Years: 1891–1962
Primary city: Lakewood
Rabbi Aharon Kotler was a prominent figure in the Lithuanian yeshiva world, a talmid of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel of Slabodka. He succeeded his father-in-law, Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, as Rosh Yeshiva in Kletsk, Poland. After escaping Europe, he re-established his yeshiva in 1943 in Lakewood, New Jersey, as Beth Medrash Govoha, which grew to become the largest yeshiva in North America. As chairman of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel, he played a significant role in the development of post-war Haredi Judaism in America. His chiddushim are collected in Mishnas R' Aharon.