The Orthodox Jewish world was shaken on Motza’ei Yom Tov when word spread of the p’tirah of Rabbi Moshe Hauer zt”l on the night of Sh’mini Atzeres. What is usually a time of joy turned into a moment of collective mourning for a beloved and respected Torah leader.
Rabbi Hauer, who was 60 years old, grew up in Montreal in a home shaped by faith, history, and responsibility – values instilled by his parents, Rabbi Benjamin and Rebbetzin Miriam. His father, a Romanian Holocaust survivor, rebuilt his life with strength and conviction. His mother, originally from Beregszász (then part of Hungary), embodied quiet resilience. Their example gave him a profound sense of Jewish continuity that guided everything he taught and led.
A proud talmid of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore under HaRav Yaakov Weinberg zt”l, Rabbi Hauer became known for making complex ideas clear and relatable. As Rav of Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion (BJSZ) in Baltimore for many years, his drashos were heartfelt messages that connected deeply with his listeners.
In May 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rabbi Hauer became the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union. At a time of fear and uncertainty, he offered steady and inspiring guidance to communities everywhere. Speaking at the 2023 OU Torah event at Citi Field, he summed up his worldview in one powerful sentence: “The Torah is not just our wisdom – it’s our oxygen.”
In a 2020 Yom HaShoah program, he recalled his father learning with Rav Yosef Stern in Transnistria; when there was no food, they would take “another blatt Gemara for supper” – a living illustration of Torah as sustenance. This was more than a slogan. His daily divrei chizuk during the pandemic uplifted thousands. He worked closely with g’dolei Torah, community leaders, and mental health experts to strengthen a struggling tzibur. After the tragedy in Meron in 2021, he reminded everyone: “We must never grow numb to Jewish pain.”
He often framed Jewish strength as intergenerational: We carry a legacy forward so each generation “identifies with our past and therefore with our future.”
His leadership extended far beyond speeches. On October 25, 2022, Rabbi Hauer personally visited Queens College as part of a national OU-JLIC tour, sitting with students and hearing their challenges. Rabbi Shlomo Brukirer reflected, “He wanted to visit every campus that had an OU-JLIC couple. He came to meet students, give a shiur, and understand the challenges of campus for Jews.” He often linked campus work to m’sorah, seeing students as the next link in a chain that must be nourished with dignity, belonging, and purpose.
In 2023, he spoke passionately before Congress, urging lawmakers to address campus anti-Semitism through Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. “President Trump has taken some steps to combat campus anti-Semitism,” he said, “but it would be great if Congress would step up in bipartisan fashion to support and extend those steps.” His words reflected his determination to protect Jewish students across the country.
That same sense of responsibility guided his leadership during the war in 2024. On March 26, a group of rabbanim, including Rabbi Shmuel Marcus of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, met with him at the OU’s Manhattan offices. He had just spoken with Israeli Minister Ron Dermer, who was worried that pro-Israel voices were too quiet. Rabbi Hauer immediately launched the OU’s “180 for 180” campaign, through which he delivered 180,000 handwritten letters to the White House in support of Israel.
Rabbi Marcus shared his urgency with his k’hilah, writing:
“Do not delay; we have no time to lose. We sincerely hope and fervently pray that our efforts and the concern of the entire Jewish community be rewarded with a y’shuas Hashem k’heref ayin.”
For him, memory and mission were inseparable: From commemoration to mobilization, he moved people from feeling to action.
In a 2024 interview with HaMizrachi, Rabbi Hauer articulated his Religious Zionist vision: “The Orthodox Union has recognized [Israel] as ground zero of the Jewish people. We see that as a shlichus, as a mission… We are a Religious Zionist organization… Part of our work is done to enhance the yishuv and enhance Israel itself, directly.”
He would often say the Shoah’s story is not only loss but reconstitution: a people sustained, rebuilt, and oriented toward Eretz Yisrael. He loved to remind audiences that all of us are banim laMelech – princes with a task to carry the legacy forward with courage and heart.
Tributes poured in from across the Jewish world, and to keep the focus strong, a few of the most resonant voices are highlighted here:
Shabbos Kestenbaum remembered his ability to bring people together with strength and warmth. Rabbi Ari Bensoussan called him “a giant of daas Torah and clarity. His voice gave us direction through chaos.” OU-JLIC at Queens College wrote: “His timeless message of responsibility and spiritual pride continues to reverberate.” Kew Gardens Hills educator Mrs. Suri Feldman shared: “His shiurim kept my daughters grounded during lockdown. He gave us a sense of purpose in the fog.” William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents, called him a “trusted adviser, cherished colleague, and wise counselor…a bridge-builder whose faith, humility, and moral clarity inspired all who knew him.” Agudath Israel of America remembered him as “a leader universally respected as a talmid chacham of stature who always sought to promote achdus within the Jewish world.”
Adding a personal reflection to these tributes, I often saw Rabbi Hauer at gatherings of rabbanim, community leaders, and elected officials. Most recently, I remember seeing him at Mayor Adams’ Chanukah reception at Gracie Mansion: calm, approachable, and listening carefully. That was the essence of his leadership: strong values paired with quiet strength.
In a tribute he wrote for Rabbi Berel Wein zt”l, Rabbi Hauer described Rabbi Wein as “forever young…creatively and meaningfully engaged until his last days…[speaking] with the wisdom and authority of age and experience…sharing insights that cut to the heart of our most serious challenges.” Those words now fittingly describe Rabbi Hauer himself.
Rabbi Hauer is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Mindi, and their children, leaving a klal Yisrael strengthened by his teachings, his courage, and the spiritual oxygen he gave us all.
Y’hi zichro baruch.
