It is with great sadness that we report the petirah of Rav Moshe Chait zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Yerushalayim, who has passed away on the eve of Tisha B’Av at the age of 87.
Rav Chait, a talmid of Rav Dovid Leibowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim of Kew Gardens Hills, was a long-time rov of the Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater and a rebbi at Yeshiva University, before moving to Eretz Yisroel in 1970 to found the Yerushalayim branch of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim.
Rav Chait was respected as a talmid chochom and baal hashkafa and raised generations of talmidim during his close to four decades leading his yeshiva.
Rav Chait had recently been unwell and was hospitalized in Hadassah Hospital on Har Hatzofim.
Rav Chait is survived by his wife. Rebbetzin Esther Chait, and five children, including his sons, R’ Boruch, R’ Dovid and R’ Reuven.
The levaya will take place at 10:30 p.m. IL outside Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Sanhedria.
A live video hook-up is slated to be set up at the Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST with seating for men and women. The levaya can be heard via telephone at the same time at 1.270.696.2525, with pin number 7601147. The family will sit shivah at 44 Eshkol in Ramat Eshkol, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Faxes can be sent to 02.532.5380.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Dovid Bernstein-Matzav.com Newscenter}
Rav Chait was a adom gadol and all of his talmidim truly loved him dearly- the greatest tribute that any mechanech could receive. Just for the record Rebbe zt’l was a talmid of the Rosh HaYeshiva’s zt’l father – HaGaon HaRav Dovid Leibowitz zt’l-
all his tamidim are devastated-
thanks to Matzav.com for the coverage and the find words about our Rebbe.
Yehi Zichro Boruch
Also for the record, he was the Rav of the Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater (in the Far Rockaway area), which is not the Young Israel of Far Rockaway.
He was also an “adam gadol” (NOT “a adom gadol). “Adom” means “red.” And he was not the “rov” (majority) of the shul; he was the Rav.
Boruch Dayan Haemes
Baruch Dayan Emes.
Reuvein, Boruch, Brenda and Dovid,
Your father was a prince of a man whose very presence inspired countless talmidim in mussar,midos, and depth of Torah study. He will be sorely missed.
Baruch Dayan Emes. Rabbi Chait was the dynamic rabbi of my shul growing up in Far Rockaway, the Young Israel of Wavecrest & Bayswater, and was my 1st year Bais Medrash Rosh Yeshiva in Chofetz Chaim in Israel (Sanhedria Murchevet). Rabbi Chait was regal & noble and immaculate in his demeanor and dress. He had a dazzling smile and a twinkle in his eye that lit up your soul as he spoke to your soul. He exemplified strength of charachter molded by the Baalei Mussar; a beacon of morality and Yashrus. He was a Mashpiah. He guided and advised with the authority of a leader. “Gadlus Ho’Odom” “Reb Dovid” “Reb Yisroel Salanter” “Reb Itzele Petelberger” “Slabodka” “Mussar” “Chevrah” were terms that were always on the tip his tongue. I strove harder when I was in his presence because I wanted Rabbi Chait to be proud of me and to call me one of his “fellas.” I was fortunate to have visited Rabbi Chait on Chol Hamoed Pesach 2007 and to tell him how much he meant to me, & how I carried his image with me during trying times. He gave me the Sefer Tenuas Hamussar for my Bar Mitzvah and I cherish the set of seforim to this day. I will miss him terribly. There can be no replacing a man of this magnitude. This day is indeed a dark day on my soul. May Hashem comfort his Rebbetzin and family.
Hagaon Harav Moshe Chait,zt”l was an awe inspiring person to see. Just looking at him, as R Kanarek, shlit”a, said at his hesped, made you happy, and prevented you from doing any aveiros.His mussar shmuesim were polished,spoken with a prince’s English and vocabulary, and perfectly executed. Once, while I was in the Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel, he got really carried away with the shmues, and it was way past the zman (for supper), he looked at his watch and instinctively said, “excuse me, I see it is very late!” Then, composing himself, he added, “let’s hope it’s not too late (to do tshuva)”. Y’he zichro boruch”
Mordechai Palgon
Baruch Dayan haEmes.
THANK YOU RABBI CHAIT FOR BEING WHAT YOU WERE FOR OUR MOTHR, AND FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
Klal Yisroel has lost a true Gadol that has had unbelievable impacts upon every single person he encountered. I feel so blessed to have had the zchus to be part of his family. I cherish and will continue to cherish, BE”H, every way he enriched my own personal life.
May HaRav Moshe Dov ben Chana Pesha be a melitz yashar for his dear family and all Klal Yisroel and may we be zocheh to share only besuros tovos.
May this Tisha B’Av be the final one we must bear without our special Gedolim ,leaders, and loved ones, as we fast and daven for the coming of Mashiach right away.
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The first time I met Rav Chait, ZTL, was for a five minute fahrher outside his doctor’s office.
The second time I met him,was when I arrived for the zman. I came late (10 0’clock?) and Rav Chait was near the door. He set me down in the dining room and went into the kitchen to scavenge soemthing for me to eat. He recognized me and addressed me by name, two months after he saw me for five minutes.