On Sunday night, the 10th of Iyar, the saddening and bitter
news of the petirah of HaRav Moshe Hagar, the rosh
yeshiva of the Seret-Vizhnitz yeshiva of Haifa and the
son of the Admor, zt"l, the author of Mekor
Boruch, was received. The niftar was well-regarded
as an exemplary figure who devoted his entire life to
avodas Hashem. He passed away in New York City.
On Sunday night, 8:00 P. M., the levaya proceeded from
the Seret-Vizhnitz beis medrash in Boro Park, headed
by his brother, the Admor of Seret-Vizhnitz. According to the
minhag of Vizhnitz, there were no hespedim.
Short divrei preido were offered by HaRav Aharon Tovia
Shpitz, the rav of Seret-Vizhnitz in America, to the crowd
estimated at around ten thousand. Then the levaya
headed for Kennedy airport.
The aron arrived in Lod where it was met by many
Admorim and rabbonim, and proceeded with a police escort to
Kiryat Ramat Vizhnitz in Haifa, where the niftar had
been marbitz Torah for thirty-five years. From there
the large levaya proceeded to the Seret-Vizhnitz
beis medrash on Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak,
arriving close to midnight. After that dignitaries
accompanied the aron to the Vizhnitzer section of the
Zichron Meir cemetery where he was interred in the
ohel of the Vizhnitz admorim, next to his father the
Mekor Boruch.
Zechuso Yogein Oleinu.
Biography
HaRav Moshe Hagar was born on the 5th of Tammuz 5686, in
Grosswarden. His father was the illustrious Mekor Boruch of
Seret-Vizhnitz, the cherished son of the Ahavas Yisroel of
Vizhnitz.
Two months before R' Moshe was born, his uncle, the brother
of the Saba Kadisha of Vizhnitz, R' Moshe of Shatz, was
niftar, and the child was named after him. R' Moshe
Hagar was niftar on the yahrtzeit of his
uncle.
In 5707, R' Moshe Hagar reached the shores of Eretz Hakodesh
on the illegal immigrant ship, Knesset Yisroel. Upon his
arrival, he was banished to Cypress, where he remained for an
entire year. While in Cypress, he organized Torah
shiurim for the refugees and instilled them with
emunah. During that difficult time, when everyone else
was immersed in private matters, he involved himself in
affairs of the klal.
On the 16th of Shevat, 5609, he married Penina Perel, the
daughter of his uncle, R' Chaim Menachem Horowitz, av beis
din of Zhidikov. The wedding was held in Haifa and was
attended by rabbonim and admorim.
His father the Mekor Boruch regarded him as his loyal deputy,
and would entrust him with all his affairs. Even during the
Holocaust, when R' Moshe was still young, he risked his life
carrying out sacred missions placed on his shoulders by his
father. R' Moshe's courage amazed many.
In 5725, after his father's petirah, he assumed the
position of rosh yeshiva of Yachel Yisroel in Haifa,
which he headed until his final day.
He was known for his mesiras nefesh for his students,
and made each and everyone feel special.
He "shouldered the burden," assuming not only the spiritual
burden, but also the heavy financial burden of the
illustrious institutions founded by his father, and undertook
to assist his brother, the Admor of Vizhnitz in all of his
affairs. To this end he traveled all over the world, impelled
by his desire to perpetuate the venture established by his
father, and to expand and enhance it. The Seret-Vizhnitz
Chassidim felt a deep bond to him, and his unique influence
had a deep affect on all of the residents of Ramat Vizhnitz
and the entire Seret-Vizhnitz community.
His fascinating droshos were listened to raptly, and
his rhetorical powers, coupled by with his wisdom, had a
tremendous impact on his audiences.
A few months ago, he was diagnosed with a debilitating
disease. Despite his condition, and the deep concern of his
entire family, he continued in his avodas hakodesh and
Torah learning as if nothing were wrong.
When his situation deteriorated, he was flown to the Untied
States, where he underwent treatments in order to stabilize
his situation and restore his health. At that time, many
tefillos were uttered the world over, and all Torah
Jewry prayed for his full recovery.
Last week he suffered from a cerebral stroke, which made his
condition even worse. On Sunday night, the bitter news of his
petirah reached Eretz Yisroel. His brother, the Admor
of Seret-Vizhnitz, was at his bedside at the time of the
petirah.
He is survived by his wife and his sons, R' Menachem Dovid,
the rav of the Seret-Vizhnitz beis medrash of Ashdod;
R' Yisroel Eliezer, the rav of the Seret-Vizhnitz beis
medrash of Yerushalayim, and by two daughters, one who is
married to R' Meir Katz, the head of Machon Yad Ramoh and the
other who is married to R' Aharon Eliyahu Feldman of Bnei
Brak.
