In Tribute: Torah and Daas, and So Much More

This week marks the first yahrzeit of Rav Mottel Katz, the Rav of Avreichei Torah Vodaas in Boro Park, and a renowned Marbitz Torah for over half a century. As we reflect upon this tremendous loss, a clearer picture emerges of the quiet Rav who was a giant in Torah, yet a paragon of emes and humility.

A Youth of Torah

Rav Mottel was born shortly after the war in Bucharest, Romania. His father was Rav Aharon Aryeh, a close talmid of the Satmar Rebbe, and a nephew of the Serdaheler Rav, Rav Asher Anshel Katz. His mother was the daughter of the Rebbe of Faltishan, Rav Eliezer Twerski, ztz”l. His mother was a renowned baalas chesed who single-handedly saved many refugees from harm during the dark days of the Holocaust. She hosted and fed hundreds of refugees, who ate and slept in her father’s shul in Bucharest. She arranged visas for hundreds of people to leave Communist Romania to the free world.

The family arrived in New York in 1949. His father, Rav Aharon Aryeh, knew that the Satmarer community lived in Williamsburg, and that Bedford Avenue was in Williamburg. He therefore accepted a position as Rav of K’hal Adas Yeshurun in Flatbush, which was not far from Bedford Avenue and Kings Highway. He hadn’t realized that Bedford Avenue stretched to an entirely different section of the city. 

However, this “mistake” was, as always, the guiding hand of Hashem. Settling in Flatbush, Rav Aharon Aryeh was able to bring warmth and Chassidus to a fledgling community that needed it. In 1952, he established his own shul in Flatbush, Khal Bais Aharon. His Rebbetzin opened a preschool, and they left an indelible mark on Flatbush – all because of one “mistake”. 

Their young bechor, Mottel, (named Mordechai Avraham after Rav Ahron Aryeh’s father, but called “Mottel” after his great grandfather Rav Mottele Chernobler) attended the Tzelemer Cheder in Williamsburg. There were no cheder busses to bring young Mottel from Flatbush to Williamsburg – going to cheder meant taking the bus or the train. It may seem anathema to us, but from the tender age of 6, Rav Mottel would need to take public transportation – all alone – in order to attend cheder. Rav Mottel’s father did not take any shortcuts when it came to chinuch or kiyum hamitzvos.

It was not always smooth riding. On one occasion, Rav Mottel recalled, he was accosted by an older man – a Yid who unfortunately looked nothing like one – who began berating him. 

“How can you walk around like that, with peyos and a big kappel – you’re making a big Chillul Hashem!” 

Rav Mottel ignored him and continued on. 

Sometimes Rav Mottel would sleep in Williamsburg at the home of his father’s first cousin, the Szumbateler Rav, Rav Shia Katz zt”l. While there he developed a close relationship with his cousins, the children of the Szumbateler Rav – Rav Chaim Leib Katz (later the Sedraheler Rav), Rav Asher Anshel Katz (later the Viener Rav) and Rav Shlomo Zalmen Katz zt”l (later Rav of Toldos Aharon Beis Medrash in Williamsburg).

This mesiras nefesh for mitzvos and especially for chinuch manifested itself in other ways as well. Every Shabbos, Rav Mottel’s father Rav Aharon Aryeh would go to the mikva and take Rav Mottel along – but the closest mikva he could use was by New Utrecht Avenue and 52nd Street in Boro Park. The walk from Ocean Avenue and Avenue L in Flatbush to the mikva was about 2.5 miles – each way. This was a 5-mile round trip – a long hike for a very young boy. But in his eyes, that was no reason to skip going to the mikva. 

A Satmar Talmid

After his Bar Mitzvah, Rav Mottel attended the Satmar Yeshivah, studying under the Satmarer Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l.

The Satmar Rebbe, aside from his close relationship with Rav Mottel’s father, his talmid from “der heim”, also had an especially close relationship with Rav Mottel’s grandfather, the Faltishaner Rebbe. 

The Satmarer Rebbe is said to have said, “There aren’t even five b’non shel kedoshim that know as much learning as the Faltishaner Rebbe.” 

When Rav Mottel learned in Satmar, the Satmar Rebbe would come to “farher” the bochurim on Thursday evenings. Before each bochur’s turn before the Rebbe, they would say their name aloud. 

When Rav Mottel’s turn came, instead of asking for a name, the Rebbe would ask him, “Vemen’s bistu?” (“Who’s son are you?”).

 The Rebbe knew who he was, but he was waiting for the inevitable answer: “Faltishaner Rebbe’s einikel”. 

He wanted to hear Rav Mottel say it every time. Remember who you are, where you’re from. You’re special.

