The Jewish Press joins Klal Yisrael in mourning the death of Rav Moshe Yehoshua Hager, the Vishnitzer Rebbe in Bnei Brak since 1972 and a major Torah personality for more than sixty years.
A prodigious and highly respected Talmudist from his early youth, he became rosh yeshiva of the Vishnitz yeshiva upon his arrival in Israel in 1944 and later served as the community’s rabbinic court head. He was instrumental in building the Vishnitz community and its network of institutions in Bnei Brak, and under his guidance Vishnitz schools came to serve more than 10,000 children and Vishnitz chassidus grew in both numbers and influence. He urged his adherents to engage in serious Torah study and to uncompromisingly observe the Torah laws of modesty and ethical behavior. Until his health failed, his legendary gatherings drew thousands from both within and without the movement.
May his memory be a blessing.