{{Short description|American Orthodox rabbi (1965 – 2025)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox religious biography | religion = Judaism | honorific prefix = Rabbi | image = | caption = | education = {{unbulleted list|Yeshivas Ner Yisrael (BTL)|Johns Hopkins University (ME)}} | denomination = Orthodox | birth_date = {{Birth year|1965}}<ref name=":1"/> | birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|10|14|1965|6|20}} | death_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | office1 = Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union | term_start1 = {{start date|2020|05|01}} | term_end1 = {{end date|2025|10|14}} | term_end2 = {{end date|2020|04}} | office2 = Senior Rabbi of Congregation Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion | semicha = Yeshivas Ner Yisroel | predecessor1 = Allen Fagin | successor1 = ''Vacant'' | successor2 = Daniel Rose | burial_place = Har HaMenuchot | burial_date = October 17, 2025 | spouse = Mindi Baumgarten | children = 7 | term_start2 = {{start date|1994}} | disciple_of = Yaakov Weinberg | module = {{listen voice | name = Hauer | filename = Rabbi Moshe Hauer testimony.mp3 | description = Hauer testifying before the House Committee on Education & Workforce | recorded = November 14, 2023 }} }}
'''Moshe I. Hauer''' (June 20, 1965<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=2009290958832075261 |user=GilStudent |title=One year ago today, Rabbi Moshe Hauer met with me after hours and asked me to leave the private sector and come work for him at the OU. |first=Student |last=Gil |author-link=Gil Student}}</ref> – October 14, 2025<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 24, 2025 |title=Rabbi Moshe Hauer 1965 - 2025 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQIakwjDVFd/ |access-date=November 7, 2025 |work=The Jewish Press |page=1 |via=Instagram}}</ref>) was an American rabbi who was the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union from 2020 to 2025. He previously served as the senior rabbi of the Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation in Baltimore, Maryland from 1994 to 2020.
== Early life and education == Hauer was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His father Benjamin, a Romanian Holocaust survivor, and his mother Miriam were the rabbinic couple of the Beth Jacob congregation.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Besser |first=Yisroel |date=2021-08-10 |title=The People Come First |url=https://mishpacha.com/the-people-come-first/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Mishpacha Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal for both elementary and high school, followed by Yeshivas Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, where he became a student of Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg. He studied there for over ten years and received rabbinical ordination, a Doctorate in Talmudic Law, and a Bachelor of Talmudic Law.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> He also received a Master of Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-16 |title=BDE: The Passing of Rav Moshe Hauer ZT"L , A Profound Loss for Klal Yisrael |url=https://5townscentral.com/2025/10/15/bde-shocking-untimely-passing-of-r-moshe-hauer-ztl-vp-of-ou/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=5 Towns Central |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Hauer was appointed the senior rabbi of the Bnai Jacob congregation in Baltimore, Maryland in 1994. In 1999, the congregation merged with Shaarei Zion, and was renamed Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion. In his position he emphasized improving education, social service and support for at-risk children.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Guckes |first=Andrew |date=2025-10-16 |title=Legendary Baltimore Rabbi, Orthodox Union Executive VP Dies at 60 |url=https://www.jewishtimes.com/legendary-baltimore-rabbi-orthodox-union-executive-vp-dies-at-60/ |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=Baltimore Jewish Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2011, he founded and served as the editor of Klal Perspectives, a journal which addressed contemporary issues through an Orthodox view.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Cramer |first=Philissa |date=2025-10-16 |title=Rabbi Moshe Hauer, OU leader admired across Jewish world, is dead at 60 |url=https://www.jta.org/2025/10/16/obituaries/rabbi-moshe-hauer-ou-leader-admired-across-jewish-world-is-dead-at-60 |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Student |first=Gil |author-link=Gil Student |date=2025-10-23 |title=Rabbi Hauer and the Power of Disagreement |url=https://jewishlink.news/?p=340367 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=The Jewish Link |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2020, following the retirement of Allen Fagin, Hauer was appointed the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, the oldest and largest Orthodox umbrella organization in the United States.<ref name=":1" /> He directed the communal activities of the OU and was its primary spokesman. He was an advocate for Jewish causes in Washington, DC and in local communities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Stub |first=Zev |date=2025-10-16 |title=US Orthodox rabbinic leader Hauer dies suddenly at 60 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-orthodox-rabbinic-leader-hauer-dies-suddenly-at-60/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> He served as the organization's rabbinic leader<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-15 |title=BD"E: Sudden Petira of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union |url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2459229/bde-sudden-petira-of-rabbi-moshe-hauer-executive-vice-president-of-the-orthodox-union.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Yeshiva World News |language=en-US}}</ref> and helped lead its outreach to government officials and lawmakers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rod |first=Marc |date=2025-10-16 |title=Orthodox Union's Rabbi Moshe Hauer remembered as 'master teacher' and 'voice of Torah' |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2025/10/rabbi-moshe-hauer-orthodox-union-obituary/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Jewish Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
In September 2022, Hauer was one of 25 people appointed by US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as members of its new Faith-Based Security Advisory Council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerstein |first=Benjamin |date=2022-09-22 |title=Department of Homeland Security appoints 25 members to new Faith-Based Security Advisory Council |url=https://www.jns.org/department-of-homeland-security-appoints-25-members-to-new-faith-based-security-advisory-council/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=JNS.org |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2023, he testified at a hearing of the United States House Committee on Education and Workforce regarding antisemitism on college campuses. The hearing led to investigations into several universities for failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.<ref name=":1" />
