On the yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of our master Rav Moshe Feinstein, the Torah-Box team is happy to present to you his life course. Whoever speaks of Tzaddik on the day of his yahrzeit, the latter will pray for him! Light a candle and say "Lichvod Harav Feinstein, zechuto taguen 'alenou" then pray. May his merit protect all of Klal Israel, Amen!

Rav Moshe Feinstein was born on the 7th of Adar, 1895 and died on the 12th of Adar II 1986. He’s considered to be the greatest American decision-maker of the last fifty years. His father, Rav David, was a great Torah scholar and served as Rav in Usdan and Struvin, Russia.

From a young age, Rav Moyshe (as he is still known today to the American Jewish Community) was a great genius of Torah. To the point that, at the age of eleven, a meeting with several Rabbanim took place in his house, and when he entered the room, everyone stood up in his honor. His father, Rav David was very irritated and explained to them that they were harming his education.

At the age of twelve, he went to study in the Etz HaChaim Yeshiva of Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltser, in which he acquired the reputation of an immense Talmid Chacham who invests all his forces in Torah. At this Yeshiva, he met Rabbi Aharon Kotler, Rav Meltser’s son-in-law, and built a strong relationship with him which would last for many years. They worked hard for American Judaism’s survival. After a few years, Rav Pesach Frumkin (the Etz HaChaim Yeshiva's Mashgiach) opened a Yeshiva, and Rav Moshe began to teach there. At the age of fifteen, he had completed the study of the Chass and the Shulchan Aruch.

During the First World War, the Russians wanted to enlist him. In an attempt to annul this enlistment decree, he went to a city in which a great lawyer was living and who could eventually help him cancel the decree. In the end, unfortunately, no attempt managed to help Rav Moshe.

On the way back to Struvin, he passed through a town in which the Chafetz Chaim was staying. Rabbi Moshe met him, and after talking to each other, the Chafetz Chaim gave him a Bracha, whose content, unfortunately, remains unknown to this day. Shortly after, the enlistment decree was canceled.

At the age of 20, he was already named Rav of the city of Usdan while still being single.  A few years later, he was offered the post of Rav of the city of Luban, a city infused with Torah and fear of Heaven. It is there that he got married to Sima, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kastenowitz’s daughter, head of the Luban community.

Communist Revolution

Rav Moshe lived through many revolutions, yet continued to work in the Rabbanut and fight for his people: in the twenties, the communist revolution occurred, in the thirties, heavy decrees against religious men, and then in the United States, where the technological and secular revolutions took place. He continued to lead the Jews through these struggles and spiritual crises wherever he was and worked tirelessly for them.

In the year 1936 (5696), communism was becoming stronger and Rav Moshe was forced to leave Russia. With great effort, he received a permit to enter the United States. On their way to the United States, they passed through the town of Dvinsk where Rav Moshe was invited to take the post of Rav, but he decided to continue his route to the United States. In the month of Shevat of the year 1937 (5697), they arrived in America.

Several Rabbanim of the Rabbinical association approached Rav Moshe to have him settle disputes through Din-Torah (judgments) so that he could secure a subsistence. Very soon, Rav Moshe realized that he could not count on those Dayanim (rabbinic judges) who did not settle according to the truth of the Torah but according to financial interests, while he was ruling according to the Din Torah, even when it went against his personal interest.

At the end of the year 1937 (5697), he became the principal of the Yeshiva Tiferet Yerushalayim, a position he held until his death. Although he was the Rosh Yeshiva of several hundred students, he cared for the well-being of each of his students, and if he saw that one of them needed help, he hastened to keep himself at his disposal.

A Responsible Man

Throughout his life, he felt a responsibility toward every Jew. He did Chesed with every man, whoever he may be, and took on the heavy responsibility of directing the public. For nearly fifty years, any request made by American Jews was sent to this address. Questions on Halacha, children education, leadership; all came to him from morning till night, and no one ever got rejected.

Here is a story illustrating his dedication to everyone: A young girl called Rav Moshe late at night to question the Rav on the Kashrut of certain chewing gum. He was asked why he was interested in such low-value questions, and he replied that in the United States, the situation was such that the Rabbanim had a monetary interest on all matters over which they ruled. As a result, they didn’t have the public’s trust. He saw public confidence in himself as a great responsibility to Heaven so that simple people wouldn’t despise Halacha.

Rabbi Moshe felt responsible for the many Agunot (married women whose status is not certain) according to the Holocaust, and he released thousands after a thorough case examination.

His Relationship with His Fellow

Many stories were told about his special relationship with others. I will tell a story that I think best illustrates his relationship with others. One day, Rabbi Chaim Tavarsky, Rav in Borough Park and Rav at the Rambam Medical Center in New York, gave a lecture to hospital nurses. In the midst of his lecture, he mentioned the name of Rav Moshe. One of the nurses, a non-Jew, said she knew him. Rav Tavarsky didn’t understand how this was possible. She replied that when one of her great-grandchildren was born, the Rav passed by in a wheelchair and then left the hospital. After a while, he came back to greet her because he wasn’t able to greet her the first time he had passed.

Rabbi Moshe valued greatly giving guidance to the public, and that is why he held the position of President of the Agudat Israel in America and President of the Chinuch Haatsmai and did a lot for the sake of Jews in the U.S. His diligence in the study of the Torah was famous, he studied Mishnayot intensely between two Aliyot to the Torah, and he always carried a book of Tanach with him. The Torah was very precious to him, and the words of the Torah did not leave his lips from his childhood until his death.

On the 12th of Adar II 5746 (1986), after a long and difficult illness, he was called back to Heaven. His burial began in New York, attended by 75,000 people, and continues in Jerusalem at Shushan Purim, where about 250,000 people gathered. He is buried in Har Hamenuchot.