Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz

Head Shliach’s Eldest Son to Lead Chabad of Illinois

CrownHeights.info has learned that Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz, the eldest son of Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, OBM, has been appointed to his late father’s position as head Shliach to the state of Illinois.

The decision was made a few weeks ago, not long after the elder Rabbi Moscowitz’s passing.

Recognizing the fact that the younger Rabbi Moscowitz would benefit from a board of Shluchim to help guide him in this demanding position, a committee of local Shluchim was appointed to guide the new head Shliach during the first year of his leadership. All of this new Vaad’s decisions will be made by majority vote.

The Vaad will consist of the following Shluchim: Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz, Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz, Rabbi Boruch Hertz, Rabbi Yosef Posner, Rabbi Yosef Shanowitz, Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf and Rabbi Menachem Slavaticki. Rabbi Boruch Epstein will serve as secretary of the Vaad.

Rabbi Moscowitz and the Vaad were appointed by the Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch board of trustees.

The decision to appoint Rabbi Moscowitz was based on the Rebbe’s directives in several instances, such as following the passing of Rabbi J.J. Hecht of the NCFJE and Rabbi Yaakov Kranz of Virginia, that the family of the deceased should continue their father’s work and his son should assume his position of leadership.

CrownHeights.info has also learned that Rebbetzin Esther Rochel Moscowitz, wife of the late head Shliach, will continue to serve in her post as Senior Shlucha to the state of Illinois. Her younger son, Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz, will carry the title of Executive Director of Lubaivtch of Illinois.

A video of the Shloshim gathering can be viewed here.

Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz
Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz
Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz
Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz
Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz OBM
Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz OBM
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos and Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz.
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos and Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz.

1

11 Comments

  • mg

    i wish him all the best and mush hatzlacha, however with all due respect, i wonder what source in halcaha is there that the leadership role is subject to yerusha?
    actually, i would contend that it is certainly NOT subject to yerusah, and therefor the best capable person should be the one to take over

    • Ezra

      See the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 53:33, regarding a chazzan: “…after his death, his son takes precedence over anyone else, for so it is with all leadership positions, where a son who is suited for them takes precedence over others, even if they are greater than him. The exception to this rule is positions involving the ‘crown of Torah,’ such as a scholar who is appointed to spread Torah or to judge, for the Torah is not an inheritance.”

      (A shliach of course does spread Torah, but his primary role is one of leadership. See also Tzemach Tzedek, Orach Chaim 21.)

  • Sruly C

    Yarich Yomim al Mamlachto.

    He has great shoes to fill, and may he have much Hatzlacha.

  • menndy

    may he and the family be malzliach in their avoidas ha Kodesh in the path of the Rebbe

  • inaccurate

    Mazel tov to Rabbi MS Moscowitz. I hope he has much hatzlocho in his new appointment. However, the decision has nothing to do with following the Rebbe’s directives. The Rebbe never gave clarity in this matter. Rabbi JJ Hecht ob”m wasn’t a head shliach and his passing didn’t turn any of his kids into head shliach. Rabbi Kranz ob”m was a shliach in a state of little consequence (at least at the time), so it’s very different. In the case of Argentina’s head Shliach, the Rebbe decided that someone other than the late head shliach’s son should take over (even though the son was in shlichus in argentina) and the Rebbe transferred that to Rabbi Grunblatt. So they should just say that the shluchim of Illinois in conjunction with merkos chose Rabbi MS Moscowitz. We’re all behind him and wish him the greatest success. Yet to make like that’s a directive from the Rebbe; please!!

  • Aviva

    Good news. May only good things spring forth.
    Meir Shimon we are with you! As you and your family have always been for and with us B”H.

  • YESH MOSKOWITZ

    IS AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING!
    IF ANYONE TAKES THIS ROLE, IT SHOULD BE HIM…
    MAY WE HEAR ONLY SIMCHOS!