Reb Moshe Hornstein
Born in 1869 to the wealthy Reb Zalman Shaul Hornstein, a prominent Boyan chassid, and Mrs. Esther Hinda from the Ortinberg family. His mother was a descendant of the Alter Rebbe.
On 8 Tammuz 1891, the tenaim were written, and on 10 Elul 1892, he married Mrs. Chaya Mushka, daughter of the Rebbe Maharash. The Frierdiker Rebbe, then a young boy, describes the wedding at length. (During the sheva brachos Shabbos, Parshas Tavo 18 Elul 1892, the seven Torah teachings that the Baal Shem Tov said in Gan Eden to the Rebbe Rashab were revealed).
The couple initially lived in Russia near his brother-in-law the Rebbe Rashab. Reb Moshe managed a lumber-cutting factory in Yelnaya station in the Smolensk province, where he owned an estate where his family lived. During this period, Reb Moshe was heavily involved in learning chassidus, as the Frierdiker Rebbe writes in his diary:
"1894 was a year blessed with chassidus... At that time my uncles RMM and Reb Moshe (Hornstein) were very involved in learning chassidus, which greatly influenced several talented young men who were worldly educated but distant from chassidus, and through regular chassidus study became close. From time to time they would come to my father to ask and discuss various topics they were learning. Often such meetings would last several hours."
The Frierdiker Rebbe also describes in his talks visits he made to their estate, and in another diary excerpt describes Reb Moshe's arrest:
"At that time, Reb Moshe Hornstein's lumber factory and timber warehouse at Yelnaya station, Smolensk province, burned down. The factory and warehouse were not insured against fire so there was no reason to suspect the owners of arson. But one of the gentlemen who also had a warehouse at that station, who was friends with the antisemitic lawyer Smakov (may his name be erased), even though he suffered no damage from the fire, found a way to libel that Mr. Hornstein the Hebrew set fire to his warehouse to burn the non-Jew's warehouse.
The antisemite Smakov found an opening to build a case against Mr. Hornstein specifically and all Jews living outside the Pale of Settlement in general. Through an order from the prosecutor in Smolensk, Smakov's friend, my uncle was imprisoned, and no bail helped."
Later he moved to Annopol, Volhynia, and in 1922 moved to Warsaw, Poland. In 1929, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka's wedding was held in Warsaw, and since the Rebbe's parents could not attend, Reb Moshe and his wife Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Hornstein had the merit to be the Rebbe's shoshvinim. Years later he moved to Otwock. In 1935, Otwock became the capital of Chabad when the Frierdiker Rebbe established his residence there.
His family was among the prominent families in Otwock and was known for their chesed and hachnosas orchim.
When World War II began he was ill and bedridden, and thus spent the war years until his passing on 28 Adar 1941 in Otwock. (This is why his son Reb Menachem Mendel - the Frierdiker Rebbe's son-in-law - did not leave Poland despite having the opportunity at the start of the war, as he didn't want to leave his sick father alone).
He is buried in the cemetery in Otwock, Poland.
Family
His son Reb Shmuel Hornstein - married Brina from Reb Yaakov Gezundheit's family (Rav and Av Beis Din of Warsaw, author of Tiferes Yaakov on masechtas Gittin and Chulin). He was a department manager in the Warsaw Jewish community. Reb Shmuel and his wife perished in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. Reb Shmuel was murdered al kiddush Hashem in the Warsaw Ghetto on his birthday.
Their children:
- Uri - perished in 1943 in Treblinka
- Miriam - Yuval (Teichman) immigrated to Israel
His son Reb Menachem Mendel Hornstein - married Rebbetzin Sheina, the Frierdiker Rebbe's youngest daughter.
His daughter Sarah Lis - married (first to Reb Shmuel Rubinstein, and second time) to Reb Kalman Lis who was a Jewish educator and well-known poet.
Their children:
- Yekusiel Yaakov Yosef - his mother Sarah passed away when he was young, after which he was raised by his uncle Reb Menachem Mendel Hornstein and Rebbetzin Sheina. He was murdered in the Holocaust.
His daughter Mrs. Rachel Landa - married Reb Pinchas Leib Landa. They immigrated and lived in Jerusalem.
Their children:
- Zalman David Landa - born 15 Teves 1931 in Jerusalem. Killed in the Jerusalem battle during Israel's War of Independence on 11 Tammuz 1948.
- Tzvik Landa - 1958
His daughter Leah Hornstein - passed away in her youth.
His uncle Reb Yoel Hornstein, a wealthy chassid who was also related by marriage to the Rebbe's family.
His cousin Reb Shlomo Hornstein, who married the granddaughter of Reb Yosef Yitzchak of Avrutsh, grandfather of the Frierdiker Rebbe, and had a close special connection with the Rebbe who even traveled to his funeral in Manhattan.
His cousin Reb Yaakov Hornstein, a prominent chassid in Kiev and Moscow.