The yearn to learn Bright Lights: Louis L. Kaplan: At 95, this formidable educator is still teaching and studying.

BRILLIANT, opinionated, charismatic, captivating. At the age of 95, Louis L. Kaplan is still all of these, and more. For seven decades, he's been an education tornado -- presiding over the Baltimore Hebrew College (now University) for 40 years, serving as a regent at the University of Maryland for a quarter century, chairing that board for six years, acting as interim chancellor at the university's Baltimore County campus in the mid-1970s and playing the roles of midwife and intellectual magnet for Beth Am Congregation downtown.

His colloquies, forums and discourses are legendary; his knowledge of Jewish ritual, history, philosophy and politics encyclopedic. He is an unflinching liberal who deeply believes that ethical behavior, not pious adherence to ritual, is the crucial factor in life.

Dr. Kaplan remains outspoken about his first love -- education. He still conducts monthly study sessions with students and participates in a Bible study class weekly. He continues to learn and to inspire a quest for learning in others.

Louis Kaplan built this region's system of Jewish education. He turned a tiny Hebrew college into a burgeoning religious university. He almost single-handedly persuaded the University of Maryland to locate its school of social work in Baltimore. Most of all, he taught ethics and morality to students in classrooms, from the pulpit and in small study groups all over town.

Call him Mr. Education. He refuses to stop lecturing, imploring, discussing fine points of Talmudic commentary, biblical references and how it all fits into secular American society. Louis Kaplan has led a full and fulfilling life. He continues to lead by example, teaching us how to keep that flame of learning alive and glowing.

Bright Lights spotlights people who make a difference in the quality of life of this area. It appears periodically in this column.

Pub Date: 4/19/98