By Hamodia & COLlive
Rabbi Dovid Moshe Lieberman, Rav of the Shomrei Hadas kehillah in Antwerp, Belgium, passed away on Wednesday, 24 Shvat, 5782.
He was 96.
Rav Lieberman was born in Cologne (Köln), Germany on 21 Nissan, 5685 (April 15, 1925) to his Polish immigrant parents from Mielc. His father, Reb Yitzchak Isaac Lieberman, was a diamond merchant, and his mother, Sarah Hinde, was a descendant of many Chassidishe Rebbes of Poland. His parents moved to Antwerp when he was one year old.
Reb Yitzchak Isaac was in England when Sarah Hinde escaped with her son to France when the Second World War broke out. Sarah Hinde knew that they are being deported, and she sent her son an emotional letter and her marriage ring. Two weeks later she was deported to Auschwitz, where she perished. Reb Isaac survived and later lived in Eretz Yisrael.
Rav Lieberman had learned under Rabbi Shraga Feivel Shapira hy”d in the yeshiva in Heide, Belgium, before WWII. After he escaped from Rivesaltes, he learned a yeshiva in Marseilles run by Rabbi Shneur Zalman Schneerson, where he survived the War.
Later was a talmid of Hagaon Harav Aharon Kotler OBM in Bais Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, and then learned in Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim of Lubavitch. He received semichah from Harav Yisrael Zev Gustman and Harav Moshe Feinstein OBM.
The Frierdiker Rebbe sent Rabbi Lieberman to Chicago in 1949, where he served a Rav in Congregation Bnei Ruven, and in 1956 served Congregation Ohr Chadash, and taught in the local elementary school.
After staying there until 1967, when he moved to Detroit and served as a Menahel in Yeshiva Bais Yehudah in Detroit before assuming the position as Rav of Shomrei Hadas in 1981. He was admired by all, and many in the Machzikei Hadas kehillah in Antwerp would consult with him regularly.
In 1950, he married Rebbetzin Chaya Chitrik, who was born in Kharkov and spent the War year in Uzbekistan.
In his later years, he suffered from macular degeneration and lost his eyesight, but maintained his learning schedule by having chavrusos who would read the seforim that they were learning from, and by a technological device which read the words of the seforim for him. He even made a siyum hashas from what he learned after losing his eyesight.
Rav Lieberman had been hospitalized for quite a while, but on Wednesday, 24 Shvat/January 26, he asked to be brought home. That afternoon, he asked for his hat to daven minchah, and then made a brachah of Shehakol for a drink, and his lofty neshamah left him that evening on 25 Shvat, exactly 9 years to the day after the passing of his wife in 2013.
He is survived by his children, Mrs. Sarah Kaplan of Tzfas, Rabbi Mendel Lieberman of Ashkelon, Mrs. Rochel Chitrik of Tzfas, Rabbi Tzvi Lieberman of London, Mrs. Yehudis Krasnjansky of Australia, Mrs. Shulamis Pinson of Brussels and Mrs. Esther Wilhelm of Zhitomir, Ukraine; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He will be buried on Har Hazeisim in Jerusalem.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
I think he was the principal of Bais Yaakov in Chicago as well.
Rabbi Lieberman was exemplary in such a variety of areas. His brilliance was legendary, and all those fortunate enough to benefit from his sharfkeit, clear headed thinking, and wisdom, will retain the impression of what it means to be a rov of old.
He was a special Rav, principal and close friend of our family in Chicago. Actually, brilliant. I was fortunate for him to have written my Bar Mitzvah Pilpul. As a student I didn’t realize he wasn’t American for he spoke a flawless English. He was respected by all in the Chicago community. When I had a chance to visit him a few years ago in Antwerp, I witnessed him learning with his Chavrusah late at night, despite the fact that he could not see. Truly inspiring.
such a loss for the Antwerp Community. Rav Liberman was brilliant in every aspect and an amazing community leader. He did so so much.
May he have an aliyas neshome
Rabbi Lieberman was learned and spoke with such eloquence. He and his wife brought up a family of leaders. He was a devoted Chassid.
He will be remembered by his example of being a driving force despite all odds.
Rabbi Lieberman was also the Rabbi at Oir Israel in Chicago on Kedzie Ave. by Eastwood. He taught me my Haftorah in his house and wrote my speech. He also was the Rabbi for my father’s funeral.
He was a unique chosid.