An impressively large crowd came to pay their final respects
to HaRav Moshe Boudilowsky zt"l, and accompany him on
his final journey. The young gaon, who had devoted his life
to promoting spiritual life in the Diaspora, was suddenly
cut off in his prime, at the young age of 48, while deeply
involved in the spreading of Yiddishkeit and
chinuch in Russia.
HaRav Moshe was born in 5712 (1952) in Kiev, Ukraine, which
was then under Communist rule, and he grew up without any
knowledge of Torah or mitzvos. However, already in his
youth, he was recognized for his exceptional talents,
especially when he worked for the intelligence corps in the
Russian army. Despite his Communist upbringing, the spark of
Yiddishkeit was aroused in his soul, and his heart
yearned for a spiritual existence. His greatest desire was
to live in Eretz Yisroel.
All on his own, without any outside influence, he became
aware of his Creator and, despite the threats of the dreaded
Communist regime, he attended shul on the yomim
noraim. Though he hardly knew how to daven, he
beseeched G-d in his own language, and requested that he
should merit to live as a Jew among other Jews. A few years
later Heaven granted his wish and he was given a visa to
travel to Israel.
On arrival in Eretz Yisrael, he devoted his time to
intensive Torah study and, with the help of his talents and
diligence, he became an outstanding talmid chochom
after only a few years of learning.
After marrying his eishes chayil Miriam, he continued
learning behasmodoh, and for a time enjoyed a
chavrusoh with HaRav Yitzchok Silber. His unique
middos and pleasant ways made him extremely popular,
and he was much loved by his neighbors and friends on
account of his good heart and friendly countenance.
After he had acquired a thorough knowledge of Shas
and poskim, he turned to chinuch and
disseminating Torah knowledge, which became his lifework.
He first joined the Glasgow Kollel in Scotland of HaRav
Mordechai Bamberger, where he also began teaching Torah to
the younger generation. It was there that his unique talents
in instilling the beauty of Torah and the love for mitzvos
into the hearts of his students were recognized. Indeed,
many of those students became true bnei Torah as a
result of his powerful influence and they attribute their
success to the chinuch they received from Rav
Moshe.
His next move was to the U.S. where he continued to instill
Yiddishkeit in the hearts of Jewish children from
unaffiliated backgrounds, and he joined the Vaad LeHatzolas
Nidchei Yisroel, a project of Agudas Yisroel. Rav Moshe set
about his task diligently and put his heart and soul into
spreading the word of Torah and avodas Hashem in
several ventures. He saw his aim in life as a holy task,
namely, to return wayward souls to their Father in
heaven.
Rav Moshe then received a call to become rosh yeshiva of
Beis Avrohom in Kishinev, Moldavia, and once settled there
he also become principal of the Bais Yaakov seminary for
girls. He again dedicated all his unique faculties to the
holy service of producing bnei Torah and talmidei
chachomim, despite the secular environment of Moldavia.
He helped to establish many Torah-true homes and with his
gifted wisdom and extraordinary perception he was able to
find pathways into the hearts of his students, with whom he
established a loving and close relationship.
In the final week of his life, he traveled to the Ukraine to
set up an institution to prepare girls for seminaries in
Eretz Yisroel. On his return he suffered a heart attack and
was suddenly taken from this world, leaving his loving
family, community and students shocked and grief-
stricken.
At his levayah which took place at the Beis Avrohom
yeshiva in Kishinev, where he taught Torah and yiras
Shomayim to so many students, the rabbonim of the
yeshiva, as well as his devoted students, members of the
Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchei Yisroel and all his acquaintances
eulogized him and mourned bitterly for the passing of this
godol, whose loss they found difficult to comprehend.
After several hespedim in the airport, the levayah
left for Eretz Yisrael, where many hundreds of bnei
Torah and rabbonim were waiting for the niftar.
In a heart-rending hesped, his oldest son, Boruch Meir, took
leave of his father, and emotionally described the
niftar's great sacrifices for harbotzas haTorah,
comparing him to Avrohom Ovinu for, like our patriarch,
he came to a realization of Hashem's existence on his own.
Also eulogizing the niftar were HaRav Yitzchok Silber
and, at the kevurah in Har HaMenuchos, his rebbe,
HaRav Boruch Horowitz, rosh yeshiva of Dvar Yerushalayim,
who bitterly lamented the loss of a unique talmid chochom
and marbitz Torah.
Rav Moshe zt"l leaves his widow Miriam, who stood by
her husband's side for 21 years as a true ezer kenegdo,
never complaining as her husband moved from country to
country for the sake of Torah. Each new place brought new
trials and difficulties, for the family had to begin life
again in strange surroundings, with no friends or
acquaintances. But she staunchly supported her husband and
helped her young children develop, at the same time playing
the role of rebbetzin and endearing herself to the local
community. He also leaves five children, all yet to be
married, who continue in the path of Torah and yiras
Shomayim, as set out by their saintly father, Rav Moshe
zt"l.
After consulting with rabbonim and askonim, a fund
was set up to help the family. Those who wish to help may
call the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedoko at telephone
number 1800-223636, noting that they wish to donate for
Keren HaRav Boudilowsky, number 837. Deposits may also be
made in the Mercantile-Discount Bank, Meah Shearim branch,
no 635, account number 290211, or sent to POB 16387, Bayit
Vegan, Jerusalem.
In the U.K., donations can be sent: c/o Glasgow Kollel, 15
Belmont Drive, Giffnock, Glasgow G46, Charity No. 42834. In
the U.S.A. donations can be sent c/o Chochmas Lev, P.O.Box
613, Monsey, 10952, Tax ID: 22 377 0928.
