Mrs. Tzivia Moscowitz, 92, AH

Mrs. Tzivia Moscowitz, the matriarch of a large Chabad family and a pillar of the Jewish community in Chicago, Illinois, passed away.

Mrs. Tzivia (Cynthia) Moscowitz, the matriarch of a large Chabad family and a pillar of the Jewish community in Chicago, Illinois, passed away on Friday, 16 Cheshvan, 5782.

She was 92 years old.

Tzivia (Cynthia) Moscowitz, was born on 15 MarCheshvan 5690 (1929) to her parent Josef (Yosef Halevi) and Ettel (Harriet) Schmidt. She was born and raised in the West Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago before it became a frum area. 

Cynthia was raised in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, where her father was the first president of what was then the neighborhood’s only synagogue. Always curious, she asked to attend Hebrew school, even though she was the only girl there.

She met her future husband R’ Efraim Moscowitz in Roosevelt College in 1951, where they were both studying education, and they soon became engaged. Through her husband-to-be, she came to know Rabbi Shlomo Zalman and Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Hecht, whom the couple came to regard as personal mentors and very dear friends.

In fact, R’ Ephraim had studied as a teen in the nascent Chabad yeshiva at 770 Eastern Parkway for four years through Rabbi Hecht’s influence. Afterward, he went on to serve in the U.S. Army.

While preparing for her wedding, Cynthia met Rebbetzin Chava Devorah (Evelyn) Shusterman, whose husband, Rabbi Herschel (Harold) Shusterman, was the rabbi of the prestigious B’nei Ruven synagogue. She would later recall how impressed she was by the young woman, who was then expecting a child and freezing food to serve in the event that there would be a bris. Yet, she took the time to meet with a young couple preparing for their wedding.

Three years after their marriage, on 8 Sivan, 5714 she was blessed with a son, whom they named Daniel Yitzchok. Sixteen months later, he was followed by Dovid Moshe. Then came Eliyahu Nachum (Elly), who was followed by Menachem Mendel.

Wishing to give their children the stellar Jewish day-school education they never had, they enrolled him in Bais Yaakov Parochial School, which had just opened a few years prior. The classes were small, and her children soon became close friends with the other Chabad boys in his class, including the Shustermans’ children.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Moscowitz worked full time for the Chicago public school system, with Mr. Moscowitz–who soon became principal of a public school on the South Side of Chicago–also serving first as a Talmud Torah teacher in B’nei Ruven and then as secular studies principal at the Hebrew Theological College (Skokie Yeshivah) high school.

Despite their busy lives, they found time to be active in the emerging Orthodox community in West Rogers Park. Mrs. Moscowitz was among the leaders of N’shei Chabad and served on the chevra Kadisha burial society. Mr. Moscowitz was instrumental in the founding and leadership of a number of neighborhood congregations. They were constantly extending themselves for their growing family and community.

She is survived by her husband Rabbi Efraim Moscowitz and their children, Rabbi Moshe Moscowitz – Chicago, IL; Elly Moscowitz – New York, and Rabbi Mendel Moscowitz – Chicago, IL, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her son Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, head shliach of the State of Illinois.

The Levaya will take place Sunday at 2 pm in Chicago Waldheim Cemetery Lubavitcher (Bnei Reuven) section.

Shiva will be at the Moscowitz family home, 7061 North Kedzie Avenue, Unit 416.

Please share your memories with her family at: https://sharetoremember.com/tziviamoscowitz

Baruch Dayan Haemes.