The Chassidish Fire: Chayei Moshe

When I was growing up in Har Nof, it featured a mix of Americans, Israelis, and immigrants from other countries, but they were almost all litvish. While my father attended tishen and went to see his rebbe periodically, I had limited exposure to chassidus.

Until Chayei Moshe came to Har Nof.

Suddenly, Chayei Moshe appeared in the heart of our neighborhood, and my brothers were part of it. It brought with it contagious chassidic excitement, simchah, and bren. The shuls and shtiblach were filled with authentic chassidish bochurim, and the neighborhood took on new color. This convergence of the yeshivah being so near to my house and my brothers learning there led to my forming a lasting attachment to Chayei Moshe and its Torah. Chayei Moshe is what introduced me to this youthful chassidus, and led me down this magical rabbit hole.

That attachment has passed onto the next generation as well. One of my brothers was starting the zeman in yeshivah, and I bought him an expensive chocolate bar. My kids’ eyes almost fell out of their sockets.

“When will we get to go to Chayei Moshe and get chocolate?” one of the little ones asked me innocently.