Rabbi Aaron Landes was the founding inspiration for our Hebrew Free Loan Society. The son of an Orthodox Rabbi in Revere, Massachusetts, Aaron graduated summa cum laude from Yeshiva University, where he was valedictorian and president of the student body. He received his rabbinic ordination and a master’s degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Landes served in the US Navy and then the Navy Reserve until 1989, reaching the rank of Rear Admiral and retiring as head of the Chaplain Corps. He was instrumental in building Jewish chapels at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and at the Naval Base in Norfolk. He served as Rabbi at Beth Sholom Congregation for 36 years.

Rabbi Landes was chairman of the Jewish Welfare Board, Jewish Chaplains Council and Philadelphia Region of the Rabbinical Assembly of America. He was a member of the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Gratz College, Perelman Jewish Day School, Akiba Hebrew Academy, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, and the Penn Marriage Council.

Rabbi Landes passed away on April 19, 2014.