A Short Tribute

Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes was born to Hannah and Yaakov on 17 Kislev, 5665 (1904) in Aleppo, Syria.

His father, Hacham Yaakov Lopes, was a renowned kabbalist and preacher, and was President and Treasurer of the Malbish Arumim Society.

In 1913, when he was 13 years of age, Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes immigrated with his family to the Land of Israel, where they settled in Jerusalem. Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes studied at the Porat Yosef yeshiva with Hacham Ezra Attiah. He was certified as a teacher and appointed to the Jerusalem rabbinic court as a dayan. He became fluent in foreign languages and earned a living from teaching English and French. Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes jointly founded the Mekabetziel charity with Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka, headed by Hacham Yaakov Meir. Its mission was to increase and transmit Torah study in all social levels of the public.

In 1950, Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes was appointed Chief Rabbi of Acre (Akko). He held this position for close to forty-five years. During his term, he strengthened the city’s Torah institutions and established the Emet Le’Yaakov yeshiva, named after his father.

Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes passed away on 26 Heshvan 1994, on the date marking the first year of his wife’s decease.

His printed works are Kuntras HaHashkama, Kuntrass Hit'orerut LeTefila BeShelimuta, and Shalmei Aharon.