Rabbi Ezra Binyomin Schochet

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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 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.

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.

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.