Monsey Memories: Reb Moshe Fischman, z”l, Founder of Monsey Boyaner Kehillah

By: Yitzy Fried

A pioneer of the Monsey community since the settlement of the Torah Vodaath bachurim there, and the founder of the Boyaner kehillah in Monsey, which has today grown into beautiful kloiz, Reb Moshe hailed from a legendary Yerushalayimer family.

He would leave a great imprint on the Monsey community during his years there.

Reb Moshe was born in Yerushalayim to his father, Reb Chaim Duvid Elimelech, a legendary Boyaner chossid, and patriarch of a prominent family. During his youth he learned in Yeshivas Chayei Olam. Even as a young boy, he exhibited hasmodoh—and he would make his way to the famed “Nissen Bak’s Shul” in the Beis Yisroel neighborhood, learning there for hours.

When the family made their way to America in the 1951, he entered Yeshiva Torah Vodaath , where he became a talmid of Rav Gedalya Schorr, zt”l. He continued to the Telzer yeshiva in Cleveland, and later learned by Rav Aharon Kotler in Lakewood.

He married the daughter of Reb Simcha Bunim Shatz, who was sent by the Imrei Emes of Gur to server as shochet in Mexico, and the wedding was attended by the previous Boyaner Rebbe zt”l.

The couple settled in Monsey, where Reb Moshe would become a figure known for his hasmodoh in learning, even as he went out to earn a living. His electronics business in Manhattan was secondary to his love of learning.

His connection to Boyan knew no bounds, and he would regularly make the arduous trip to the Lower East Side, all the way from Monsey, to be in the presence of his rebbe.

Eventually, he began a Boyaner minyan in his dining room, so he, and a few others, could daven in the unique nusach that was so dear to them. This arranfement continued for a number of years, until the nucleus of Boyaner chassidim in Monsey grew, and eventually acquired a space of their own.

When this space was outgrown, a magnificent Kloiz was built in recent years—expanding the kehillah event further—all thanks to the vision and fortitude of R’ Moshe of so many years ago.

In later years he moved to Boro Park, where he was niftar a number of years ago, leaving behind generations who continue in his ways.