Yahrzeit of Reb Moshe Rokeach HYD; son of Reb Aharon of Belz zt”l

Reb Moshe was the firstborn son of Maran Reb Aharon Rokeach of Belz zt’’l. He married HaRabbanis Mrs. Faiga, the daughter of Reb Pinchas Avraham Shulem Rottenberg zt’’l, a great-great-granddaughter of the Sar Shalom of Belz zt’’l. Reb Moshe’le was 38 years old when he tragically perished על קידוש השם in Premyshlan when Nazis ym’’s and Ukrainians seized him from the street and thrust him alive into the burning flames of the Premishlan Shul one Erev Shabbos.

Upon learning of his son’s tragic death, his holy father, Maran Reb Aharon, said, “Blessed is Hashem that I sacrificed a Korben for him!” Reb Moshe’le was buried the following Sunday in Premishlan, ה’ ינקום דמם מהרה לעינינו. His wife and five children also perished in the war.

Reb Moshe’le possessed a lofty neshama, as evidenced by the fact that his parents, Maran Reb Aharon and Rebbetzin Chaya Devora, had other children who passed away young. Rebbetzin Chaya Devorah once asked her revered father-in-law, the Frierdiger Rav zt’’l, why so many people sought his blessings while her husband suffered so many losses.

The Frierdiger Rav responded, “What should I do? My son wants to bring down such holy neshamas that they cannot tolerate this world.”

Raised in such a holy home, Reb Moshe’le exhibited exceptional middos and a sharp mind, exceeding the expectations of his parents and teachers. During WWI, he studied daily with his grandfather, Reb Yissochor Dov of Belz zt’l, the Frierdiger Rav, in Munkach. Despite his frail health, Reb Moshe’le devoted himself tirelessly to Torah study.

His strong bond with his grandfather was evident in his adherence to Halacha and minhagim. Once, when he bought new shoes and wished to wear them for the first time on Shabbos “לכבוד שבת קודש” – out of respect for the holy day, the Frierdiger Rav advised him otherwise, explaining that the discomfort of breaking in new shoes detracted from the joy of Shabbos. He instructed Reb Moshe’le to wear them first on Friday.

Renowned for his sharp intellect, Reb Moshe’le would appear to be dozing at his father’s Torah gatherings, only to astound everyone later by repeating and elucidating his father’s words flawlessly. His life was characterized by exceptional levels of holiness in Torah study, prayer, and acts of kindness, earning him the title “משה איש האלקים.” 

Go back to News & Updates