Today, the 28 of Adar, is the yahrzeit of Reb Moshe Horenstein, A”H. He was the Rebbe Maharash’s son-in-law, as well as a Mechutan with the Frierdiger Rebbe, by way of his son Reb Mendel marrying the Frierdiger Rebbe’s youngest daughter, Sheindel, hy“d.
Reb Moshe came from an illustrious family of Boyaner Chassidim, and married Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe Maharash’s youngest daughter on 10 Elul 5652/1892. The Rebbe Rashab was the one who arranged the shidduch between Moshe and Chaya Mushka; being that the Rebbe Maharash was nistalek some 8 years earlier.
The Rebbe Rashab wrote in a letter that both “he and his brother Reb Zalman Aron farherred the bochur and found him to be a talmid chochom and a G-d fearing Jew, and G-d willing he will be a keli for chassidus as well.”
After his wedding, he lived in the village of Yelna, near Smolensk and operated a wood mill. The Frierdiger Rebbe remembers going to visit his aunt and uncle on the estate where they lived and seeing Reb Moshe and his brother-in-law Reb Mendel, the youngest son of the Rebbe Maharash, sitting and delving deeply into the learning of chassidus. Reb Moshe’s learning had an effect on many yungeleit that were far from chassidus. He would often come to Lubavitch to bring all his difficulties that he encountered while learning chassidus and discuss them with the Rebbe Rashab.
His business soon took him to Vohlyn in the Ukraine and later, in 5682/1922 to Poland, where he and his family first settled in Warsaw and later in Otwock. Reb Moshe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka merited to be the unterfierrer by the Rebbe’s chasunah, since the Rebbe’s parents were unable to attend. In 5695/1935 the Frierdiger Rebbe moved to Otwock and it became the capital of Lubavitch until World War II broke out in 5699/1939.
In Otwock the Horensteins were known as one of the prestigious families that always welcomed guests into their home. Bochurim, especially Temimim, were always welcome guests at their table, especially on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Reb Moshe and Chaya Mushka treated them as their own children.
When World War II broke out Reb Moshe was already bedridden. His son Reb Mendel had the necessary papers to leave Poland and come to the United States, but he and Rebbetzin Sheindel would not abandon his elderly parents. He passed away on this day in 5701/1941, and was buried in the cemetery in Otwock. His wife Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, as well as her son Reb Mendel and his wife Rebbetzin Shaindel were deported to Treblinka death camp and murdered there on 14 Elul 5702/1941.
