Posted on 10/25/25
Moshe is more beloved (chaviv) than Noach; Noach, after having been called an ish tzaddik (6:19), was called ish adama (9:20), while Moshe,[ by contrast,] after having been called ish mitzri (Shemos 2:19), was called ish HaElokim (Devarim 33:1) (Breishis Raba 36:3).
The Meshech Chochma (Breishis 9:20) explains that there are two ways to serve Hashem. One way is to serve Hashem exclusively, in isolation (misbodeid). Another is one who is involved in the needs of the community, who sacrificed himself for the sake of the klal and renounced (was mafkir) his soul for them.
Logically, one would think that the first type will ascend higher and higher, and the second will descend from his level, as is recorded in the medrash (Koheles Raba 7:7) “I learned eighty halachos, but due to my involvement in the needs of the tzibbur I forgot them”.
Nonetheless, Noach, who isolated himself and did not rebuke the people of his generation, deserved to be destroyed, and was saved only by the grace of Hashem (6:8). Moreover, he descended from being a righteous man to being a man of the earth (6:9; 9:20), a drunkard.
By contrast, Moshe went from an Egyptian man (Shemos 2:19) who sacrificed himself in Egypt to save a Jew (2:11-15), to a man of Hashem (Devarim 33:1). He reached the highest level that a person can attain just before his death, much higher than Noach.
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On Shemini Atzeres, the day when the parsha of the death of Moshe, the man of Hashem, is read in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Moshe Hauer zt”l passed away. Like his namesake, he sacrificed himself, and the even higher level of Torah he could have achieved, for the sake of the klal. Like Moshe, he was a faithful shepherd to his flock, in his own shul and in the Orthodox community of Baltimore. Over twenty years ago, he worked bravely, like Moshe, to protect potential victims, throughout the country and the world.
As soon as he undertook the leadership of national Orthodoxy at the O.U., his unique talents enabled a more unified and proper response to the COVID-19 crisis. He displayed outstanding insight, sensitivity and discretion in dealing with thorny issues facing the community. He spoke and wrote with uncommon passion and clarity and represented us with great ingenuity and dignity to the world at large.
His final mission, to lead and unite us precisely two years since Shemini Atzeres 5784, was a fitting capstone to a remarkable career as a public servant. Eerily, his Shabbos Shuva O.U. Torah message began “Mi yichyeh u’mi yamus, mi b’kitzo u’mi lo b’kitzo - Who will live and who will die? Who will die at the predestined time and who before that time?” Titled “Unfinished Business?”, Rav Hauer’s message “reminds us of our vulnerability and of the possibility that one may leave this world with unfinished business”. Moshe’s business was unfinished, because he did not lead us into Eretz Yisroel.
“’ It is not your responsibility to finish the job, nor may you neglect it (Avos 2:21).’ Moshe may have a had an unfulfilled dream for himself and Klal Yisrael, but he continued to work until his last day towards its fulfillment”. “That is the true meaning of a complete life, not one that reaches its every goal but one that continues the march towards that goal”.
Tragically, Rav Moshe Hauer lived till only sixty, half the age of Moshe Rabbeinu. His shocking and untimely demise come only two days after we read in Koheles (9:8) “let your garments always be white”. Rashi (Shabbos 153a) explains “your soul pure and clean”. One must repent every day, for it may be his last.
Rav Hauer’s petirah leaves a gaping hole in our hearts and in the leadership of our community. His passing reminds each and every one of us to help our respective communities and to repent every day.
“All those who are faithfully involved in the needs of the community, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will give them their reward”. Rav Moshe Hauer’s life on this earth was cut short. As his pure and clean soul ascends on high, Hashem will certainly give him the reward he so richly deserved. May our being inspired by his example be an additional merit for his holy neshama.