Aryeh Leib Baron

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron (March 2, 1912 – October 3, 2011) was the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Merkaz HaTorah and the rabbi of Beis Medrash Mekaz HaTalmud in Montréal, Canada, as well as the founder of Yeshiva Ahavas Torah Baranovich in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron
Personal
Born	March 2, 1912 Horodok, Minsk Region, Russian Empire
Died	October 3, 2011
Religion	Judaism
Parents	Reuven (father)
Alma mater	Baranovich Yeshiva Mir Yeshiva
Position	Rabbi
Synagogue	Beis Medrash Merkaz HaTalmud
Position	Rosh yeshiva
Yeshiva	Yeshiva Merkaz HaTorah Beis Medrash Merkaz HaTalmud Yeshiva Ahavas HaTorah Baranovich
Yahrtzeit	ו' תשרי תשע"ב
Buried	Har HaMenuchot

Early Life

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron was born on March 2, 1912 in the town of Horodok[lower-alpha 1] in the Minsk Region of Belarus, then part of the Russian Empire,[1] to Reuven Baranovich (his last name, Baron, is a shortened version of "Baranovich"). His Hebrew birthday was on Taanis Esther.[2] In his youth, he studied under Rabbi Avraham Kalmanowitz in Rakov and later at a yeshiva in Stowbtsy, Belarus.[3] As an younger man, he studied in the Baranovich Yeshiva under Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman and Rabbi David Rappoport. Rabbi Wasserman used the notes that he took in shiur (class) to publish his sefer, Kovetz He'aros. He also developed a close relationship with Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky, the mashgiach in Baranovich and ate Shabbos meals at his house for a time. In the early 1930s, Rabbi Baron went to study in the Mir Yeshiva, where he stayed until the outbreak World War II, when the yeshiva escaped to Vilnius. In 1940, with the aid of Japanese consul to Kaunas, Chiune Sugihara, the yeshiva fled Nazi Europe to Kobe, Japan, from where they were transferred to Shanghai.[4] After several years, much of the yeshiva emigrated to the United States, Rabbi Baron included. He then married the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Samson, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Baltimore.[5]

Rabbinic Career

In 1948, Rabbi Baron was appointed rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Merkaz HaTorah in Montréal,[6] replacing Rabbi Eliyahu Simcha Chazzan who had became rosh yeshiva of Torah Vodaath in New York in 1945.[7] He stayed as rosh yeshiva for 24 years, often sending students to learn in the major yeshivos in the United States. In 1973, he founded Beis Medrash Merkaz HaTalmud which he led until his move to Israel. He also founded Yeshiva Ahavas HaTorah Baranovich in Jerusalem.[8]

On October 3, 2011, Rabbi Baron passed away,[9] a few months after his hundredth birthday. He was buried on Har HaMenuchos.[10]

Notes

1. There are two places in the Minsk Region using this name: Ostroshitski Gorodok and Syomkov Gorodok. Since Google Maps doesn't recognize Syomkov Gorodok, and simply lists a "Gorodok", it is more like the latter, but may be either.

References

1. "A litvak in montreal: the thought of rabbi aryeh leib baron". Proquest.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
2. Sever, Yechiel. "HaRav Aryeh Leib Baron zt"l". Chareidi.org.
3. "The Thought of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron" (PDF). jstor.org. JSTOR.
4. "The Rescue of the Mir Yeshiva". Yadvashem.org. Yad Vashem. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
5. "Rav Aryeh Leib Baron zt"l". October 3, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
6. "A Litvak in Montreal : The Thought of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron". Concordia.ca. The Lithuania-born Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron (1912-2011) came to Montreal in 1948, via China and the United States, where he was appointed the Headmaster ...
7. "Moreinu Horav Eliyohu Simcha Halevi Chazan zt"l" (PDF). Torahvodaath.org. Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. Moreinu Horav Eliyahu Simcha HaLevi Chazan zt'l. 5668/1908 – 5742/1982. With Torah Vodaath form 1945-1982.
8. "Baranovich Today". Baranovich.org. Yeshiva Ahavas Torah.
9. "Rav Aryeh Leib Baron zt"l". Matzav.com. Oct 3, 2011 - It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rav Aryeh Leib Baron ... Rav Baron was a longtime member of the Montreal community
10. Sever, Yechiel. "Harav Aryeh Leib Baron zt"l". Chareidi.org.