Editing Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky

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Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky (1 Sivan 5709 - 27 Iyar 5784) served as Vice Chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, Chairman of the International Kinus Hashluchim, and led the global Chabad on Campus initiative and the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI).

== Life History ==
Born on Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5709 to Rabbi Tzvi Yosef (Hershel) Kotlarsky, a member of the administration of the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Crown Heights.

He completed his education in Crown Heights where he was born. After his marriage to Rebbetzin Rivka (daughter of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Kazen, one of the first shluchim of the Frierdiker Rebbe to America and rabbi of the Tzemach Tzedek community in Cleveland, Ohio), he settled in Crown Heights and began working in the offices of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, assisting Rabbi Chodakov with ongoing activities. Over the years, he was appointed Vice Chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, head of the Shluchim network, and director of the Kinus Hashluchim. He provided significant assistance to hundreds of the Rebbe's shluchim both at the beginning of their shlichus and later with advice and guidance.

Through his close connections with Jewish philanthropist Mr. Samuel (Sam) Rohr, he initiated a series of projects to spread Yiddishkeit, including initiatives and assistance funds for the Rebbe's shluchim, primarily the global Chabad on Campus project and the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI). Special assistance was provided to the Rebbe's shluchim in the CIS, including monthly stipends and support for building magnificent synagogues and mikvahs.

For a certain period, he was involved in matchmaking alongside his work at Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch (among others, he was the shadchan for the parents of the shliach in Elad, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Silverman).

After several unsuccessful matchmaking attempts without reasonable explanation, he left the matchmaking profession. Years later, he discovered that during that exact time, one of his relatives had a yechidus with the Rebbe, and the Rebbe asked about plans regarding a shidduch for one of his descendants. The relative told the Rebbe that he intended to approach Rabbi Kotlarsky, who was involved in shidduchim, to handle this family match. When the Rebbe heard this, he spread his hands and asked in wonderment, "Does Reb Moshe have the capacity to deal with shidduchim as well?" And at that exact time, he stopped seeing success in matchmaking matters.

On 27 Iyar 5784, he passed away at age 74. Thousands of Anash and shluchim attended his levaya, and he was buried in Montefiore Cemetery.

At the levaya, his will was read in which he requested the shluchim to support his son Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotlarsky and work to appoint him as his successor at Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. As of now, the Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch administration has not responded to the request, and in an interview with his son Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotlarsky, the transfer of position from father to son was described as: "Rabbi Menachem Mendel took upon himself the continuation of the shlichus projects that his father led at Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch."

== Director of the International Kinus Hashluchim ==
At the first International Kinus Hashluchim in 1985, he was among the organizers of the convention. In subsequent years, he was appointed to manage the International Kinus Hashluchim, and under his leadership, the convention became the largest annual Chabad gathering, well-covered by media outlets. Throughout the years, he participated in regional shluchim conventions worldwide.

== Family ==

* His son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotlarsky - his right-hand man and director of Center '302' at Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch
* His son, R' Dovid Kotlarsky - shliach in Lakeview, Illinois
* His son, R' Levi Yitzchak Kotlarsky - Crown Heights
* His son, R' Meir Kotlarsky - Florida
* His son, R' Yisroel Kotlarsky - shliach in Lafayette, Pennsylvania
* His son-in-law, Rabbi Zalman Walowik - shliach in Five Towns, Long Island
* His son-in-law, Rabbi Yeshaya Benjaminson - shliach in Glenview, Illinois
* His son-in-law, Rabbi Boruch Greenberg - shliach in Oceanside, California
* His son-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Perlstein - shliach in Gainesville, Virginia

== Further Reading ==

* '''Farewell Letter to Shluchim and Anash Sheyichyu'''
* Breaking News: Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky OBM, His Life Story. Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 1412 page 70
* Binyamin Lipkin '''VeHaish Moshe''' from Kfar Chabad newspaper issue 2062 (mostly dedicated to his character) page 30