Rabbi Ezra Binyomin Schochet: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:25, 20 March 2025

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

External Links[edit | edit source]

"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)

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 [[File:עזרא בנימין שוחט.jpg|thumb|250px|Rabbi Schochet]]
-HaRav Ezra Binyomin Schochet shlita (known as HaRosh) was born in Switzerland on Chof Daled Adar Beis 5703 to HaRav Dov Yehuda Schochet and Rebbetzin Sarah Shasha. His father was a profound gaon in Torah who maintained his diligent learning even during the difficult years of World War II.
+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.
-After the war, the mishpacha moved to The Hague, Holland, where his father served as the temporary rov of the kehilla. In 5711, the family immigrated to [[Toronto]], Canada. Following a remarkable miracle that occurred to one of his sisters through the Rebbe's brocha, the entire mishpacha became mekushar to Chabad Chassidus. Young Ezra Binyomin then transferred to learn in the central Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim at 770.
+== 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.
-During his younger years, he became particularly close to HaGaon HaRav Aharon Kotler, who learned with him b'chavrusa during his time in Lakewood, and to HaGaon HaRav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik during his years in Yeshivas Brisk.
+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 showed him special kiruvim through numerous michtavim responding to his sha'alos in learning and avodas Hashem, as well as during his yechiduyos. One transformative michtav came in response to his feeling of merirus upon learning about gedolei Yisroel of previous doros who authored seforim that illuminated the world while still young - feeling he could never reach such heights at that age. The Rebbe explained that a Yid's shlichus is "l'shamesh es koni" with the keilim, kochos and opportunities Hashem provides, rather than seeking to become a "godol b'Yisroel."
+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 5724, following the Rebbe's hora'ah regarding his limudim, he traveled to Eretz Yisroel to learn in Yeshivas Brisk in Yerushalayim. In 5726, he married Rebbetzin Sarah Rochel, a granddaughter of the Slonimer Rebbe. Following their chasuna, they lived in Bnei Brak by the Rebbe's directive.
+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.
-He was then appointed as R"M in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Kfar Chabad. Beyond his shiurim in nigleh, he delivered deep shiurim in Toras HaChassidus outside the yeshiva as well.
+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.
-In 5738, when Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon was transferred to Lubavitch by its founder Rav Simcha Wasserman, the Rebbe appointed Rav Schochet as Rosh Yeshiva. Over the years, he developed the yeshiva and established a unique chinuch and limud approach that continues to draw many talmidim.
+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.
-His derech halimud focuses on precise diyukim in details, using these to illuminate the broader sugya and related topics. While he never published an official sefer, many of his chiddushim and shiurim have been printed in the kovtzei Migdal Ohr published by the yeshiva. He is particularly renowned for pioneering a derech of diyuk and iyun in the Rebbe's Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim U'Minhagim.
+In 1971, when the Nachalat Har Chabad neighborhood was established, he assisted in establishing the Kollel for married students there.
-His distinguished mishpacha includes his brothers who serve as prominent rabbonim in Toronto, and his children who are actively involved in harbatzas haTorah and chinuch in various Lubavitch mosdos worldwide.
+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)