Rabbi Dov Lipman is a political activist based in Bet Shemesh.  He rose to national attention for his work in combating extremism in Bet Shemesh and speaking on behalf of moderate Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) who seek greater involvement in sharing the national responsibilities and joining the workforce.  He worked as Special Assistant to the Deputy Mayor and volunteered as a campaign manager in the 2008 Mayoral elections.  His frequent columns in the Jerusalem Post and Time of Israel laying out his vision for a more unified and Jewish values based Israel has created a large following.   

A graduate of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Lipman has Rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg, zt"l, and is also a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, with an M.S. in Education. An experienced educator, Rabbi Lipman has held numerous administrative and educational positions in the United States and Israel. He is a sought after lecturer on the topics of religion and state in Israel and inspiring today's youth.   

Israeli President Shimon Peres wrote the following to Dov in light of his efforts: "You deserve appreciation for your activities which seek to build bridges of unity, understanding, and tolerance between the religious and non-religious populations in Israel. Your public actions serve as an example of responsible rabbinic work which adds honor to the Jewish nation and to the State of Israel and reflects the deep ethics and morals of Judaism in its glory."

Rabbi Lipman is the author of:

"DISCOVER: Answers for Teenagers (and Adults) to Questions about the Jewish Faith," (Feldheim) a book which has touched the lives of thousands of youth - and their parents - with clear answers to the questions which bother all Jewish children.

 

"TIMEOUT: Sports Stories as a Game Plan for Spiritual Success" (Devora) with 30 sports stories and Torah lessons we learn from those stories- a book which is inspiring youth and adults all over the world

 

"SEDER SAVVY: Essays for Meaningful Family Discussion" (Targum) which provides parents with a basis to transform their seder into a platform for meaningful conversations.

 

He has numerous projects in the publishing process including: His popular insights on the Weekly Portion are published by the OU in Torah Tidbits as Parsha Points to Ponder and his essays often appear on aish.com.

Background

Rabbi Lipman grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland where he attended the Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington and the Yeshiva of Greater Washington. After spending two years at Yeshivas Mercaz HaTorah in Jerusalem, he spent the next few years at Ner Israel Rabbinical College and Johns Hopkins Univeristy in Baltimore, MD. In 1994, Rabbi Lipman married Dena Abramowitz from Elizabeth, NJ. The Lipmans spent 3 years as part of the founding members of the Cincinnati Community Kollel. The family then spent 6 years in Silver Spring, MD where Rabbi Lipman held various posts in the community schools. In 2004, the Lipmans and their four children made aliyah and settled in Bet Shemesh, Israel.