By COLlive reporter
R’ Moshe Katsenelenbogen, an elder Lubavitcher chossid whose life was in peril for practicing Judaism in the Soviet Union, passed away on Wednesday, 8 Elul 5774 in London, England, after a brief illness.
He was the son of the renowned chossid R’ Michoel Katsenelenbogen obm, from the first students of Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in the Russian village of Lubavitch.
His mother was Sara obm, daughter of the chossid R’ Chaim Benzion Raskin obm who is known as “Mume Sara” for spearheading an escape route for many Jews from behind the iron curtain.
When she was caught by the Communist authorities for her activities, Sara and her son Moshe – then a young man – were exiled. Mrs. Katsenelenbogen passed away in exile after suffering a heart attack.
R’ Moshe was the epitome of a chossid, people described him. He had yiras shamayim and was a Talmid Chochom who upheld his Torah and Judaism with great self-sacrifice amidst many material and spiritual hardships.
Known as a sharp, intelligent and worldly man, R’ Moshe was active in strengthening yiddishkeit in Russia in the darkest of times.
In the early 1970’s, he escaped from behind the Iron Curtain and settled in London, England, where he was known for his unique Chasidic personality. His passing is a big loss to his family, anash in London and the entire Lubavitch community worldwide.
He is survived by his wife Zelda (nee Pinsky) and his children: Rabbi Nochum Hillel Katsenelenbogen – Maryland; Rabbi Michoel Katsenelenbogen – London, UK; Chana Landau – London, UK; Rochel Zajac – London, UK; Nechama Dina Heller – London, UK; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren going in the ways of Torah and Chasidus.
He is also survived by his brother Reb Yehoshua Raskin of London, UK.
The Levaya will leave from his house in London, Thursday, 9 Elul, 10 am.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
R’ Moshe, Our Malamed
All the comments in item 2 above are clear in my mind B”H as if the were just told. Just to add to this, our best days in Oholei Torah were in the open space at Number 48 F R, this is where all these fascinating stories were told to us. We used to learn around the table in Good old Russian style with one or two seforim, That when i l was taught to read upside down. R’ Moshe gave us the experience of how it was in Russia, with a mixed age class.
Shloimie
He’s my great uncle and an amazing and warm chosid
Feter moshe we loved you. And will forever miss you!!!
May we have the strength to continue and live from your example- joyously even when times are tough!!
Used to go to him to change my money. Always sent warm regards to my father and made me feel at ease even as a young girl coming with not so much money.
He knew the whole Sefer Tehilim by heart, as kids we used to ask him any Pasuk in Tehilim and he would complete it. One lesson, will always be ingrained. As a student of his class, I once complained that some students were disturbing me and that I couldn’t concentrate. He then told me very frankly. “When I was in Russia, I couldn’t say, Russia leave and I stay. I needed to pick myself up and remove myself”. This lesson will always remain,, when one finds himself in a situation that you can not tolerate for any reason, don’t complain.… Read more »
wow im so shocked. was such a kind and gentle man. I have such wonderful childhood memories with him
Continuing no 2 The few years of teaching he did in London remains ingrained in the life of his students( who still stay connected because of the beatifull relationship we had with Reb Moishe, the only teacher called by his first name like the old fasioned Cheder) and gave them the foundation for life being not only a teacher but a living example of the older generation.
We are indebted to him for life!
Reb Moshe was the crown of the Lubavitcher community in Stamford Hill. A modest self-effacing man – with enormous breadth of knowledge and learning and a wonderful sense of humour. An ish chesed- and he has wonderful children and grandchildren.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes! Such a special Chossid! I. Had the Zchus of staying by their house for Shabbos
Really incredible people who I learned so much from
May his Neshama have the greatest Aliyah and storm the heavens to finally bring Moshiach Now! Ad Mosai! We want Moshiach Now! May he be a Gutte Better for all Yidden and bring Moshiach Now!
he’s my great great uncle 🙁
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… Read more »
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He sat on the table near us for many years in London we had tremendous respect for him, and addition to being very learned he was also very smiley and always joking and very friendly to us little kids definitely one of the nicest mispalelim in the london community he will be missed
S.l.
What A loss! A chosid to the truest sense of the word. May his esteemed family be conferted.
What a loss! A great Chassid. an icon in the London community.
A wonderful man, always had a nice word to say to people.
Will be missed in London.
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… Read more »
Oy hashem! Ad mossay??
He was such a special man in our comunity and b.h has such nice and well brought up grandchildren may he rest in peace.