Reb Ephraim Moscowitz, 93, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Reb Ephraim Moscowitz, one of the original members of the Chabad community in Chicago, Illinois, and patriarch of a large Chabad family of Shluchim and Chassidim, passed away on Sunday night, 6 Adar, 5783.

He was 93.

Reb Ephraim was born in the United States and grew up in Chicago. As a bochur, he learned in Tomchei Temimim by the Frierdiker Rebbe in 770.

He then went on to serve in the US Army, serving in the army of occupation in Germany, during WWII.

After his marriage to his wife, Tzivia, the couple were from the original members of the Chabad community in Chicago, which was led by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman and Chaya Sara Hecht, who were sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to lead the Anshei Lubavitch congregation.

Reb Ephraim and his wife were one of the first frum families in West Rogers Park, Chicago, and were one of the few families keeping kosher there, pioneers in what is today a large and flourishing frum community. Reb Ephraim was an activist in the Jewish community in Chicago who was instrumental in the founding and growth of the community.

He merited to have Yechidus with the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, and told of his Yechidus with the Rebbe when offered a job as a principal in a Chicago public school.

In an interview with JEM, Reb Ephraim told of asking the Rebbe’s advice about the job he was offered, as well as questions he asked the Rebbe later on about his career.

“I think it’s very interesting that the Rebbe was so unpredictable in terms of his responses. In many, many respects, he was so far ahead of everyone that sometimes his answers were not quite understandable,” he said. “I realized that the Rebbe knew a lot more about Chicago than most Chicagoans. It all came together.”

He is survived by his children, Rabbi Moshe Moscowitz – Chicago Eli Moscowitz – Great Neck, NY and Rabbi Mendel Moscowitz – Chicago. He is also survived by his grandchildren, many of whom are shluchim, mechanchim and Chassidim across the world, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild born this year.

He was predeceased by his wife Tzivia obm last year, and his son Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz obm – Head Shliach of Illinois, (whose yahrtzeit was this past Thursday).

The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Monday, at 1 PM at Chicago Jewish Funerals in Skokie, followed by burial in Waldheim Cemetery.
Shiva info to be posted.

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Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – Ephraim ben Meir Shimon.