It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Moshe Herson z”l, regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch of New Jersey, at the age of 90 after a prolonged illness. His petirah follows that of his wife, Pearl, who passed away just one month ago at 85.
Rabbi Herson was a transformative leader who reshaped New Jersey’s Jewish community over six decades of service. He played a crucial role in establishing Chabad-Lubavitch’s significant presence in the state, founding what is now considered one of the foremost Jewish educational institutions in the world, the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, N.J. Through his leadership, the institution has seen the ordination of dozens of rabbis every year while overseeing the growth of over 70 Chabad centers throughout New Jersey.
Rabbi Herson also served on the board of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the global umbrella organization for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, where he contributed greatly to advancing the Rebbe’s mission of Jewish outreach.
Though his distinctive Brazilian accent marked his origins, Rabbi Herson became one of the most influential figures in Chabad’s institutional growth during the latter half of the 20th century. He earned the respect of both his students and supporters, and even in his later years, despite battling severe health issues, he remained committed to his work.
‘A Doctor of Divinity’
Born in 1934 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rabbi Moshe Herson was the youngest of four children in a traditional, non-Chassidic Jewish family. His father, Asher, passed away in 1939, leaving the family behind.
As a young boy, Rabbi Herson aspired to become a doctor. However, his path shifted after meeting Rabbi Yosef Wineberg, Chabad-Lubavitch’s ambassador to Brazil, who encouraged him to consider yeshivah. Initially hesitant, Rabbi Herson, due to his respect for the rabbi, agreed to apply for a student visa to the United States with Rabbi Wineberg’s help.
In 1950, after receiving his mother’s approval, Rabbi Herson made the decision to leave home and attend yeshivah in New York, arriving at the Central Chabad Yeshiva at 770 Eastern Parkway, just months after the passing of the Sixth Rebbe. The transition was not easy for the 15-year-old, who struggled with the language and the learning at first. However, despite these early difficulties, Rabbi Herson soon grew fond of the environment.
“I came to become a doctor, but instead I became a doctor of divinity,” he often quipped about what started as a brief journey but evolved into a lifelong devotion to Torah.
In 1951, when the Rebbe assumed leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Herson, then just 19 years old, was entrusted with a significant responsibility: translating the Rebbe’s letters from South and Central America in Portuguese and Spanish. This role highlighted the trust the Rebbe placed in his abilities and discretion.
While still a student, in 1960, Rabbi Herson was invited to join the Chabad Yeshiva in Newark, N.J. to teach alongside Rabbi Yisroel Friedman. Rabbi Herson taught Chassidic texts, while Rabbi Friedman focused on Talmud. In the following year, recognizing the need for financial support for the yeshiva, Rabbi Herson was prepared to leave his teaching position to seek funding. Upon learning of his plan, the Rebbe advised him to balance both his spiritual and material responsibilities.
In 1962, Rabbi Herson married Pearl Glotzer, and together they settled in Newark, continuing to expand the yeshiva and their community work.
From Newark Outwards
While Rabbi Herson had already been involved in the Chabad community for some years, it wasn’t until 1965 that he officially became the Rebbe’s emissary to New Jersey. As the new Chabad institutions began to take root across the state, Rabbi Herson closely followed their development, personally caring for their success.
“The Rebbe didn’t see the difference between if the person he was speaking to was a scion of a Chabad family or a ‘fresh’ Chassid,” Rabbi Herson explained in a 2020 interview with Kfar Chabad magazine. “He cared what the person was accomplishing. Any other matter was secondary, irrelevant.”
“I am a good example of this,” he continued. “I did not grow up in a Chabad home. I have no familial connection to Chabad. … Regardless, the Rebbe ‘took’ me and turned me into a shliach of his. The Rebbe literally ‘built’ me, shaped my personality.”
As the yeshivah outgrew its Newark location, Rabbi Herson, now deeply integrated into the local Jewish community, made arrangements to move it. The process culminated in 1971 when the yeshivah moved to a larger facility in Morristown, following the Rebbe’s guidance that the institution needed ample space for growth. The Rebbe’s blessing for the expansion was clear: “Hashem should grant you abundant success in this institution, and in the institutions which you have begun building around it.”
Building Chabad of New Jersey
Aware of the large number of underserved Jews throughout the state, Rabbi Herson set about expanding Chabad’s reach, starting with Bergen County and eventually spreading throughout New Jersey. By sending dedicated emissaries into the state’s communities, including to Rutgers University, Rabbi Herson fostered a welcoming environment for Jewish students to connect with their heritage.
Under Rabbi Herson’s leadership, Chabad grew to include numerous centers across the state, reaching even the most remote corners of New Jersey. His guidance and mentorship provided invaluable support to the emissaries, helping them build thriving Jewish communities.
Running both the Rabbinical College of America and Chabad of New Jersey involved extensive fundraising. Major Jewish philanthropists, including the Wilf, Kushner, and Lauder families, were drawn to Rabbi Herson’s authenticity and dedication to the mission.
David Chase, a key partner in the development of the Rabbinical College, became a lifelong friend. Chase first met Rabbi Herson in the 1960s and was deeply impressed by his selflessness and vision. He later became instrumental in the yeshiva’s expansion, including the search for a new location.
As part of his outreach, Rabbi Herson developed relationships with New Jersey’s political leaders, including Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Gov. Phil Murphy. His influence helped in efforts to secure the approval of public menorahs in the 1980s. Over the years, Rabbi Herson also met with U.S. Presidents from Gerald Ford to Donald Trump.
Today, Chabad of New Jersey boasts 72 centers across the state, with the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown serving as the headquarters. The institution continues to provide a robust educational environment, nurturing future rabbis and serving the wider community through its various programs.
A Lasting Legacy
In the final years of his life, Rabbi Herson battled health challenges but remained involved in the daily operations of Chabad of New Jersey and the Rabbinical College until just two weeks before his passing. A celebration marking his 90th birthday in the summer of 2024 honored his decades of service, and a special edition of the Tanya was published in his honor.
Rabbi Herson’s wife, Pearl, passed away shortly before him. He is survived by his children: Rabbi Asher Herson (Rockaway, N.J.); Sara Brafman (Morristown, N.J.); Rabbi Mendy Herson (Basking Ridge, N.J.); along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}