Mordechai Hager
Admor Menachem Mendel Schneerson | |
|---|---|
| File:רבי מרדכי הגר.jpg Mordechai Hager | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 14 July 1922 (18 Tammuz 5672) |
| Died | 16 March 2018 (29 Adar 5778) |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse | Figa Malka Twersky Sima Mirel Twersky |
| Parents | Chaim Meir Hager Margalit Twersky |
| Buried | Monsey, New York |
| Dynasty | Vizhnitz |
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Rabbi Mordechai Hager (14 July 1922 (18 Tammuz 5672) - 16 March 2018 (29 Adar 5778), Hebrew: מרדכי הגר Yiddish: מרדכי האגער), was the founder and the Admor of the Vizhnitz Hasidic sect of Monsey for 46 years and had a following of tens of thousands of chassidim.
Biography
Early Life
He was born in Grossverdein to Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager (1888—1972), later the Vizhnitz Rebbe, and Margalit, the daughter of Rabbi Ze'ev Twersky, the Admor of Rachmastrivka.[1]
From his childhood, he followed his grandfather, the Admor Rabbi Yisroel Hager (Ahavat Yisrael). At a young age, he left his father's house and went to study for a short period with Rebbe Yoel of Satmar. Reb Mottele also learned in Pupa under the late Pupa Rebbe.[2]
He married Figa Malka, the daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Twersky, Zt"l (1899—1968), late Skverer Rebbe. After she died without children, he married her younger sister Sima Mirel and together they had 14 children, 8 sons and 6 daughters.[3]
World War II
After the Holocaust, on the 29th of Adar 5708 (1948), he arrived in the United States with his father-in-law and began serving as a rabbi of Vizhnitz Hassidim in the United States, first in Boro Park and later in Williamsburg.
Monsey
After a short while, he announced that he did not want to live in the crowded city and moved to Monsey. After his father's death in 1972, His two sons are as Admors as well, first Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager as Rebbe of Vizhnitz in Israel, and Rabbi Mordechai in the United States.
He established the Kaser village in Monsey in 1990 so it could build denser housing.[4] Met with US President Jimmy Carter together with Rabbi Shlomo of Bobov and Rabbi Moshe of Satmar.
At the time of his passing, he was the oldest Hasidic rabbi in the entire world. He was known for his devotion to learning Torah: he studied 18 hours a day and asked his Chasidim to study at least two hours every day. He had about 30,000 followers internationally.[5]
During the last months of his life he was hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, where he passed away on March 16, 2018 (29 Adar 5778).[6] The funeral came out of the central Beit Midrash of his Hasidic sect in Monsey, "Levush Mordechai," on the eve of the Sabbath, and tens of thousands participated[7]. During the funeral 72 US Dollars was distributed, according to his will to every Torah student who studied in the kollel, and his followers were asked to learn a Gemara page every day during the year (and the children a Mishnah). He was buried beside his son in a Ohel in the Vizhnitz section of the cemetery in Monsey.[8]
Views
Rabbi Mordechai Hager had a world view similar to that of the Eidah Hacharedit and the Satmar Hassidim, and at the Tishen and Seudah Shlishit he used to protest against breaches of religion. However, because of his father's he did not come out against Agudath Israel. He also expressed no opinion regarding participation in the Israeli elections. He had forbidden his followers to carry on Shabbos in Boro Park and Williamsburg, despite the Hechsher given to the local Eiruv by some of the city's rabbis. He would object to eating ice cream at the end of the meal, due to halakhic doubts regarding the laws of the brokhoys before enjoyment, and also for the purpose of celibacy of the pleasures of this world which is worthy of the servant of God, as he has clarified several times. He would object to being photographed[9], and even appealed to the editorial offices of the Haredi newspapers not to publish his pictures.
Family
His wife died about a decade before him. After his death, his seven sons and grandson (instead of his eldest son who died) were appointed, to succeed him as rabbis in communities.
- Zippora, married to Rabbi Avraham Dov Twersky, rabbi of the Rachmastrivka congregation in Monsey, son of Rabbi Yochanan, Rebbe of Rachmastrivka.
- Rabbi Pinchas Shalom (who died at the age of 67, in Sivan 5775, 2015) was the rabbi of Torat Chaim Vizhnitz in Boro Park and was married to Zisel Reizel, the daughter of Rebbe Shmuel Zvi Horowitz of Spinka.
- His grandson, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Hager, succeeded his father, and after his grandfather's passing, he was appointed Rebbe in Boro Park. He is married to his cousin, daughter of Rabbi Avraham Dov Twersky, rabbi of the Rachmstrivika community in Monsey.
