Rabbi Chaim Moshe Knopf, z”l

In the midst of the fast day of Tishah B’Av, a large crowd escorted Rabbi Chaim Moshe Knopf, z”l, to his final rest.

Reb Chaim Moshe  was born in Lodz in 1928 to Reb Leibel and Mrs. Shifrah Knopf, Hy”d, who were ardent Gerrer Chassidim.

He was a survivor of the Lodz Ghetto and later Auschwitz; his father’s — who was killed only days before liberation — last words to Chaim Moshe was “Remember there is a Rebbe in Yeushalayim.” By the war’s end, Reb Chaim Moshe was the only member of his family to have remained alive. His wartime experiences had severe impact on his physical health, and it took a long time for him to recover.

He emigrated to Eretz Yisrael in 1946, where he initially spent his days in the Gerrer Beis Medrash. Three years later he married Leah Barsky, the daughter of the well-known Breslover Chassid Reb Nosson Barsky, z”l.

In 1950, Rabbi Leibel Levin, z”l, the founding editor of the Hebrew Hamodia, asked Reb Chaim Moshe to join the newly established newspaper. Years later he started to serve as a manager in the paper.

After the petirah of Rabbi Levin in 1979, Reb Chaim Moshe, along with Rabbi Moshe Akiva Druk, z”l, and Rabbi Yisrael Spiegel, z”l, became the editors of the Hebrew Hamodia.

For many years Reb Chaim Moshe served as baal korei in the Gerrer Beis Medrash in Yerushalayim. Two years ago he fell ill, and on Motzoei Shabbos he was niftar.

Kevurah was on Har Hamenuchos.

He is survived by his children, Rabbi Aryeh Knopf, Rabbi Yitzchok Mordechai Knopf, Mrs. Ita Taub, Rabbi Elazar Knopf and Rabbi Chanoch Knopf.

A more comprehensive tribute will appear, iy”H, in the weekly edition.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the July 27th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.