Rav Moshe Yehoshua Hager zt"l
הרב משה יהודה בן חיים מאיר האגער זצ"ל
Adar 20 , 5772
Rav Moshe Yehoshua Hager zt"l
The Yeshuos Moshe, Rav Moshe Yehoshua Hager, was born on 13 Sivan 5676/1916, in Vilchovitz, Romania to his mother, Rebbetzin Margalis, a daughter of Rav Ze’ev of Rachmastrivka and to his father the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz. Already during his father’s lifetime, he was the Rosh Yeshivah of the yeshivos of Vizhnitz, and was known as a phenomenal
When his father passed away in 5732/1972, he succeeded him as Rebbe, leading his flock for the next forty years. He was the Nasi of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael, and fought tirelessly to preserve religious standards in Eretz Yisrael.
Although he was the Imrei Chaim’s first son and there were many great tzadikim after who to name the baby, his zeide, the Ahavas Yisrael of Vizhnitz, advised that he be named Moshe Yehoshua, after the first two leaders of Klal Yisrael, explaining that “the child has the neshamah of a Jewish leader.”
The Rebbe grew up in the home of the Ahavas Yisrael in Grosswardein, Hungary, and staunchly followed in his ways. The Ahavas Yisrael was extremely fond of his young einikel. He once told one of his chassidim: “I am not totally lost — as long as I see that I love my Moshe, I know that my heart is still attracted to the good …”
Already in his early years, the Rebbe gained fame for his exceptional hasmadah, learning until the wee hours of the morning and, at least once a week, on Thursday nights, devoting the entire night to Torah study.
Even after his grandfather’s Friday night tisch, which concluded in the early hours of the morning, the young Moshe Yehoshua would be seen immersed in the sefer Chovos Halevavos.
In Grosswardein he learned with leading talmidei chachamim including Harav Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss, the Minchas Yitzchak, zt”l, who later taught the Rebbe shimush in halachah.
Later, the Rebbe traveled to Vizhnitz to learn in the yeshivah of his uncle, the Damesek Eliezer of Vizhnitz. At the young age of 20 he received semichah from the leading Rabbanim of Hungary, who applauded his wide knowledge and understanding in all halachos.
After the petirah of the Ahavas Yisrael, the Imrei Chaim, who was Rav in Vilchovitz, moved to Grosswardein to assume his father’s post, and the 20-year-old Harav Moshe Yehoshua was appointed Rav in Vilchovitz.
In 5702/1942, the Rebbe married Rebbetzin Leah Esther, the daughter of Harav Menachem Mendel of Dezh. After her passing, the Rebbe remarried, tbl”c, Rebbetzin Sheindel, the daughter of Harav Yehoshua Segal Deutsch, zt”l, Rav of Katamon.
The Rebbe was outstanding in his shemiras einayim. When he had to walk in the street, he would close his eyes and be led by a companion.
In Adar 5704/1944, when the Nazis invaded Hungary, the Rebbe fled to Grosswardein to be together with his father. The Jews of Grosswardein hid in bunkers, and those who could, fled to Romania.
From Romania, the Rebbe and his family made their way to Eretz Yisrael, arriving before Shabbos Mevorchim Elul 5704/1944.
His uncle, the Damesek Eliezer, appointed him Rosh Yeshivah in the new Vizhnitz Yeshivah in Tel Aviv. At that time, Eretz Yisrael was a spiritual and material wasteland; most of the bachurim were survivors who needed special care. The Damesek Eliezer, recognizing the Rebbe’s unique expertise in chinuch, placed in his hands the responsibility of meeting all the needs of the bachurim. He was their Rosh Yeshivah and maggid shiur, mashgiach, madrich and material caregiver, bringing the bachurim to heights of Torah and kedushah.
In 5707/1947, after the Imrei Chaim arrived in Eretz Yisrael and established the Vizhnitz neighborhood in Bnei Brak, Harav Moshe Yehoshua was appointed Rav of the neighborhood, in addition to heading the yeshivah and delivering daily shiurim.
On 9 Nisan 5732/1972, his father, the Imrei Chaim, was niftar and Harav Moshe Yehoshua assumed the mantle of leadership, succeeding his father as Vishznizter Rebbe.
Under the Rebbe’s leadership, Vizhnitz blossomed and expanded in Eretz Yisrael and abroad, with the establishment of many Torah mosdos.
In his last years the Rebbe became very weak, yet despite his illness and frailty he continued to accept the chassidim and bestow his brachos. He would often hold tischen in his beis medrash.
The Rebbe was niftar on 20 Adar I 5772/2012, at the age of 95. He was buried next to his father in the Vizhnitzer ohel in the Zichron Meir cemetery in Bnei Brak.
The Rebbe was survived by his two sons, Vizhnitzer Rebbes in Bnei Brak and four daughters, the Satmar Rebbetzin; the Skver Rebbetzin; the Belzer Rebbetzin; and Rebbetzin Hinda Ernster.
Stories of Rav Moshe Yehoshua Hager zt"l
The Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz related how the Zaslover Chazzan who served as the chazzan for the holy Baal Shem Tov, arrived one erev Shabbos in Lizensk to spend Shabbos with the author of the Noam Elimelech.
