Editing Avrohom Dov Hecht

Rabbi Abraham Dov Hecht was a student of Tomchei Temimim in Otwock, an emissary of both the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe, who fought strongly for the amendment of the "Who is a Jew" law, and served as the Chairman of the Rabbinical Alliance of America.

= Early Life =
Rabbi Abraham Dov Hecht was born to Rabbi Joshua Hecht, one of the first Chassidim in the United States, and Mrs. Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Joshua Oster.

He began his studies at Rabbi Chaim Berlin Yeshiva in the Brownsville neighborhood of New York City. After several years, he joined his two brothers, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman and Rabbi Moshe Yitzchak, studying at Torah Vodaath Yeshiva in Williamsburg.

= Introduction to Chabad =
His connection to Chabad Chassidism began when his brother, Shlomo Zalman, encouraged him to join a Tanya class taught by Rabbi Israel Jacobson. Rabbi Israel had arrived in Brownsville shortly after the Hecht family and quickly became involved in community life, actively spreading Chassidic teachings in various yeshivas. The Hecht brothers became regular visitors at Rabbi Israel's home.

In 1939, a group of students prepared to travel to Otwock to study with the Previous Rebbe, joining his brother Rabbi Shlomo Zalman (and his wife) and two other students who had traveled earlier that year. The group included Rabbi Abraham Dov, five other friends, and Rabbi Israel Jacobson.

= Journey to Otwock =
Those were pre-World War II days, and parents strongly opposed this dangerous journey. One group member, Mordechai Fischer, wrote to the Previous Rebbe that the trip was canceled due to parental concerns. The Previous Rebbe quickly responded that there was nothing to fear.

On the morning of the 23rd of Av, the ship departed from American shores. The journey lasted four days, and on Monday evening, the group reached French shores, where Rabbi Schneor Zalman Schneersohn welcomed them. On this occasion, Rabbi Abraham and his friends met the future Rebbe for the first time, who spoke with them for several minutes about the great merit of traveling to the Rebbe and blessed them with great success in their studies.

On Wednesday, Rosh Chodesh Elul, the group reached their destination in Otwock, Poland. The group was received by the Yeshiva head, Rabbi Yehuda Eber, and the senior students. Two days later, on Friday afternoon, the group members had a private audience with the Previous Rebbe and merited to hear a Chassidic discourse.

= Return to America =
Less than a week after Rabbi Abraham and his friends arrived at the Rebbe, they received instructions from the American Embassy to leave Polish soil.

Before their departure, they had a private audience with the Previous Rebbe, who blessed them. The Rebbe expressed during that audience: "May God help that we shall see each other in good health." Indeed, with great miracles, the group managed to escape Poland and reach Riga, heading back toward the United States.

In the month of Cheshvan 5700 (1939), the group reached American shores.

When the Rebbe arrived in the United States on the 9th of Adar II 5700 (1940), Rabbi Abraham went to study at the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva that the Rebbe opened, where he studied until his marriage in 1944 to Mrs. Liba Grunhut. After his marriage, he moved to Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts.

In Massachusetts, Rabbi Abraham opened a yeshiva and Torah institutions, personally engaging in fundraising for the institutions.

= Syrian Community Rabbi =
In the summer of 1945, Rabbi Abraham went with his wife on vacation in the mountains. The vacation village had one synagogue, shared by both Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities.

One day, members of the Sephardic community asked Rabbi Abraham to give them a Torah lesson. Rabbi Abraham gladly agreed, and a large crowd attended the lesson. The community members greatly enjoyed it, and afterward asked him to take leadership of the Syrian community. The community president met with the Previous Rebbe and consulted about the appointment. The Previous Rebbe warmly recommended it.

In Cheshvan 5706 (1945), Rabbi Abraham was officially appointed as rabbi of the Bnei Magen David community in Bensonhurst, New York. He established educational institutions for the community's children, and over the years formed connections with many public figures. The doors of Sephardic rabbis were open to him, and he frequently participated in various conferences and conventions.

Alongside leading the Syrian community, he firmly managed the Rabbinical Alliance of America and invested great energy in amending the unfortunate "Who is a Jew" law, utilizing his extensive connections with government leaders in Israel, ministers, members of Knesset, and others.

= Passing =
Rabbi Abraham Dov passed away on Sunday, 24 Tevet 5773 (2013). He was buried in Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, New York.

= Family =
His children:

* Nechama Kantor, Crown Heights, New York
* Esther Kaplan, Crown Heights, New York
* Eli Hecht, Rebbe's emissary in Lomita, California
* Yossi Hecht, Rebbe's emissary in Nice, France
* Rachel Weinberg, Detroit, Michigan
* Sheina Posten, New York
* Joshua Hecht, Rebbe's emissary in Norwalk, Connecticut
* Ari Hecht, Rebbe's emissary in San Francisco
* Israel Hecht, Rebbe's emissary in Los Angeles, California

His grandchild: Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor - Rebbe's emissary and Chief Rabbi of Thailand

= Further Reading =

* His life story in English in his book: "My Spiritual Journey: An Autobiography," 2006
* "At Age Eighty," jubilee book in his honor published by the Rabbinical Alliance of America, 2002

= External Links =

* David Zaklikovsky, "The Chabad Rabbi Who Led Sephardic Communities" (English) on Chabad.org
* Rabbi Hecht and the Rebbe video collection on Chabad.org