By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Moshe Herson, the longtime devoted Head Shliach to the state of New Jersey and Dean of the Rabbinical College of America, passed away on Thursday, 23 Teves, 5785.
He was 90.
Rabbi Herson was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 20 Tammuz, 5694 – 1934, and arrived in New York in 1950, a few months after the passing of the Previous Rebbe, at the age of 15. He studied at the central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva at 770 in Brooklyn, where he also received Semicha. During his time at the yeshiva, he had the merit of assisting the Rebbe’s secretariat by translating letters addressed to the Rebbe written in Spanish.
In 1957, he was sent by the Rebbe as part of the Merkos Shlichus program to South American countries, including Venezuela and Cuba, together with Rabbi Binyamin Klein. Before their departure, they had a private Yechidus with the Rebbe.
After his marriage, in 1965, he was appointed by the Rebbe as his Shliach to the state of New Jersey. Upon his arrival, he began establishing Chabad institutions throughout the state, including the Rabbinical College of America – a Yeshiva and Semicha institute, which grew over the years to accommodate hundreds of students annually. The Semicha certificates granted by the institute are recognized worldwide.
In 1985, he was appointed by the Rebbe to be a member of the executive board of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, the umbrella organization of the Chabad-Lubavitch moment.
Notably, the Rebbe even gave the reason why he picked him. “He had success in building,” the Rebbe wrote about Rabbi Herson who built the sprawling campus in Morristown. He worked within its framework to strengthen the Crown Heights neighborhood and to reclaim the books that had been stolen from the Lubavitch library in the famous “seforim trial.”
In 1986, together with Rabbi Berel Shemtov, Rabbi Simcha Zirkind, Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, and Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin, he helped establish the “Machne Israel Development Fund” (MIDF), which organized a group of philanthropists to contribute substantial sums to the Rebbe’s causes.
Members of the group were granted private audiences with the Rebbe that were more extensive than the traditional ‘dollar’ distribution ceremonies held at the time. These meetings later became known as private Yechidus for benefactors.
After the discovery of the “Reshimos” manuscripts in 1995, Rabbi Herson was invited to participate in a special meeting to discuss the options for their publication to the public. He was involved in the final decision to begin their publication.
He built an empire of Torah and charitable institutions, including 50 Shuls, a Talmud Torah, a yeshiva, a rabbinical ordination institute, and dozens of Chabad centers at universities and in city centers.
His wife Mrs. Pearl Herson passed away less than a month ago on 25 Kislev, 5785.
He is survived by his children: Rabbi Asher Herson (Rockaway, N.J.); Sara Brafman (Morristown, N.J.); Rabbi Mendy Herson (Basking Ridge, N.J.), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Levaya will take place today, Thursday, passing by 770 at 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm burial at Montefiore Cemetery.
Shiva:
Thursday – Motzei Shabbat
29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Thursday night Maariv 7:00 PM followed by shiva until 9:30 PM
Friday morning Shachris 6:50 AM & 8:00 AM followed by shiva until 12:00 PM
Saturday night 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Shiva for Rabbi Moshe Herson a”h Sunday – Wednesday
SUNDAY
Shacharis 8am and 9am at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Mincha 4:40pm and 4:55pm at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Maariv 5:40pm and 5:55pm at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Nichum Visitation at the RCA’s Wilf Educational Building, Main Entry Lobby (opposite the pool)
226 Sussex Ave, Morristown
11am – 4:30pm.
6:30pm – 9:30pm
Monday
Shacharis 6:50am and 8am at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Mincha 2pm at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Maariv 7:45pm at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Nichum Visitation at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown 10am – 9:30pm.
Rabbi Mendy Herson will be sitting at Chabad in Basking Ridge (3048 Valley Rd) from 2pm – 8pm
Mincha in BR at 3pm and Maariv at 7pm
Tuesday
Shacharis 6:50am and 8am at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Mincha 2pm and 2:15pm at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Maariv 7:30pm and 7:45pm at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Nichum Visitation at 10am – 9:30pm 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Wednesday
Shacharis 6:50am and 8am at 29 Tikvah Way, Morristown
Baruch Dayan Haemes – Moshe ben Asher Zelig
BdE. Reb Moshe was a special person. Much to say… Thousands of students are Lubavitchers today bc of Morristown…
May his family only see simchos.
@Hakuna Matata Dalfin:
what year did the Yeshiva in Newark start? who where the 1st bochrim there and 1st Rosh Yeshiva, heard it was Zelig Katzman
BDE
What a power house of a man, so well respected and accomplished.
He was known for his amazing work with NEW JERSEY, but let me share with you a story when I was having a personal issue, I spoke to him and he was extremely helpful and insightful, and he gave the courage to move forward and push above and beyond.
We will forever miss him a special man a true chosid איש מצליח and an extremely helpful person!!
May his memory be blessed!
May the Herson find strength!
As a proud Board Member of The Rabbinical College of America, and on behalf of the Rosenhaus Family, our hearts are with the Herson Family at this difficult time. May you all be comforted! More than the “boss” – as I affectionately call him – Rabbi Herson was and will always be for me a dear and faithful friend and mentor. With complete devotion to our Rebbe, Rabbi Herson guided; and, thru his Children, Grand and Great Grandchildren will continue to guide the growth and ever increasing influence of The Rabbinical College and the amazing Sheluchim of New Jersey and… Read more »
May his memory be a Blessing
Did Rabbi Herson translate letters to the Rebbe in Spanish – as you wrote – or was it Portuguese?
both
Rabbi Herson was a truly special Menahel!
even in his later years he knew me personally and cared about my wellbeing!
What year did the Yeshiva in Newark start 1957? I heard Rabbi Zelig Katzman OBM and Rabbi Abrams from Miami where the 1st Mashpim
Shmarya Steinberg
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלים
אך טוב וחסד ימצאם תמיד כל הימים