Hebrew Theological College/Beis HaMidrash LaTorah is pleased to announce the hire of Rabbi Aaron Leibtag as the new principal of its Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman Yeshiva High School, beginning with the 2024-25 school year. Rabbi Leibtag will succeed Rabbi Dovid Kupchik, who is leaving at the end of the school year for a position with Yeshiva of Flatbush in New York.
Rabbi Leibtag has been a prominent Rav and educator in the Chicago Jewish community for more than 15 years. From 2009 to 2021, he was the rabbi of Kehilath Jacob Beth Samuel which serves the Lincolnwood and Peterson Park communities, before taking the role of Associate Rabbi at Congregation K.I.N.S in West Rogers Park. Simultaneously, as a middle school Gemara Rebbe at Hillel Torah, Rabbi Leibtag taught and helped create curriculum for Halacha and Gemara; served as the 8th Grade Boys' Advisor, developing its curriculum and implementation; initiated additional learning opportunities and ruach programs for middle school students; and helped create and host events for alumni. While at Hillel Torah, he was a recipient of the ATT Hartman Educator of the Year award in 2016.
“I’m excited for our high school to welcome such a highly regarded talmid chacham who can connect meaningfully with our talmidim,” said HTC Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Moshe Revah. “Torah learning is the foundation of everything we do across every area of our institution, and Rabbi Leibtag will help us continue to strengthen that foundation in our talmidim and our Yeshiva.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Rabbi Leibtag as the new leader of Fasman Yeshiva High School,” said Rabbi Shmuel Schuman, CEO of HTC. “He’s a gifted educator who really knows how to relate to teenagers and who will provide guidance and vision to both our Judaic and General Studies faculty. We know he will bring a jolt of energy to our school and campus, and we’re looking forward to his ‘walk across the field’ this summer.”
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Leibtag attended Yeshivat Shaalvim and earned his semicha from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary while simultaneously earning a Master of Education degree from the Azrieli School of Education and Administration. After serving as a rabbinic Intern at Congregation AABJ&D in West Orange and at Keter Torah in Teaneck, NJ, he joined the first cohort of fellows in the Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Kollel in Chicago, where he spent time both learning and teaching throughout the community. Rabbi Leibtag is a past executive committee member of the Rabbinical Council of America, and is currently vice president of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), where he also sits on the Geirus Commission.
“Over the 15 years I’ve been in Chicago, I’ve seen the pivotal role that Fasman Yeshiva serves in our community,” said Rabbi Leibtag. “I look forward to working with our incredible faculty to help build and facilitate our students’ growth in all areas of their lives, both inside and outside of the classroom, from their growth as Bnei Torah to academic excellence and community involvement. I'm incredibly excited to take on this role at a Yeshiva with such a rich and illustrious history.”
“Rabbi Leibtag is respected across every segment of the community,” added Brian Levinson, co-chair of the HTC Board of Governors. “He’s an accomplished Rav and educator who builds and maintains a strong kesher with his congregants and students, even after they’re no longer in his shul or classroom. Our students and faculty will absolutely enjoy learning from him, and with him.”
Together with their seven children, Rabbi Leibtag and his wife, Ayelet, live in Chicago’s West Rogers Park, where he will continue in his role as associate rabbi of Congregation K.I.N.S.
HTC extends its sincere gratitude to the members of the FYHS Principal Search Committee for their swift work to fill this role. Rabbi Leibtag will formally begin his new role on July 1.