It was well over forty years ago, long before I became the rabbi of Shomrei Emunah in Baltimore, that my wife, Chavi, and I had the zechus to host Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Rabbi Moshe Yisrael ben Binyamin, zt”l, for Shabbos meals, sometimes for an entire Shabbos day, when he was a young student at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel. Back then, we knew him as Moishe—a brilliant young man, already recognized for his excellence in Talmudic study—but even then, there was something about him that made it clear he was destined for a life of extraordinary impact.
In those early years, I saw a young bachur with a presence unlike others. Yeshivah bachurim who would come to our home for Shabbos were often lively, sometimes unfocused, but Rabbi Hauer stood apart. He engaged in conversation, in Torah discussion or simply in observing the world around him with a seriousness and thoughtfulness beyond his years. His intellectual curiosity was vivid, but it was paired with a natural integrity, a careful honesty and a humility that commanded respect without effort. Even at that young age, there was an awareness, a sensitivity, a kind of inner depth that suggested he would not only learn but grow in ways that would touch many lives.
Over the decades, what I saw in those first encounters developed into something astonishing. The young Talmud scholar became a man of formidable erudition. His curiosity blossomed into mastery, and that mastery into wisdom, all nurtured by a relentless commitment to truth. It was not merely knowledge that grew within him, but a profound sense of responsibility, of leadership and of care for others. Every step of his life reflected a growth that was consistent, steady and transformative.
Even at that young age, there was an awareness, a sensitivity, a kind of inner depth that suggested he would not only learn but grow in ways that would touch many lives.
I watched him grow from a brilliant student into a rabbi in the community, then a rabbi in many communities, shaping and guiding countless individuals. Finally, he became executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, and even in that position, he continued to grow. From week to week and month to month, he expanded his influence, refining his voice, asserting his intellect, and deepening his understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people. He reached far beyond his immediate circles, engaging with the broad spectrum of the Jewish world, extending even to interactions with non-Orthodox Jews and leaders in diverse social and political arenas.
His growth was not only intellectual. The young man who listened attentively at our Shabbos table evolved into a man of profound empathy and care. He could hear the words of others and understand their needs, their struggles and their potential. His courtesy, once noticeable in small gestures, became a vast expression of love for his fellow Jews. His love for the Jewish people—ahavas Yisrael—expanded beyond his community, beyond Baltimore, beyond Orthodox circles, touching Jews everywhere.
I think of him in moments of courage as well, standing firm in truth even when it was difficult. One story that comes to mind is the memorial for the assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, when Rabbi Hauer did not hesitate to participate fully, representing Orthodox Jewry even when it might have been uncomfortable or controversial. He understood that leadership sometimes requires courage, that emes—the uncompromising pursuit of truth—is not only a personal virtue but a communal responsibility.
And yet, through all of this, it was growth that defined him most of all. Not just growth in knowledge or position, but growth in character, in depth, in love for humanity and commitment to the Divine. Each stage of his life built upon the last, transforming early potential into realized greatness. The young student who first came to our home was already remarkable; the man who stood as a leader, a thinker and a shepherd for his generation became extraordinary.
Even in the final weeks of his life, he continued to grow. His weekly writings became more profound, more incisive, more far-reaching, touching issues and hearts far beyond what he had done before. His growth was never static; it was a living, evolving testament to his inner strength and commitment.
Rabbi Moshe Hauer was, in the truest sense, a person whose life exemplified the extraordinary potential of growth, the unfolding of talent and character over a lifetime devoted to Torah, truth and the Jewish people. We are left to mourn a loss that cannot be measured, to grieve the absence of a leader whose life was a continuous ascent, whose impact was ever-expanding, and whose spirit will continue to guide and inspire all of us who were privileged to know him.
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb is executive vice president, emeritus of the Orthodox Union.
In This Section
Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l: The Loss of a Leader
Man of G-d: Remembering Rabbi Moshe Hauer by Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph
A Guiding Light for Klal Yisrael by Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber
“His Life Was a Continuous Ascent” by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
To Illuminate Rather Than Condemn: The Legacy of Rabbi Moshe Hauer by Moishe Bane
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With Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb