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Aaron Moshe Schechter (or Aharon Moshe Schechter, July 16, 1928 – August 24, 2023) was an American Haredi rabbi. He was the rosh yeshiva (Dean) of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and its post-graduate Talmudical division, Kollel Gur Aryeh. He also served on the presidium of Agudath Israel of America and was a member of that organization's Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages).[1][2]
Rabbi Aaron Morris Schechter | |
|---|---|
 Schechter in the late 1970s | |
| Personal | |
| Born | July 16, 1928 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2023 (aged 95) |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse | Shoshana Roisa Leichtung |
| Children | Mordechai Zelig Zt"l, Nosson, Esther, Nechama, Yehudis |
| Denomination | Haredi |
| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Yitzchak Hutner |
| Successor | Shlomo Halioua |
| Position | Rosh Yeshiva |
| Yeshiva | Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin |
Early life
editAaron Moshe Schechter was born to Yosef and Fruma Rochel[3] in Brooklyn, East New York.[4] After studying at Yeshiva Toras Chaim elementary school, he went to high school at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, where he became a disciple of Yitzchak Hutner. He went on to study in Lakewood Yeshiva.[5]
Rabbinic career
edit
Hutner chose Schechter for leadership positions in the Yeshiva prior to Schechter's marriage. He encouraged Schechter to write a rabbinic commentary on a section of Mishneh Torah, which Schechter called Avodas Aharon.[6]
Agudath Israel and Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
editAfter Hutner's death in 1980, Schechter joined the Nesius (presidium) of Agudath Israel of America.[citation needed]
Schechter worked closely with two other early disciples of Hutner on the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Aharon Feldman of Yeshiva Ner Yisrael, and Yaakov Perlow, the Rebbe of Novominsk, who was appointed Rosh Agudas Yisroel (head of Agudath Israel of America).[citation needed]
On January 13, 2015, Schechter resigned from the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah over a dispute regarding internal dissent in the World Agudath Israel-affiliated Degel Hatorah. After the dispute was settled, he returned.[citation needed]
Personal life and death
editSchechter married Shoshana Roisa Leichtung in 1954. She served as the Principal of General Studies at Yeshiva of Brooklyn's girls' elementary school for over 20 years. She died on August 4, 2016.[7] Their two sons and three daughters are all connected to Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. Mordechai Zelig Schechter served as the mashgiach ruchani (spiritual supervisor) until his petira (Tishrei 5784). Their eldest daughter Esther Yormark, a teacher at Beis Yaakov Academy in Brooklyn, is married to Eliyahu, a teacher in Chaim Berlin. Nechama was married to HoRav Shlomo Halioua, who succeeded Schechter as rosh yeshiva (dean) until his death on October 27, 2024 (25 Tishrei 5785). Yehudis Senderovitz is married to Yitzchak Meir, who is also a teacher there. Nosson Schechter is a mohel.
Schechter died in Brooklyn on August 24, 2023, at the age of 95.[4][8]
Works
editExternal links
edit- Rabbi Schechter speaks to students on OU radio, December 28, 2006
- Participates in conference concerning conversions, February 7, 2007
- Endorses the outreach kiruv work of the oorah.org organization Archived February 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Member of rabbinical committee, Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel
- Video of Rabbi Schechter speaking about reconciling Science and Torah
References
edit- ^ "Six Gedolim Added To Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Of Agudas Yisroel". TheYeshivaWorld.com. September 14, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ^ "Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Call on Community to Achieve Improvements; New Chavrei HaMoetzes Welcomed". Hamodia. September 14, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ^ (August 16, 2023) "Tefillos for Rav Aharon Schechter", matzav.com. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ a b (August 24, 2023) "BD'E: Harav Aharon Schechter, Zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Chaim Berlin", Hamodia. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ Dershowitz, Yitzchok (2005). A Living 'Mishnas Rav Aharon': The Legacy of Maran Rav Aharon Kotler. Feldheim, Jerusalem.
- ^ Schechter, Aharon Moshe (1957). Sefer Avodat Aharon. Shulsinger Brothers.
- ^ Hoffman, Rafael (August 4, 2016). "Rebbetzin Shoshana Schechter, A'h". Hamodia. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ (August 24, 2023) "Petirah of Rav Aharon Schechter ZT"L Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin", The Lakewood Scoop. Retrieved August 27, 2023.