Rabbi, author and leadership adviser

Rabbi David Lapin

Born in South Africa, Rabbi David Lapin immigrated with his family to the United States in 1997, where he grew his reputation in Torah and as an adviser and coach to business leaders.

David Lapin
Rabbi and author · Lapin International
Author of Lead by Greatness and founder of Lapin International.

Torah and leadership

Lead by Greatness

A Talmudic scholar, speaker, columnist and author of Lead by Greatness (Avoda Books, 2012), Rabbi Lapin is founder and CEO of Lapin International, a US-based strategy and leadership consulting firm.

Every engagement is grounded in his philosophy of leadership, known as Lead by Greatness, a Torah-based method for personal achievement and business growth. He developed it in South Africa during the years after apartheid, and it is now used by corporations around the world.

South Africa

A code of ethics for business

In 1989 Rabbi Lapin founded the South African Institute of Business Ethics.

Working with Nelson Mandela's government and a group of business leaders, he drafted one of the first formal codes of corporate ethics: the Code of Ethics for the King Commission on Corporate Governance. He is the founder and former Rav of Keter Torah in Johannesburg, and his teaching draws a hearing across the religious spectrum, from haredi to modern Orthodox to non-observant and non-Jewish audiences.

Learning and community

From Gateshead to Ra'anana

Rabbi Lapin studied at Gateshead Yeshiva and the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and received semicha from Rabbi Isser Yehudah Unterman, then Chief Rabbi of Israel.

Over two thousand of his shiurim and essays are on his website, rabbilapin.com. He and his wife Amber made Aliyah and he leads Kehilat Bnei Aharon in Ra'anana, Israel, while Lapin International continues to serve clients from the United States.

Scholars in residence