Aaron Schechter

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Rabbi Aaron Morris Schechter
Schechter in the late 1970s
Personal life
Born	(1928-07-16)July 16, 1928 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	August 24, 2023(2023-08-24) (aged 95)
Spouse	Shoshana Roisa Leichtung
Children	Mordechai Zelig Zt"l, Nosson, Esther, Nechama, Yehudis
Religious life
Religion	Judaism
Denomination	Haredi
Jewish leader
Predecessor	Yitzchak Hutner
Successor	Shlomo Halioua
Position	Rosh Yeshiva
Yeshiva	Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

Aaron Moshe Schechter (July 16, 1928 – August 24, 2023) was an American Haredi rabbi. He served as rosh yeshiva (Dean) of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and the postgraduate Kollel Gur Aryeh. He also served on the presidium of Agudath Israel of America and was a member of that organization's Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages).^[1][2]

Aaron Moshe Schechter was born in Brooklyn,^[3] New York City,^[3] to Yosef and Fruma Rochel.^[4] He attended Yeshiva Toras Chaim Elementary School and later studied at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin for high school, where he became a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner. He continued his studies at the Lakewood Yeshiva.^[5]

Schechter was appointed to leadership positions at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin by Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner prior to his marriage. He authored a commentary on a section of the Mishneh Torah, titled Avodas Aharon. Rabbi Aaron was encouraged to write rabbinic literature on a section of Mishneh Torah, which he titled Avodas Aharon.^[6]

Following Rabbi Hutner's death in 1980, Aaron became a member of the Nesius (presidium) of Agudath Israel of America.^[7]

Schechter worked alongside Rabbi Aharon Feldman of Yeshiva Ner Yisrael and Rabbi Yaakov Perlow of Novominsk on the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. All three had previously studied under Rabbi Hutner.

Aaron Schechter married Shoshana Roisa Leichtung in 1954. She was the Principal of General Studies at Yeshiva of Brooklyn's girls' elementary school for over 20 years. She died on August 4, 2016.^[8] Their children have been involved in various educational roles at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. Rabbi Mordechai Zelig Schechter served as the mashgiach ruchani (spiritual supervisor) until his death (Tishrei 5784). Their eldest daughter Rebbetzin Esther Yormark, a teacher at Beis Yaakov Academy in Brooklyn, is married to Rabbi Eliyahu Yormark, a teacher in Chaim Berlin. Rebbetzin Nechama Halioua was married to Rabbi Shlomo Halioua, who succeeded Rabbi Schechter as rosh yeshiva (dean) until his death on October 27, 2024 (25 Tishrei 5785). Rebbetzin Yehudis Senderovitz is married to Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Senderovitz, who is also a teacher there. Rabbi Nosson Schechter is a mohel.

Rabbi Aaron Schechter died in Brooklyn on August 24, 2023, at the age of 95, following a period of declining health.^[3][9] Agudath Israel of America described him as “a true exemplar of da’as Torah” and noted his role in transmitting the teachings of his mentor, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner.^[10]

• Avodas Aharon

• Rabbi Schechter speaks to students on OU radio, December 28, 2006
• Participates in conference concerning conversions, February 7, 2007
• Endorses the outreach kiruv work of the oorah.org organization Archived February 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
• Member of rabbinical committee, Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel
• Video of Rabbi Schechter speaking about reconciling Science and Torah