helped care for his only functioning eye, he agreed out of a sense of gratitude.

Later, something remarkable happened. After one of his talks was recorded, Rabbi Lopian asked to listen to it himself.

He sat with full attention, listening as though he were hearing someone else speak. When asked why, he explained simply: “I also need to hear mussar. I speak to others, but I must learn as well.”

Since there was no one to regularly guide him, he used his own words as a source of growth and reflection.

What True Character Looks Like

These stories are more than inspiring moments. They show a consistent way of living with awareness, humility, and care.

Whether preparing for others quietly, showing concern for a small animal, expressing gratitude for a simple object, or continuing to grow even as a teacher, Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian demonstrated that true greatness is found in the smallest actions.