Sunday, February 22, 2009

Moses Feuerstein OBM

It is with a great deal of sadness that I learned this evening of the passing of Moses Feuerstein (zecher tzadik livrachah)
His passing is a great loss to the Torah community and American Jewry.As President of the Orthodox Union,his reputation as a great leader has remained to this day.Though I did not have the opportunity to serve under him,his accomplishments and leadership were legend.When I became involved and subsequently became President.he was there with support and advice,based upon his decades of public service in the OU,Torah education and the general community.
In 1958 after being re-elected to his third term as OU President,he traveled throughout the US on behalf of maintaining Mechitzot(seperation between mens and womens sections in synagogues)
In 1934 as a student at Yeshiva College he came up with the idea of a student newspaper.And thus,the Commentator was born.He was the first editor-in-chief.In Jan 2008,the Commentator still going strong dedicated a history of print at Yeshiva in his honor,noting that he was the first and greatest editor in the history of the paper.
He was a leader of the Brookline Mass. community.In 1930 he and his brother Aaron who ran the Malden Mills made a committment to Rabbi Leo Jung,that they would employ refugees in their plant,which they did.
He was a leader in Jewish education,and in support of Israel.
His calm and wise words for young leaders will be greatly missed.
May the almighty bless his family with only brachah in the future. May his mourners be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Israel.