Reb Melech’s talmidim were unsure of what to do: Should they honor the chazzan with the amud, allowing him to daven kabbalas Shabbos, or would this upset the holy rebbe’s kavannos and disrupt his devotions? Their hesitation was soon to become irrelevant when the rebbe, Reb Melech himself, honored the chazzan to lead the tefillos and begin kabbalos Shabbos.
“Please for the sake of the Baal Shem’s honor, would you be our chazzan?” asked the Rebbe Elimelech.
Rav Mordechai agreed.
The chazzan stepped up to the amud flanked by a choir that would accompany his melodious tefillos. As soon as the tefillah commenced, however, Rebbe Elimelech could not hold back. With great reluctance, the rebbe interrupted the chazzan and choir, “Please, I am sorry—it’s just too much!” complained Rebbe Elimelech. “I cannot contain the dveykus this brings on!”
The Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz paused in telling of the tale to explain that the rebbe, Reb Melech couldn’t withstand it because “it opened up for him new vistas in the supernal realms, so much so, that the great light that came from it was too strong to absorb!”
“After kabbalos Shabbos,” continued the Yeshuos Moshe, “Rebbe Elimelech drew the Zaslover chazzan close but asked him to please not daven for the amud in Lizensk anymore.
“On Motzaei Shabbos as the Zaslover chazzan took his leave, the rebbe, Reb Melech asked him to relate some story about the holy Baal Shem Tov. The chazzan spoke of the Baal Shem’s love and awe in serving Hashem and specifically how his soul would experience an aliyas neshama – a state in which he would wander around supernal realms just we move around here below!”
“The Zaslover continued, ‘Another aspect of the Baal Shem Tov’s purity in avodas Hashem is his recitation of Hallel. We know that ordinarily, when we recite the Hallel HaGadol, each verse is recited by a specific angel. When the Holy Baal Shem Tov recited Hallel HaGadol, he waited first to hear how each malach recited each pasuk; only then would he himself repeat each pasuk after the angels had said them! ‘”
The Maharsham’s father, Rav Moshe, was a talmid of Rav Meir of Premishlan, and he himself received semicha from the mechaber of Shoel UMeishiv and from Rav Shlomo Kluger of Brod. The Maharsham also traveled to see many Tzaddikim, including Belz, Stretin, Zidichov, and Tchortkov.
The Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz related how his grandfather, the Ahavas Yisrael, sent his father, Rav Chaim Meir, to be tested for semicha by the Maharsham, the Gaon of Berzhon. He was not born as the Berzhoner Rav – he had to work at it, continued the Yeshuos Moshe. For example, every Shabbos he studied and completed the entire Maseches Shabbos. Do you have any idea what chazora on the entire Maseches Shabbos means? However, this is a case in point – the very fact that he reviewed it weekly caused him to know it so well by heart, like you and I recite Ashrei! That is how one must accustom oneself from the younger years to study and review. What was his greatness? He knew how to use his time wisely and how to use each opportunity to serve Hashem, his Creator. He would review his learning countless times – this is the way Gedolim reach greatness.
The Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz related how when the Berzhoner Rav grew old and lay on his sickbed, many great Talmidei Chachomim came to visit him. As they stood outside his room they began to discuss whether or not in today’s times there was a mitzvah to give gifts of Matnos Kehuna. Hearing the heated discussion, the Berzhoner Rav turned to Rav Meir Shapira and asked what was being discussed. When he was told the topic, he replied, “This is answered explicitly by the Darchei Moshe in Hilchos Mezuza!”
Upon hearing his words, they thought that in his old age his wisdom had dimmed and senility had crept up on him, for why would such a topic be discussed in the laws of Mezuza?
When the Berzhoner Rav heard them continuing to discuss the matter, he asked if they had looked up the Darchei Moshe. When they did, they were astounded to see that he was correct! He then asked someone to bring a copy of his Shulchon Aruch and when it was brought they all saw written in his volume how he had reviewed the entire Shulchan Aruch four hundred times, when he began the cycle and when each review concluded! (Sarfei Kodesh Vizhnitz, p. 231–234)
On Shabbos and Yom Tov the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz davened from the Shela HaKodosh siddur that he inherited from the Tzemach Tzaddik. He used to say about this siddur, “I remember holding this siddur in front of my Zeide during Nishmas! Holy Jews held this siddur in their hands!” Once, when someone tried to hand him a different siddur, the Rebbe pointed toward the Siddur Shela, indicating his preference for davening from that siddur. He turned to the approbations and pointed out that which the Tzaddik Rov Yoel Sirkis, mechaber of Bayis Chodosh – the Bach on the Tur – wrote in his haskoma: “I promise that whoever davens from this siddur, his prayers shall not return empty – and not remain unanswered!” (Sarfei Kodesh p. 350)
(Translator’s note: I remember as a bochur, when I asked the Sulitzer Rebbe, zt”l, of Far Rockaway why he davened from the Siddur Shela, he showed me the same haskoma of the Bach and pointed out these holy words to me as well.)