Meet Rabbi Elchanan Shalom Elgrod

Rabbi Elchanan Shalom Elgrod Shlit”a is the Posek (Rabbi of the highest caliber who determines Jewish law) and Dayan (Judge in Bet Din – a Jewish court which rules according to Jewish law) for the Chut shel Chessed community.

He was accredited for Rabbanut and Dayanut (becoming a Rabbi and Judge) by the Rishon LeTzion, the Gaon Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt”l. He joined a short list of some of the greatest Rabbis of all time when he began serving the Jewish community as a Dayan before the age of 30. He is one of the few poskim of all time certified to determine Jewish law for both Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewry.

Rabbi Elgrod was also very close to the Great Mashgiach Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe Zt”l and was part of a small private group that learned Torah and hashkafa (Jewish world-view) from Rabbi Wolbe himself. His additional Rabbis include the Gaon Rabbi Asher Weiss Shlit”a, the Rishon Le’Tzion the Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron Shlit”a and the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Wozner Shlit”a.

More than ten years ago at the age of 31, he became close to the Tzaddik Rabbi Shalom Arush Shlit”a, whom today he defines as his Rabbi and spiritual mentor. Rabbi Arush appointed him as Rosh Kollel of the Rabbinical smicha program to train young Rabbis, the Mashgiach Ruchani (Spiritual Director) of the Yeshiva, and the Dayan and Posek of the Chut Shel Chessed community in Jerusalem. He also sits on the Rabbinical guidance committee for the Chut shel Chessed school system and was the Rosh Kollel of the English program at Chut shel Chessed when it was running.

In addition to his work in the Chut Shel Chessed Institutions, Rabbi Elgrod serves as a Dayan in the Beth Din Mishpat V’Chessed, in the Beth Din for monetary matters in the city of Kiryat Ekron, in the High Beth Din for monetary matters at Chukat Mishpat and was recently appointed to be the Head Dayan for Hamerkaz Leborerut Shalom v’Emet by the Hidabrut Organization.

Rabbi Elgrod gives shiurim all over Israel and around the world in Jewish law, hashkafa and emuna.

He is also fluent in English from his youth and has already been translating Rabbi Arush live at his lectures in South Africa for many years. He also has a number of English lessons in Jewish law on Breslev Israel VOD. 

Rabbi Elgrod B’H” will be translating Rabbi Arush’s lectures live in Uman Rosh Hashanah 5780. He will be joining the “Emuna is our Future” Tour as well, translating Rabbi Arush live at a number of events. He also teaches a weekly inspirational video series called “The WISH Program – Weekly Inspiration for Spiritual Happiness.”

The English-speaking world is blessed to have such a spiritual giant who speaks English. I personally have benefited greatly from his advice and guidance in my years since joining the community, both in terms of Jewish law and hashkafa. On behalf of the entire staff of Breslev Israel, we thank Rabbi Elgrod for his investment of his precious time in order to translate and teach in English, and we hope you enjoy and benefit from his truly incredible lessons!

Click here to watch Rabbi Elgrod’s videos