The Chicago community gathered to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz OBM, Regional Director of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois and Head Shliach of the State of Illinois, hearing from family members, friends and shluchim.
On Wednesday, the second of Nissan, more than seven hundred Jews from the greater Chicago community assembled at the Holiday Inn for an inspirational tribute event dedicated to the life and legacy of Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz OBM, at an event marking his Shloshim. Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz, the eldest son and new Shliach Roshi of Illinois, welcomed the packed crowd and set the tone for the evening.
Tehillim was then led by Director of F.R.E.E. in Illinois and brother-in-law of Rabbi Moscowitz, Rabbi Shmuel Notik, and recently appointed shliach to East Rogers Park, Rabbi Yoel Wolf.
Rabbi Baruch Epstein, close friend of Rabbi Moscowitz and partner in Chabad of Illinois, as well as Rabbi of Bais Menachem Nussach Ari, transitioned between each speaker as the Master of Ceremonies.
The crowd had the zechus to hear from HaRav Gedalia Schwartz, Rosh Beis Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, where Rabbi Moscowitz was a past president and quite involved member. The Rav spoke of his close friendship with Rabbi Moscowitz and the great impact he made on the Jewish community. Rabbi Yona Reiss, recently appointed Av Beis Din of the CRC, spoke of his close relationship with Rabbi Moscowitz, lauding him as one who “provided space for others to shine,” and “touched countless people.”
Rabbi Baruch Hertz, Mara d’Asra of the anash community, shared words of chizuk, speaking of Rabbi Moscowitz’s passion for the Rebbe’s holy work.
Rabbi Mendel Moscowitz spoke lovingly about his eldest brother. He shared a story of their youth; the time his brother carried him on his shoulders through a treacherous snow, and metaphorically, he explained, Rabbi Moscowitz carried others on his shoulders, lifting them up when they had no strength to go forward.
Rabbi Leibel Moscowitz spoke eloquently about his father, the one with all the answers, telling the assembled, “Do not give up!!; this is temporary.”
A video of the Rebbe speaking after the shloshim of the Rebbetzin in 5748, about “vehachai yitein el libo - the living should take to heart," was next shown.
Mr. Myron Cherry spoke of his dear friend Rabbi Moscowitz who impacted his life so profoundly. The Rabbi was his Sunday chavrusah and close friend, confidant and adviser. He summed it up as “Rabbi Moscowitz took risks and trusted in Hashem.”
Via video from Sweden, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice-chairman of Merkos l’inyonei Chinuch, Chairman of the International Kinus HaShluchim, and close personal friend of Rabbi Moscowitz launched “Project Ignite” l’iloi nishmas Rabbi Moscowitz.
An international campaign Rabbi Moscowitz had initiated, it is designed to transform community members into community leaders, empowering them with complete mitzvah campaigns and materials to bring to their friends, office mates and colleagues. Specially designed “Ignite” mitzvah cards were distributed for people to sign up to do a mitzvah.
The keynote speaker of the evening was Rabbi Yisroel Edelman from Deerfield Beach, FL, Rabbi of the second largest Young Israel Congregation and yeshiva study partner of Rabbi Moscowitz. Rabbi Edelman shared their experiences from their yeshiva years in Montreal, Brunoy and 770. He described Rabbi Moscowitz’s hasmada and good-natured, positive and ambitious personality.
Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz, the new Executive Director of Chabad of Illinois, enthused the crowd with a powerful talk about his father; the crowd was both excited and tearful. He spoke of the nine years he worked side-by-side with his father shaping Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, and of his relentless commitment to fulfilling his father’s dreams and plans.
The evening concluded with a stunning video presentation of Rabbi Moscowitz's life, beginning with a letter he received from the Rebbe as an infant, and clips from multiple talks he had given over the years, most passionately from the 2008 Memorial for the victims of Mumbai massacre HY"D encouraging Jews world-over to do more Mitzvahs.
The tribute was like the Rabbi’s life - filled with people all fixated on their commonality rather than their differences; complete with the gamut of emotions and ending on a super high and greater commitment to do all that you can to bring Moshiach NOW!!
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