Boruch Dayan Ho’emes: Reb Moshe Katzenelenbogen, 83, OBM
With sadness we inform you of the passing of Reb Moshe Katzenelenbogen, OBM, of London, UK. Reb Moshe was the son of the venerated Lubavitch heroine, Mumeh Sarah, who helped countless Jewish families escape the iron curtain after WWII, and eventually died in the hands of Stalin’s henchmen. He was 83 years old.
An excerpt from an article published by Chabad.org several years ago:
The NKVD swept down in full fury, arresting all whose names were on the lists. A friend of mine, Moshe Katzenelenbogen (who now lives in London, England), barely sixteen years old, was among those arrested. His mother, Soroh (a remarkable woman known to everyone as “Di Moomeh Sorka” — “Aunt Soroh” — for she was an aunt of the various Raskin families), had been one of those most active in the operation. She had already been arrested and interrogated, but refused to divulge other names. In an attempt to threaten her, the police brought her son into her cell. Shocked to see that even her teenage son had been arrested, she later suffered a massive heart attack and passed away before his eyes.
Reb Moshe himself eventually made it out of the Soviet Union and settled in London, where he lived for many years among the Lubavitch community in Stamford Hill. He earned a living as a currency changer, and had a sterling reputation as an honest and trustworthy man.
He is survived by his wife, Zelda, and children: Reb Nochum Hillel (Owing Mills, MD), Reb Michoel (London, UK), Mrs. Chana Landau (London, UK), Mrs. Rochel Zajac (London, UK) and
Mrs. Dina Heller (London, UK).
He is survived as well by his brother, Reb Yehoshua Raskin (London, UK).
The Levaya will take place tomorrow morning at 10:00am in London, UK, leaving from 46 Linthorpe Road, N16; it will then go to Lubavitch House, 107-115 Stamford Hill, N16 5RP.
The family will be sitting Shiva at 46 Linthorpe Road N16 in Stamford Hill, London, UK, until next Wednesday morning:
Shachris: 7:30am and 9:00pm
Mincha: 7:15pm x 2
Maariv: 8:15pm x 2
The family requests that visitors refrain from arriving between the hours of 1:00pm and 4:00pm, as well as after 10:00pm.
Memories and condolences can be sent to rebmoshefamily@gmail.com.
Boruch Dayan Ho’emes
Boruch Dayan Emes - My Teacher
Some amazing things he told our class when he was teaching. He was in Soviet prison for a full year and in work camp for 5 or 6 (don’t recall) years. During those years he kept Pesach by exchanging bread for sugar for many weeks, with other inmates, so that on Pesach he could survive on sucking sugar. This also means that he had to keep the calendar in his mind. Even while in the prison cell, he lit candles for Chanuka. Because there was a viewing hole through the door for the guards, he would do it against the wall at a 180 degree angle from the hole. He used some thread from clothing and butter from the ration. He could only light one flame per night (which is the basic requirement). Life was so tough in the cell that the inmates could have no strings or shoelaces, lest they try to strangle themselves to commit suicide. And the Soviets preferred them to suffer than to kill themselves. (but remarkably, they were allowed to smoke, and fire was available) And it was in this setting that he kept these mitzvos. For this reason he could not have Tefillin in the cel. But when he was in the work camp he did get a pair of Tefillin which he would put on before going to work. Once an inmate told on him to someone in authority, claiming that his davening was taking away work time. When Rav Moshe was questioned, he said that “it only takes 60 seconds” and proceeded to put on and take off the Tefillin in 60 seconds. They allowed him to continue wearing them. Rav Moshe was an unbelievable boki in Shulchan Aruch, and many more aread in Torah, and this was already when he came from Russia (which I clearly remember). One wonders how he could have learned so much in Soviet Russia! Also, if you told him any three words from Tehillim, he could tell you which perek it was in. Once pressed he said how he does it. “Easy. I just continue saying in my head till the end of the perek and then know the number of the next one.” However with kuf yud tess he needed no time to think; he knew it immediately. To him this was no big deal, since he said Tehillim so many times in prison.
Reb Moishe's
B.D E.Just to clarify, that Reb Moishe’s Gadlus was that he was a VERY big Talmud Chochom, and the Rebbe said about him to him in Yechidus that he was Boki in Shulcan Oruch already in Russia!!!!!!!!!!!!
gave up her passport
On top of all her other merits, she gave up her forged Polish papers to the Rebbe’s mother so she could leave Russia, after others refused to help, and therefore was left behind in Russia.
BDE
A very special man! Growing up in London we looked up to him as a chasidisher Yid, a lamdan, and a very warm and kind person. Yet at the same time he knew how to navigate the real world.
He also did everything with a touch of humor; every Shabbos Mevorchim he would sit in his place at Shul and say the entire Tehilim out loud, and Baal Peah! Yet without a touch of conceit. We also would love to go to him to change British Pounds into US dollars whenever we would be traveling to visit the Rebbe. Not only was the price right but seeing him pull out of his pockets a thick stash of cash that one would otherwise not see was something we looked forward to.
The last lesson he shared with me, on one of my most recent trips to London, was that for Orach Chayim anyone who knows it can Pasken. For the other parts of Shulchan Aruch one needs to be a Rov.
A unique combination of Chassidishkeit, Talmid Chochom, warmth, kindness, humor, and a chevra man made him a real dugma chaya for us young minds growing up in London in the 80’s
Thank you!
May he be a Meilitz Yosher for his wonderful wife and amazing childen.