During the years Rav Mottel spent in Satmar, he also studied safrus under the tutelage of the Rebbe’s Soifer – Rav Aharon Pollak. As usual, within a short time, he excelled at these additional studies as well. Little did he know, his safrus expertise would soon be very needed.

Rav Mottel had a very close relationship with his grandfather, the Faltishaner Rebbe, Rav Eluzer Twersky ztz”l. When he was a young bachur, he was zoche to accompany his grandfather when his grandfather traveled to Eretz Yisroel, where he had the zechus to meet many gedolim, including the Bais Yisroel of Ger ztz”l. His grandfather introduced him to the Bais Yisroel as “my einikel, the Cohen.”

The Bais Yisroel said, “Azoi? A Cohen? Then he must make the first bracha!”

The young Mottel, put on the spot before two great Rebbes, was uncomfortable and hesitated. 

The Bais Yisroel, in his famously stern manner, said, “If you don’t make the Brocha right now, I will have to give you a potch!” 

Rav Mottel quickly made a bracha and took a bite.

As he smilingly related the story years later, he said that he still regrets that he agreed to make the brocha. Imagine, if he would have refused, he would have had the great zchus of receiving a potch from the Bais Yisrael!

At around the age of sixteen, Rav Aharon Aryeh felt it would do Rav Mottel well to broaden his horizons and learn in the famous Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland.

Before he left for Telz, Rav Mottel went to the Satmar Rebbe for a bracha. 

“Nu,” the Rebbe said jokingly. “Aharon Aryeh hut zich farmished Telz mit Belz” (Rav Aharon Aryeh mixed up Telz and Belz). 

In Telz Yeshiva

In this way, he was reminding his young talmid to remember his Chassidishe roots while studying at the great Litvisher institution.

Shortly after his arrival in Telz, the young bochur created an uproar when he discovered that all of the Sifrei Torah on premises were, in fact, posul. The Roshei Yeshiva arranged for him to go to a nearby community that had numerous Sifrei Torah and graciously allowed the yeshiva to use whichever one they would prefer. Rav Mottel was indeed able to find acceptable Sifrei Torah there, which were then used by the Yeshiva. The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Mottel Katz (no relation to our Rav Mottel) was very grateful to Rav Mottel for finding the issues and acquiring replacement Sifrei Torah. 

After Telz, Rav Mottel went to learn in Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey. This came with a distinct advantage – he was able to spend time with his great uncle, Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky zt”l, the Skverer Rebbe. Rav Mottel spent many a Shabbos as a personal guest of the Rebbe, often sleeping at the home of the current Rebbe, Rav Duvid Twersky shlit”a. He grew close to his uncle and cousin, spending many hours in broad-ranging discussions. 

In fact, a friendly “competition” of sorts over Rav Mottel developed between his grandfather, the Faltishaner Rebbe and his great uncle, the Skverer Rebbe. 

The Skverer Rebbe would ask Rav Mottel, “Nu, vifil hut dich der zeide gegeben?” (How much pocket money did your grandfather give you?). 

If his grandfather had given him a dollar, the Skverer Rebbe would smile and say, “Der Zeide get dir eins? Du husti finef dollar!” (Your grandfather gave you one? Here, take five dollars!).

Taking It All In

In 1966, Rav Mottel married his Rebbitzen, the daughter of the Chuster Dayan, Rav Naftali Landau (father of one of the most preeminent dayanim today, Rav Binyumin Landau, the Tosher Dayan of Boro Park).

He spent the next few years learning in Rav Paler’s kollel, as a chavrusa to his brother-in-law, Rav Binyumin Landau, future Tosher Dayan.

He later began giving daily shiurim in his father’s Beis Medrash, K’hal Beis Aharon in Flatbush. All the while, Rav Mottel continued to soak up knowledge like a sponge. He was a “bor sid, einoh me’abed tipah” – he had both a phenomenal memory and the capability to grasp difficult subjects. 

A Living Oitzar Hachachma

Looking back, it is astounding to see the breadth of knowledge that Rav Mottel had. His expertise spanned the gamut from halacha, Gemara, Chassidus, drush, and minhag to more esoteric topics like machshava, piyut, and dikduk. In fact, Rav Amrom Klein, the Ungvarer Rebbe, recalled that when he was a young bochur Rav Mottel taught him and a few other bochurim dikduk. Rav Klein said he was very grateful for those lessons because his knowledge of dikduk is only thanks to those lessons from Rav Mottel. 

In his constant quest for more knowledge, he amassed an enormous library of over 25,000 sefarim. His collection, however, was only a means to an end. The purpose of having seforim was to know them, to learn them. This Rav Mottel did with his whole heart and soul. He also had a large collection of old seforim, and he particularly enjoyed learning out of those seforim – seforim that were “soaked” with the dveykus of hundreds of years of Yidden poring over them. 