- Rabbi Yisrael, is his father's main successor as Rebbe of Monsey.
- Malka Chana Rachel, married to Rabbi Israel Eliezer Fish, the Admor of Bixad Williamsburg
- Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the Admor of Kiamesha Lake in the Catskill Mountains. In the past, he served as the rabbi of the local community of Torat Chaim Vizhnitz, which has about 150 families. He objects to being photographed and considered sharp and has separatist views as his father. Married to his cousin Feiga Shifra, daughter of Rabbi Chai Yitzchak Twersky, the Admor of Rachmastrivka, United States.
- Rabbi Yitzchak Yohanan, the Admor of Williamsburg. In the past he served as Rabbi of the local community of Torat Chaim Vizhnitz. He is considered fanatic like his father. Married to Chaya Mindel daughter of Rabbi Moshe of Kiviashd.
- Hinda, married to Rabbi Yossef Benzion Rotenberg, the Admor of Koson in Boro Park.
- Rabbi Eliezer Ze'ev Hager, was crowned Admor in Jerusalem, but lives in the United States. In the past he served as rabbi of "Torat Chaim Vizhnitz" on Adoniyahu HaCohen Street in the city. A medical activist and rabbi of the Beit Midrash of the Chassidus in Boro Park. Son-in-law of Rabbi David Twersky, Admor of Skvira Boro Park. (His son is Isaac Hager)
- Rabbi David Hager, the Admor in London. He founded and served as the rabbi of the local community of 150 families. Married to Chana Miriam, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Taube of Kalov, United States. Like his father-in-law, he is engaged in religious conversion
- Rabbi Aharon, Admor of Montreal. Formerly served as rabbi of the local "Ahavat Yisrael Vizhnitz" congregation. Married to Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Naftali Aryeh Toib of Kaliv, United States.
- Chava Reizel, married to his cousin Rabbi Aharon Menachem Mendel Twersky, son of Rabbi David Twersky, the Admor of Skvira.
- Rabbi Baruch Shimshon, the Admor in Beit Shemesh and Bnei Brak, is his main successor in Israel. In the past he served as rabbi of the community in Beit Shemesh and rabbi of the Rabbi of the Beit Midrash of the Chassidus on Rabbi Meltzer Street in Bnei Brak. Married to Miriam, the daughter of his cousin Rabbi Yisroel Hager, the Admor of Vizhnitz.
- Golda, married to Rabbi Yitzchak Yechiel Michal Moskowitz, rabbi of the Shotz community in Monsey, son of Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Shotz Williamsburg.
- Bracha, married to Nachman Yosef Twersky, the son of Rabbi Ze'ev Twersky (head of Yeshivat Maor Einayim and son of Rabbi Yohanan of Rachmastrivka).
References
- ↑ Hellman, Gershon. "The Vizhnitzer Rebbe, zt"l – Rav Mordechai Hager". Ami Magazine.
- ↑ "The Vizhnitzer Rebbe, ZT"L". 5TJT.
- ↑ "Vizhnitz Simcha Complications". 5TJT.
- ↑ Berger, Joseph. "Growing Pains for a Rural Hasidic Enclave." The New York Times. January 13, 1997.
- ↑ Berger, Joseph (2018-03-16). "Rabbi Mordechai Hager, Leader of Large Hasidic Sect, Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
- ↑ "Archived Copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2019-01-25.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Community Mourns Death Of Grand Rabbi Of Viznitz Hasidim In Kaser-Monsey". Hamodia.
- ↑ https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/1491750/boruch-dayan-haemmes-levaya-of-vishnitzer-rebbe-of-monsey-zatzal.html
- ↑ This meticulousness, which originates from Kabbalah, is presented, inter alia, in the book "Yaaros Devash" by Rabbi Yehonatan Eibeshitz (19b)
External links
- "Vizhnitz Simcha Complications". 5TJT.
- "Second Vizhnitz Rebbe Falls Ill". Israel National News. 20 March 2012.
- "Clouds of Faith Archived 2016-11-21 at the Wayback Machine". Mishpacha. October 13, 2016.
- "A Singular Foundation". Mishpacha. March 21, 2018.[permanent dead link]
- http://westchester.news12.com/story/37744891/mourners-say-final-farewell-to-grand-rabbi-in-monsey
- שיחת קודש - מאדמו"ר מוויזשניץ זצ"ל, על רבוה"ק מ'בעלזא | Naftali Reichman
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