== Personal life and death == Hauer identified as Orthodox.<ref name=":1" /> He was married to Mindi Baumgarten of Baltimore, and had three sons and four daughters: Yissachar, Yehuda Leib, Shlomo,{{Efn|One source names him Shalom.<ref name=":1" />}} Devorah, Batsheva, Chana, and Rachel.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenblum |first=Yonoson |author-link=Jonathan Rosenblum |date=2025-10-21 |title=A Rabbi's Rabbi |url=https://mishpacha.com/a-rabbis-rabbi/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Mishpacha Magazine |language=en-US |quote=In his hesped in Jerusalem, Rabbi Hauer’s son Reb Shlomo...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spero |first=Yechiel |date=October 17, 2025 |title=The Sunset of Sunrises — In Loving Memory of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, ZTV'L |url=https://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=181348 |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Baltimore Jewish Life |quote=Our personal connection was woven through the shared journeys of our children: our Tzvi and his Shlomo...}}</ref> They lived in Baltimore, and Hauer commuted to the OU's headquarters in Manhattan a few times every week.<ref name=":5" />
Hauer died of a heart attack at his home in Baltimore, on October 14, 2025, during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2025 |title=Rabbi Moshe Hauer passes away |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/416321 |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Israel National News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Shamik |date=2025-10-16 |title=Who was Rabbi Moshe Hauer? Orthodox Union's executive VP passes away |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/who-was-rabbi-moshe-hauer-orthodox-unions-executive-vp-passes-away-101760580310832.html |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> His death at the age of 60 was announced on October 15, following the end of the holiday.<ref name=":1" /> His funeral took place on October 16, at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion, and he was buried on October 17, at Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-16 |title=Rabbi Moshe Hauer to be laid to rest in Jerusalem on Friday |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/668562 |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Israel National News |language=en}}</ref>
President Donald Trump sent a letter to the Orthodox Union expressing his and the First Lady's "deepest condolences" and adding that Hauer was "a man of deep faith, wisdom, and compassion".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Joseph |date=2025-10-18 |title=President Trump, First Lady Offer Condolences on Passing of Rabbi Moshe Hauer ZT"L |url=https://vinnews.com/2025/10/18/president-trump-first-lady-offer-condolences-on-passing-of-rabbi-moshe-hauer-ztl/ |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=VINnews |place=Washington |language=en-US}}</ref>
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on Twitter, calling Rabbi Hauer "a towering leader of faith and unity." He also noted that "As head of the Orthodox Union, he devoted his life to strengthening Jewish identity, bringing Jews closer to one another and closer to Israel."<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1979947352702984466 |user=IsraeliPM |title=Sara and I were deeply saddened by the passing of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, a towering leader of faith and unity. |first=Benjamin |last=Netanyahu |author-link=Benjamin Netanyahu |date=October 19, 2025 |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref>
Israeli president Isaac Herzog said that he is "deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my friend, leader of the OU Rabbi Moshe Hauer, a true leader and teacher in the Jewish world. Each and every conversation I was privileged to have with him was so very meaningful and showed his warmth and kindness, and his unwavering love for Torah, Israel, Zionism and the Jewish people."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-16 |title=Rabbi Moshe Hauer, 'humble bridge-builder,' Orthodox Union leader, dies at 60 |url=https://www.jns.org/tragic-sudden-loss-rabbi-moshe-hauer-ou-leader-dies-over-holiday/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |website=JNS.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli said "I don't use the term 'righteous' often, but in my opinion, Rabbi Moshe Hauer was a righteous man. He was an exceptional Jewish leader and scholar, who guided many with wisdom, courage and deep humility. Nothing concerned Hauer more than instilling love of Torah, of Israel and of the Land of Israel in Jewish children. I was very privileged to work alongside him."<ref name=":2" /> Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich posted on Twitter that Hauer was a "unique man" and was "committed with all his might to the Jewish people and their unity, to the State of Israel and the connection between it and Diaspora Jewry".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-16 |title=השרים סופדים לרב שנפטר: "חיבר בין יהדות התפוצות לישראל" |trans-title=Ministers pay tribute to deceased rabbi: "He connected Diaspora Jewry with Israel" |url=https://reganews.co.il/remembering/%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%91-%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%A4%D7%98%D7%A8-%D7%97%D7%99%D7%91%D7%A8-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%99%D7%94%D7%93%D7%95%D7%AA/ |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=Rega News |language=he-IL}}</ref>
US Senator Josh Hawley said that he was "deeply grieved by the death of my friend, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, leader of the Orthodox Union. His sudden death is a tremendous loss to America and to friends of Israel everywhere. Rabbi Moshe was a man of remarkable integrity and kindness and also foresighted leadership. He was a true and dear friend to me. Erin and I are praying the grace of the Lord for his family and the many people whose lives he touched."<ref name=":2" />
New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted her condolences on Twitter, calling Hauer "a beloved leader and educator in the Jewish community."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Joseph |date=2025-10-16 |title=New York Governor Mourns Passing of Rabbi Moshe Hauer |url=https://vinnews.com/2025/10/16/new-york-governor-mourns-passing-of-rabbi-moshe-hauer/ |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=VINnews |place=New York |language=en-US}}</ref> New York attorney general Letitia James posted her condolences on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1978956552267616603 |user=NewYorkStateAG |title=Saddened by the sudden passing of my friend Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive Vice President of the @OrthodoxUnion. |first=Letitia |last=James |author-link=Letitia James |date=October 17, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025}}</ref>
Yonoson Rosenblum is writing a biography of Hauer {{As of|2026|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenblum |first=Yonoson |author-link=Jonathan Rosenblum |date=February 24, 2026 |title=The Art of Listening |url=https://mishpacha.com/the-art-of-listening-2/ |access-date=March 19, 2026 |website=Mishpacha}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hauer, Moshe}} Category:1965 births Category:2025 deaths Category:21st-century American rabbis Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States Category:American Orthodox rabbis Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni Category:Rabbis from Baltimore