ר׳ אהרן הגדול מקרלין

ר׳ אהרן בן ר׳ יעקב פרלוב (1736–1772), known as ר׳ אהרן הגדול מקרלין, was a formative disciple of ר׳ דוב בער ממזריטש and founder of the Karlin Hasidic centre. Born in Janów, he joined the Maggid’s circle and was assigned a leading role in spreading Hasidism into the Lithuanian-Belarusian borderlands, a region of strong opposition. At Karlin, then a suburb of Pinsk, his intense preaching, personal asceticism and ecstatic, loudly voiced prayer created a distinctive devotional culture; early Lithuanian Hasidim were consequently often called “Karlins.” He worked in concert with figures including ר׳ מנחם מנדל מוויטבסק. He wrote no systematic treatise. His ethical testament and teachings were transmitted within the dynasty and later included in בית אהרן by his grandson ר׳ אהרן השני מקרלין. His enduring literary contribution is the Sabbath hymn יה אכסוף, which expresses longing for divine intimacy and spread far beyond Karlin circles. He died in Karlin at only thirty-six and was buried there. Leadership passed initially to his disciple ר׳ שלמה מקרלין, while his young son ר׳ אשר מסטולין later continued the family dynasty.