Rabbi Ezra Binyomin Schochet

Rabbi Schochet

Rabbi Ezra Binyamin Shochet (known as ROSH; born in 1943) is the Rosh Yeshiva of 'Ohr Elchanan - Chabad' in Los Angeles, California. He is one of the greatest Chabad rabbis of our generation.

Life History

Born in Switzerland on the 24th of Adar II 1943 to Rabbi Dov Yehuda Shochet and Rebbetzin Sarah Shasha. His father was a Torah genius, and even during the difficult times of World War II while traveling on various routes, he studied diligently. At the end of the war, his family moved to The Hague in Holland where his father was appointed as the temporary rabbi of the Jewish community. After a short period when they managed to arrange immigration papers, in the year 1951, the family moved to Toronto, Canada. Following a miraculous event that happened to one of the daughters of the family with the Rebbe's blessing, the entire family became close to Chabad Chassidus, and then he went to study at the central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in 770.

In his youth, he was very endeared to Rabbi Aharon Kotler, who learned with him as a chavrusa during his years studying at Lakewood Yeshiva, and to Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, during the years he studied at Brisk Yeshiva.

The Rebbe drew him close through many letters in which he responded to his questions about learning and avodas Hashem, and through private audiences (yechidus) he merited to have. One of the letters that he testified changed his life was in response to his feeling disheartened when hearing about the true Torah giants of previous generations who wrote works that illuminated the world while they were still young, whereas he had no chance of reaching such heights at a similar age, and if so - why should he study Torah. The Rebbe replied with a special letter explaining that a Jew's aspiration should be 'to serve my Creator' with the tools, abilities, and opportunities that Hashem gave him, and not to seek to become a 'gadol b'Yisrael'.

In 1964, he traveled to Eretz HaKodesh, where he studied at the Brisk Yeshiva in Jerusalem. This was after the Rebbe answered him in Elul 1963 regarding his place of study for the following year.

In 1966, he married Rebbetzin Sarah Rachel, granddaughter of the Rebbe of Slonim. After their marriage, they lived in Bnei Brak city, as instructed by the Rebbe.

After his marriage, he was appointed as a Rosh Mesivta (teacher) in Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad. Alongside his classes in the yeshiva on the studied tractates, he gave in-depth classes on Chabad Chassidus outside the yeshiva.

In 1971, when the Nachalat Har Chabad neighborhood was established, he assisted in establishing the Kollel for married students there.

In 1978, when the Ohr Elchanan Yeshiva was transferred to Lubavitch by its founder Rabbi Simcha Wasserman, the Rebbe appointed Rabbi Shochet as the head of the yeshiva.

Over the years, he developed the yeshiva and implemented a unique educational and learning approach that attracts many students to the yeshiva.

Learning Method

Rabbi Shochet's learning method is one of precision in details, and explaining the entirety of the subject based on these precise observations, as well as additional matters.

Although he never officially published a book, many of his novellae and lectures were printed in the Migdal Ohr collections published by his yeshiva.

Rabbi Shochet is known for the path he paved for precision and in-depth study of the Passover Haggadah with Likutei Taamim U'Minhagim compiled by the Rebbe.

Family

• His brother, Rabbi David Shochet, President of the Rabbinical Association in Toronto, Canada
• His brother, Rabbi Emanuel Shochet, one of the great Chabad rabbis in Canada
• His brother, Rabbi Gershon Elisha Shochet, posek and dayan in Toronto, Canada

Children

• His son, R' Menachem Yisroel Shochet, rabbi in Shikun Chabad Jerusalem
• His daughter, Mrs. Chana Malya, wife of Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm, head of "Machon L'Hora'ah - Yeshivas Halichos Olam"
• His daughter, Mrs. Yehudis, wife of Rabbi Amram Parkash, Rosh Mesivta in Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan Los Angeles
• His daughter, Mrs. Hadassa, wife of Rabbi M.M. Shpalter, Material Director of Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan Los Angeles
• His son, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Shochet, Rosh Mesivta in Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan Chabad Los Angeles
• His son, Rabbi Dov Yehuda Shochet, Manchester

Further Reading

• Shalom Megidman, Strengthening talk with Rabbi Shochet in Kfar Chabad weekly issue 1856 and issue 1955 pp. 52-61.
• Shalom Megidman, Holiday conversation before Shavuos 5784 with Rabbi Shochet, from Kfar Chabad weekly issue 2062 page 36.

External Links

• "The Head" • Transmitter of in-depth study and precision in the Rebbe's Haggadah - on the website 29 Iyar 5776
• Rare testimonies about Rabbi Shochet and photos of letters from great Roshei Yeshivos about his Torah greatness (English)