🇮🇱 Daniel Gordon 🇮🇱

Yesterday, our OU family came together for heartfelt hespedim in memory of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l — our beloved leader, mentor, and friend whose wisdom, warmth, and devotion touched every person he encountered. Amidst this gathering of reflection and remembrance, our President Mitchel Aeder, EVP and COO Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, Women’s Initiative Director Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman, OU Kosher COO Rabbi Moshe Elefant, and Managing Director of Community Engagement Rabbi Yaakov Glasser shared deeply meaningful hespedim reflecting on Rabbi Hauer, zt”l’s lifelong dedication to Klal Yisrael, devotion to learning and sharing Torah, and the genuine care he showed for every individual. With wisdom, courage, and an unwavering sense of purpose, Rabbi Hauer, zt”l uplifted those around him and carried the challenges facing Am Yisrael with humility, always working to pave a path towards unity. His voice offered guidance, and his steady presence inspired confidence and hope. May his memory be a blessing, and may the values he lived and shared continue to guide us.

Guiding messages from Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l, devoted guardian of the Jewish people, passionate teacher of Torah, and powerful voice for unity in Klal Yisrael. May we carry on his timeless messages, heartfelt vision, and the values he lived and inspired in all of us.

It’s been 600 days too long. Our brothers and sisters are still being held hostage. Our homeland is still at war. Our soldiers are still fighting for our freedom. We haven’t moved on. We can’t. This isn’t over. Not for them. Not for us. Watch as our team members share their personal reflections. Each of us has our own story — but we’re united by one goal: to bring them all home.

OU Statement on the Hostage Deal: God brings the isolated home, sets free those held captive with weeping and with song. (Psalm 68:7; Sanhedrin 22a) After close to 500 days of the unimaginable darkness of captivity, this long-awaited day leaves us with a confused jumble of feelings. We rejoice with the hostages who are being released, and we weep with those remaining in the hands of the Hamas monsters. We rejoice with the hostage families reunited with their loved ones, and we weep with the many left waiting. We rejoice with the soldiers able to return to their families, homes, and daily lives, and we weep for those who will not. We rejoice with those whose heroic sacrifices have brought Israel outstanding successes, and we share the frustration of many of them that their mission remains incomplete. We are infuriated by the trading of monstrous terrorists for innocent hostages, and we are fearful of the evil those monsters seek to unleash. We are grateful that the new administration worked with the old to bring the necessary pressure to bear on Hamas, but we are incensed that the world has allowed this to go on for so long. We are grateful to President Trump for moving quickly to bring freedom to many, but we will not forget for even a moment the many who remain. There should still be hell to pay.