Moshe Hauer

Early life and education Hauer was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His father Benjamin, a Romanian Holocaust survivor, and his mother Miriam were the rabbinic couple of the Beth Jacob congregation. He attended Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal for both elementary and high school, followed by Yeshivas Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, where he became a student of Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg. He studied there for over ten years and received rabbinical ordination, a Doctorate in Talmudic Law, and a Bachelor of Talmudic Law.

Career Hauer was appointed the senior rabbi of the Bnai Jacob congregation in Baltimore, Maryland in 1994. In 1999, the congregation merged with Shaarei Zion, and was renamed Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion. In his position he emphasized improving education, social service and support for at-risk children. In 2011, he founded and served as the editor of Klal Perspectives, a journal which addressed contemporary issues through an Orthodox view.

In May 2020, following the retirement of Allen Fagin, Hauer was appointed the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, the oldest and largest Orthodox umbrella organization in the United States. He served as the organization's rabbinic leader and helped lead its outreach to government officials and lawmakers.

In September 2022, Hauer was one of 25 people appointed by US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as members of its new Faith-Based Security Advisory Council. In November 2023, he testified at a hearing of the United States House Committee on Education and Workforce regarding antisemitism on college campuses. The hearing led to investigations into several universities for failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. They lived in Baltimore, and Hauer commuted to the OU's headquarters in Manhattan a few times every week. His death at the age of 60 was announced on October 15, following the end of the holiday.

President Donald Trump sent a letter to the Orthodox Union expressing his and the First Lady's "deepest condolences" and adding that Hauer was "a man of deep faith, wisdom, and compassion".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on Twitter, calling Rabbi Hauer "a towering leader of faith and unity." He also noted that "As head of the Orthodox Union, he devoted his life to strengthening Jewish identity, bringing Jews closer to one another and closer to Israel."

Israeli president Isaac Herzog said that he is "deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my friend, leader of the OU Rabbi Moshe Hauer, a true leader and teacher in the Jewish world. Each and every conversation I was privileged to have with him was so very meaningful and showed his warmth and kindness, and his unwavering love for Torah, Israel, Zionism and the Jewish people."

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli said "I don't use the term 'righteous' often, but in my opinion, Rabbi Moshe Hauer was a righteous man. He was an exceptional Jewish leader and scholar, who guided many with wisdom, courage and deep humility. Nothing concerned Hauer more than instilling love of Torah, of Israel and of the Land of Israel in Jewish children. I was very privileged to work alongside him."

US Senator Josh Hawley said that he was "deeply grieved by the death of my friend, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, leader of the Orthodox Union. His sudden death is a tremendous loss to America and to friends of Israel everywhere. Rabbi Moshe was a man of remarkable integrity and kindness and also foresighted leadership. He was a true and dear friend to me. Erin and I are praying the grace of the Lord for his family and the many people whose lives he touched." New York attorney general Letitia James posted her condolences on Twitter.

Yonoson Rosenblum is writing a biography of Hauer .