Rav Avrohom Dov Hecht zt”l, rov of the largest Sephardic shul in the U.S. and president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, passed away last night at the age of 90.
Rabbi Hecht was born in Brownsville, NY, as a second generation American. He traveled to Poland in September 1939 to study in the Yeshivah of Otvosk under Rav Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn of Lubavitch. As army tanks started rolling across Poland, just a few days after his arrival, he managed to leave the continent which shortly thereafter became the battlefield for the Second World War and the Holocaust.
Back in New York, he was one of the first 10 talmidim of Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch in America.
He went on to serve the communities of Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Newark, NJ; and New Haven, CT, establishing Yeshiva Achei T’mimim elementary schools for both boys and girls.
He was laterappointed as the rov of Congregation Shaare Tzion on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, the largest Sephardic shul in North America, comprising more than 3,500 families. He served there for more than 50 years.
Known as a “rabbi’s rabbi” and a talmid chochom, he also served as president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud Harabbonim, the national rabbinic organization founded in 1942.
He wrote two books titled “Spiritual Horizons” and “Spiritual Freedom” and frequently wrote in various Jewish publications in English, Hebrew and Yiddish.
His wife Liba, nee Greenhut, passed away 9 years ago on 21 Teves.
Rav Hecht is survived by his children, Mrs. Nechama Kantor of Crown Heights; Mrs. Esther Kaplan of Crown Heights; Rabbi Eli Hecht of Lomita, CA; Rabbi Yossi Hecht of Nice, France; Mrs. Rochel Weinberg of Detroit, MI; Mrs. Shani Fasten of the Five Towns, NY; Rabbi Shea Hecht of Norwalk, CT; Rabbi Ari Hecht of San Francisco, CA; and Rabbi Yisroel Hecht of Los Angeles, CA.
The levaya will take place today at 11:30 a.m. at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park. The procession will then pass Congregation Shaarei Tzion, located on Ocean Parkway between Avenues T and U.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter, with reporting by COL}
I never understood why a Sefardic Shul would have an Ashkanasik Rav. Also, wasn’t Rabbi Kassin the Rov there?
Rav kassin was the respected “CHACHAM”. Back in the fifties it was an honor and respectful to appoint an american born rabbi talmid chocom with leadership qualities etc. irrespective of anything else. Rabbi Hecht was the most suitable candidate who had the know how compassion and love for every yid and accomplished his mission outstandingly!
RABBI HECHT IS ALSO SURVIVED BY HIS YOUNGEST BROTHER, RABBI SHOLOM HECHT….NEIRO YAIR……OF HECHT’S HEBREW BOOK STORE ON CONEY ISLAND AVENUE IN BROOKLYN.
When was Rav Hecht in Buffalo. I attended that Achai Temimim and at least heard of all the Rabbis . I even knew Rabbi Hecht growing up but I never heard that he was in Buffalo. Anyone know?
Yaacov Haber
Rav Avraham Dov Hecht, z’l. May his name and memory be for a blessing!