Boruch Dayan Hoemes: R’ Moshe Shuchat, 97, OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of R’ Moshe Shuchat OBM, a longtime Crown Heights resident who prepared the Mikvah the Rebbe used for many years, He was 97 years old.

Reb Moshe was born on 3 Cheshvan, 5681 (October 15, 1920) in Harlem, NY. As a young boy, he attended Harlem Yeshiva. When it closed, he was sent to Jacob Joseph Yeshiva.

His parents, Zalman Zvi and Rivka Shuchat (nee Yalkut, of the illustrious Jerusalem family, descended from the Maharsha) immigrated to Israel when he was 14 because they were worried about giving their children proper chinuch.

Reb Moshe went into the workforce in Dubek Tobacco (British Cigarette Company in Israel) and continued to work hard his entire life.

He moved to America as Israel became a state and married Lena (Brocho Lifsha) Pinsker in 1948.

After their marriage, the couple lived in the East New York area of Brooklyn, and when the neighborhood declined, moved to Crown Heights.

Reb Moshe worked as a distributor for Shaklee and Fuller Cleaning products. He would be seen traveling all over Crown Heights distributing household products door-to-door, rain or shine, for many years.

He served as the Gabbai of Lefferts Avenue Shul for many years, as well as a noted Chazan in Manhattan’s Beis Medrash Hagadol. He is remembered by many Crown Heights residents for his Nusach haTefilla, which was unique and melodious. He was also known as a staunch advocate for Shleimus Ha’aretz.

His wife Lifsha Shuchat was the caretaker for the Mikvah on Union Street, and when she became ill and could not do so anymore, Reb Moshe took on her duties, preparing the Mikvah for the Rebbe’s use.

A devoted Chosid, after moving to Crown Heights in 1973-1974, he participated in every farbrengen and merited to sit on the dais very close to the Rebbe. During the years that his wife was ill, at each farbrengen, he would approach the Rebbe and say “L’chaim.”

At one farbrengen, when R’ Moshe did not go up to the Rebbe, the Rebbe told his secretary to call him over, and when he approached, the Rebbe said, “I was waiting for you.”

Known as a tremendous Yerei Shomayim, Reb Moshe always davened with a Minyan, and never missed a fast day, even when he was in the hospital.

He is survived by his children, Rabbi Menachem Gedalya (Mendel) Shuchat (Teaneck, NJ), Rabbi Avrohom Leib (Leibel) Shuchat (Caracas, Venezuela), Chaya Devorah Shuchat (Kensington, Brooklyn), R’ Zev Nosson (Velvel) Shuchat (Flatbush, NY), R’ Zalman Tzvi Shuchat (Crown Heights), R’ Mordechai Yehuda Shuchat (Kingston, PA), and Mrs. Yocheved Leah Ben-Oni (Crown Heights), as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Brocha Lifsha (Lena) in 1989, and his son Shmuel Tanchum in 2005.

The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 10:15am at Shomrei Hadas and passing by 770 at around 11:00am.

To share stories or memories with his family, email zaidyshuchat@gmail.com .

Baruch Dayan Hoemes

2 Comments

  • F.S

    b’h

    R’Moshe was a humble man of truth and conviction – well respected and beloved by so many in our Crown Heights community.
    Through his Shaklee and Fuller Brush business we got to know his fine qualities and benefited from his wise words.
    May his children be comforted and continue in his exemplary ways.
    The S.B. Schapiros

  • sad

    R Moshe was always fullof Chayus very outspoken He used to daaven in Lefferts Shul & I remember him always by Ashrei on The Pasuk Retzon Yeraiav Yaase V’ais kol harashim. He added Rabin peres Arafat. & months alter when Rabin was assassinated everyone looked at him in surprise & awe. BY Al Tirah at the words V’lo Yakum he would raise his voice always was opinionated many times with a smile & active he will be missed.On the plus side despite his personal sadness of first slowly losing his wife who was in a coma for several years & then watching his son Chazan Shmuel Tanchum who never hurt a fly & was one of the sweetest & friendliest people you ever met slowly get weaker & wither away from ALS lived a long life here on this world & is surely being rewarded upstairs!