Remembering HaRav Moshe Hauer zt”l – Personal Reflections
IN MEMORIAM
HaRav Moshe Hauer, zt”l was a brilliant soft spoken Torah leader, orator, scholar, talmud chacham and a Jewish communal giant. His modest demeanor and quiet presence added to his character as a humble, modest and thoughtful spiritual personality……always in search for achdut and communal shalom bayit. He possessed an indelible capacity to ensure that any public policy or decision derived from his wisdom would be endowed with tremendous kiddush hashem, torah principles and uncompromising Jewish values.
Reb Moshe was indeed the quintessential Jewish communal role model who will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing or working with him. His untimely departure from our midst is painful. It shocked and rattled our world, community and klal yisrael. And, his passing is an inconceivable loss of monumental and epic proportion that will impact many generations for years to come.
Many years ago, when we lived in Baltimore, I and my family had the tremendous good fortune to live in a house directly across the street from Rav Moshe, his wife Mindy and their beautiful children.
I can vividly recall the amazing Shabbat lunches our families shared and enjoyed together. His inspiring diveri torah relating to the weekly parsha and his diveri chizuk at the shabbat table were spell-binding and beyond memorable. It was such a special treat to absorb his words, thoughts and perspectives.
His soft-spoken style, character and demeanor motivated all of us sitting at the table to yearn and crave for more. But as time flew by, and as he subtly glanced at his watch, he reminded himself that he was running a bit late and needed to prepare for his pre-mincha shiur in his shul.
Oh how I truly miss those days
My relationship with Rav Hauer at that time in Baltimore was a very special and privileged one. Little did I truly know, appreciate or realize (at that time) that I was in the presence of a leader who would bring greatness, pride, kiddush HaShem and tremendous stature to the community and to all who experienced his greatness,
I can vividly recall the inspiring conversations I would have with him about the evolving challenges facing the chinuch community – whether they be locally in Baltimore or in communities throughout North America.
We often talked about the day school and yeshiva affordability crisis and the paucity of senior Jewish educational leadership and its impact on the quality of our day schools and yeshivot. He cared. deeply. He worried ; and, he cared with a passion.
Always willing but reluctant to assume senior volunteer leadership roles for select local yeshivot, His modesty was so evident in all of his actions. He made it a point to always do his homework (as he would refer to it) and engage in hishtadlut with a fine tooth comb prior to attending any conversation or meeting of the vaad hachinuch of a major local yeshiva. He never took center stage, but was satisfied taking a back seat and knowing that policy decisions were being offered b’dat torah …in accordance with torah values and standards
As the Rav of a merged shul (Bnai Jacob-Shaarei Zion), he made it a point to accept communal responsibilities which extended way beyond his reach and which extended way beyond the four walls of his shul. They included serving on the Boards of THE ASSOCIATED Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Agencies, and other select Jewish communal institutions and yeshivot.
His wisdom, counsel and perspectives were sought by lay and professional leaders world- wide. And his suggestions, recommendations and ideas were respected and honored by all.
The impressive repertoire of attributes which he possessed , were exemplified and complimented by his soft spoken style and measured words. Truly an amazing gift.
These volunteer leadership responsibilities which he undertook with a bright beautiful smile and a positive demeanor were in addition to his unswerving impact on members of his shul and their families; and in addition to his brilliant and erudite shiurim, divrei chzuk and torah lectures.
Where and how he found the time, drive, passion and energy to accomplish these amazing tasks while responding to the personal needs of families and individuals in the community (including his own) were beyond amazing.
Although we both davened at different shuls, I vividly recall the privileged opportunities I had to walk him part of the way to his shul just prior to mincha Shabbat afternoon.
We talked about the parsha, about the community, and about his concern, passion and yearning for achdut. These brief exchanges had an indelible impact on my growth and development as a young Jewish educational leader in Baltimore. Little did I know or appreciate that his impact on my leadership and thinking would be so far reaching and impactful.
Reb Moshe, we will miss you tremendously. The pain of your profound loss is only beginning to be felt and experienced in our community and throughout the world.
In 2022, my family and I left Baltimore so that I could assume the Executive Vice Presidency of the Central Agency for Jewish Education in Miami.
Two years prior to our move (in 2020) Rav Hauer left his postilion in Baltimore to serve as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union in New York. He retained his rabbinic post as Rabbi Emeritus of his shul.
Over the years, I maintained contact with Rabbi Hauer.. We saw each other at smachot, conferences and at leadership meetings. But the relationship never really compared to the early days of when I was blessed to conveniently meet him, walk with him and learn from him.
In retrospect, as I think back to those most memorable days with Rabbi Hauer in Baltimore, I and my colleagues always knew deep in our hearts that he would be destined to leadership greatness as his influence expanded exponentially as the new young dynamic and cherished senior professional leader of the Orthodox Union.
As I conclude writing this “Personal Reflection” I vividly recall one of my final meetings with Reb Moshe in his shul office. In fact, I vividly recall that moment since I decided at the last minute to attend mincha minyan in his shul in order recite Kaddish on my fathers Yarrzheit .
I arrived to shul a few minutes early, so he invited me to join him in his office for what he referred to as a shmooze. These shmoozen were so rich and priceless.
During the course of our brief conversation (schmooze) I recall asking him…..Reb Moshe, where do you get the time, energy, strength and stamina to maintain your amazing schedule and to respond with full heart and mind to the wide variety of challenges you encounter on a daily basis?”
He sat back in his chair, looked at me, took off his glasses, and with his bright brilliant smile answered (and I paraphrase) ” Reb Chaim, I wish I knew”/… but in all honesty it is a precious gift from HaShem and one which I cherish twenty-four seven”. Always cherish the time Hashem gives you on this earth, never take it for granted, do not squander it;; and always view it as one of the most precious gifts that one can possible receive and enjoy on this earth, besides for good health.
As I reflect on the tremendous impact Rav Hauer had on our Jewish community, on the thousands of students, rabbis and scholars he inspired, and on our schools/institutions world-wide, I cannot imagine a more modest, accomplished and brilliant teacher and leader. He was a person of impeccable middot and true modesty.
Friends, this was indeed Reb Moshe Hauer tz”l
His response to my personal questions (and those posed by many others), were emblematic of his values, beliefs, principles and greatness; and they were true reflection of his passion, his bitachon and his enormous emunah in HaShem as well as his unswerving commitment to Klal Yisrael
Yehi zichro baruch – may his memory be a blessing for his family and for Klal Yisrael.
