As the גמרא, מסכת שבת brings:

״אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, מִשּׁוּם בַּר קַפָּרָא: כָּל הַמּוֹרִיד דְּמָעוֹתעַל אָדָם כָּשֵׁר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא סוֹפְרָן וּמַנִּיחָן בְּבֵית גְּנָזָיו״

“Anyone who sheds tears over a person, the Holy One, Blessed be He, counts his tears and places them in His treasury.” 

I would like to use this opportunity to share some thoughts and memories of Rabbi Hauer, Ztv’l, that demonstrate his devotion to the individual and to the Klal.

Firstly I’d like to share two personal and very meaningful experiences. Several years ago Rabbi Hauer Ztv’l had published a חיבור called מערכת שמע ישראל. I approached Rabbi Hauer, Ztv’l, and asked him if he would inscribe it for me. In his humility, he laughed and politely declined.

A few days later, he emailed me and said;

“Binyamin – Gmar Chasima Tova.  If you truly want me to inscribe the booklet, please bring it to the shiur tmrw.

Kol tuv!”

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I was astonished that even with all his responsibilities, I was somehow on his radar and he followed up with me! Of course I went for the inscription and I treasure it today.

Another experience was as follows: One Shabbos morning, Rabbi Hauer gave a דרשה on the topic of “Understanding the Concept of Daas Torah”. I had some questions on what he said and I tried get a better clarification of what he meant. So I asked him about it after the דרשה. He listened to my questions and he nodded in understanding but didn’t answer my question.

The following shabbos (while walking behind the ספר תורה to shake hands with every מתפלל and wish him “Good Shabbos” as he used to do) when he got to me he leaned in and said: “listen carefully to this weeks דרשה, I think you’ll find some answers to your questions”

I was floored! Not only did he listen to my questions, but it mattered enough to him that when he crafted the דרשה he thought about what I was asking and inculcated his response into the דרשה. And that he made sure to mention it to me when passing me.

Another story that demonstrates Rabbi Hauer’s keen sensitivity for every person is as follows: One year the group “Simply Tsfat” was in Baltimore to perform. They had a big show scheduled but it got snowed out and they had to cancel the event. Rabbi Hauer Ztv’l hosted them in his home for an impromptu kumzitz / mini concert to help them recoup the lost revenue!

His sensitivity also extended beyond his Shul to encompass all of Klal Yisroel. His advocacy on behalf of the hostages and his efforts to bridge the gap between the different walks of Jewish life are well known.

Shortly before COVID hit in full force in the United States Rabbi Hauer shared a moving sentiment. He said that he had noticed in that week’s bulletin that someone has sponsored that week’s Kiddush “In merit of those people in China who were suffering and dying from COVID. Rabbi Hauer expressed that he found it so poignant that someone would be so moved by the suffering of people so far removed in a country on the other side of the world! He then continued expressing the hope that this dreaded plague should never חלילה reach the shores of the United States. He referred to the פסוק:

כל המחלה אשר שמתי במצרים לא אשים עליך כי אני ה' רופאך

(שמות ט״ו כ״ו).

However, I cherish the opportunities that I had to be swept into his enthusiasm to do for the Klal.

When CHAI launched their Western Run Stream Cleanup Initiative, Rabbi Hauer Ztv’l strongly encouraged the קהילה to volunteer and get involved. However, he didn’t just urge others. He also  got personally got involved. (Here I am working with Rabbi Hauer Zt’l in May 2012).

Who can forget “Operation Seagate”, (in November, 2012) how he galvanized the community (several bus loads!) to go help the Seagate community’s victims of flooding from Hurricane Sandy? (To quote Yossi Green: “There’s obviously mechanchim over there; (in Baltimore) there’s obviously people who teach Klal Yisroel in Baltimore how to feel about Klal Yisroel!”).

The stories are many, and these are just a few. However, I have no doubt that Rabbi Hauer Ztv’l is still working tirelessly on behalf of כלל ישראל, to advocate for us all before the כסא הכבוד. May he be מליץ יושר for his family, his קהילה and all of כלל ישראל.

תהא נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים.