Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union since May, 2020 and former senior rabbi of 26 years at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation, an Orthodox synagogue in Baltimore, died suddenly, reportedly of a heart attack, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at his Baltimore home.
He was 60 years old.
His untimely death brought countless friends to tears and sent shock waves throughout the many constituencies he served.
Rabbi Hauer was a bridge-builder.
Tributes poured in from Jewish leaders on the political right and left; from colleagues, organizational partners and journalists.
Hauer grew the OU in stature, reach and influence, all while maintaining the personal touch that served him so well in his rabbinate in Baltimore.
The date of his death was the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret.
The funeral was held Thursday morning,Oct. 16, at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion in Baltimore, with burial to follow in Israel.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, stated that she is “heartbroken” and that Hauer was “such an incredibly kind and thoughtful leader,” whom she “was fortunate to know and learn from over the last few years.”
The messages that Rabbi Hauer sent out at times of controversy and in advance of Jewish holidays were thoughtful, nuanced and inspiring.
The Orthodox Union’s president Mitchel Aeder and executive vice president and COO Rabbi Josh Joseph stated that the rabbi was “a true talmid chacham, a master teacher and communicator, the voice of Torah to the Orthodox community and the voice of Orthodoxy to the world.”
The OU stated:
“He personified what it means to be a Torah Jew and took nothing more seriously than his role of sharing the joy of Jewish life with our community and beyond,” the OU stated.
“Rabbi Hauer’s leadership was marked by unwavering dedication, deep compassion and a vision rooted in faith in Hashem, integrity and love for klal Yisrael,” the Jewish community, the OU said.
“Whether through his inspiring words, thoughtful counsel, powerful advocacy or quiet acts of kindness, Rabbi Hauer uplifted those around him and made an impact on every person he encountered.”
Per the OU website, Hauer was “active in local communal leadership in many areas, with an emphasis on education, children-at-risk and social service organizations serving the Jewish community.”
Hauer, who was ordained at Ner Israel in Baltimore and held a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, was “an active teacher of Torah who led a leadership training program for rabbis and communal leaders, and was a founding editor of the online journal Klal Perspectives.”
Hauer was a fixture on the Hill in Washington. On May 7, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called the OU leader “my dear friend.”
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told JNS that he is “shattered” by the “sudden passing” of the rabbi, whom he called “my dear friend and partner.”
“We just spoke this past Friday and texted on Monday, when he was overflowing with joy at the miracle of the hostages’ freedom and the unmistakable hand of Hashem in it,” Daroff said.
“Rabbi Hauer was a trusted adviser, cherished colleague and wise counsellor to me, a bridge-builder whose faith, humility and moral clarity inspired all who knew him.
“His loss leaves a void for all who loved and learned from him,” Daroff said.
Jonathan Weisman, a Chicago-based New York Times national editor, called it a “tragic, sudden loss.”
“I turned to Rabbi Hauer for almost any story I was writing on American Judaism, Israel and Zionism,” Weisman stated.
“He was an exceptionally thoughtful conservative voice, respectful and searching. May his memory be a blessing. I’m shocked.”
Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of Aish, stated that he was “shocked” to hear of Hauer’s death.
“He was a kind man and a great advocate for the Jewish people,” Burg said. “May the Alm-ghty comfort his family and the OU during this difficult period.”
“My head is spinning over the magnitude of this tragedy for klal Yisrael,” the Jewish people, “for so many of my colleagues and friends and for me personally,” said Rabbi Gil Student, director of Jewish media, publications and editorial communications at the OU.
“The few months I had of personal mentorship with him was eye opening and inspiring,” Student said. “The more I saw into his personal world and his thought process, the more I realized how truly great and inspiring he was.
“I cry over what we have lost and treasure what little I was able to learn from him.”
“His work station itself was inspiring,” Student added, noting that Hauer’s office desk had “biblical verses or talmudic sayings that serve as reminders about what is important.
“The level of care that went into his every statement, the depth of his concern for everyone and everything, was so deep,” he said. “With all that, he had a mischievous sense of humor.”
Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director of NCSY, the youth program of the OU, stated that he is “absolutely stunned and devastated” by Hauer’s death.
“He was a humble giant of a person, a leader, a scholar and visionary,” Greenland said.