His expertise extended into all chochmas as well, since they are all useful in furthering the study of Torah. He was knowledgeable in math, science, history, and medicine. He was a true polymath. He was a walking encyclopedia, and this was way before resources like the Otzar Hachochma existed, where everyone can consider themselves a Talmid Chochom at the touch of a button. He was able to answer any question, as he contained a vast library in his head.

One person who had consulted with Rav Mottel for medical advice remarked that he was astounded to find that Rav Mottel knew more about his condition than most doctors.

One of his many interests was the application of techeiles in today’s times. After reviewing many sources, both halachic and scientific, Rav Mottel felt that the t’cheilies being produced from the Murex snail was likely the t’cheiles of Chazal. He also noted that since there as no issur to have tzitzis of a different color, even if it was not t’cheiles, there was no significant downside to wearing the Murex t’cheiles, only the upside of being mekayem a mitzvah d’oraysa. He gave a number of shiurim and wrote tshuvos on this topic as well, which were featured in prominent halacha kovtzim and later printed and referenced in other seforim.

Master of All Trades

Rav Mottel’s talents went beyond his intellect. He was a beautiful ba’al tefillah. His tefillos on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were sweet and melodious. Those who heard his tefillos looked forward to them all year as they entered the heart and uplifted the spirit.

He was also an expert ba’al tokeah, blowing perfect tekios every Rosh Hashanah and a master ba’al koreh, who knew not ony how to lein, but also understood the “theory” behind each trop, and how they not only direct how we read the words but also their meaning. In fact, someone remarked that Rav Mottel was practically a “one-man-band”, able to do everything a tzibur would need to function – and do it well.

About 35 years ago, Rav Mottel was appointed as the Rav of K’hal Avreichei Vodaas. Avreichei Torah Vodaas is a Kehilla founded by Torah Vodaas alumni, most of them gifted talmidei chachamim in their own right. Many have semicha and have finished Shas multiple times. Being the Rav of such a Kehilla is a daunting prospect, but it was perfect for Rav Mottel.

It was a match made in heaven. Rav Mottel was able to prepare fascinating shiurim on any topic under the sun, and he had a kehilla that could appreciate it. He would give a weekly halacha shiur before k’rias HaTorah, every week on a different interesting topic – and always find some link to the weekly parsha. Even people who did not daven there would often come to hear the shiurim. He also had a particular ability to take complex subjects and break it down to explain each component until the entire subject would be clear to the listener. This was in addition to all the other speeches he gave, such as at shalosh seudos or Pirkei Avos. He was a true peh mapik margalios.

A number of people recalled that although they were just bochurim at the time, Rav Mottel devoted no less time to answering their questions and giving them explanations than he did to any of the ba’alei batim. Some of these bochurim later grew up to be Roshei Yeshiva and maggidei shiurim, and they all fondly remembered Rav Mottel’s patience and kindness.

Despite often being the smartest person in the room, Rav Mottel managed to help others feel as though they were the smartest person in the room. 

He was also a person who did not seek kavod. He never saw himself as being “above” anyone else. People sought out his advice; he was happy to lend them a listening ear. Most of all, he was “mitalmidav shel aharon hakohen – ohev shalom v’rodef shalom” – he was always seeking peace. He would never want to be involved in any machlokes. His council was always to do whatever it took to achieve peace. “The worst pshara is better than the best din” is what he would always tell people. But Rav Mottel didn’t just give advice to others; he lived it as well. On many occasions, he would happily give up things that were his by right – all to avoid machlokes.

He was also a very generous person, always looking to help a fellow Yid. A businessman recalled that Rav Mottel had once invested funds into a building where apartments were being sold as condos. The partners had agreed at the outset that the proceeds of the final apartment sold would be donated to a keren yesomim. As it happened, the final few apartments were sold in bulk as a group, and the other partners wished to give the proceeds of the cheapest apartment in the group towards the keren yesomim. Rav Mottel, in his gentle way, convinced the other partners to average out the unit prices so that the tzedakah would not be diminished.

 

Don’t Waste Time!

One thing Rav Mottel was always adamant about was not wasting time. He valued learning a blatt Gemara over almost anything else. Even though he was knowledgeable in many chochmas, he would always say that none of it approached a blatt Gemara. Indeed, if one wanted to find Rav Mottel, the most likely spot to find him would be in his seforim room, sitting and learning from a sefer. 

He would often quote was the famous Rashi, ״.תמים תהיה עם ה׳ אלוקיך - התהלך עמו בתמימות ותצפה לו ולא תחקור אחר העתידות אלא כל מה שיבוא עליך קבל בתמימות ואז תהיה עמו ולחלקו״. (Follow Hashem and accept what he does; don’t try to look for the future, just accept whatever comes upon you with temimus). This was how he lived his life, even in his later years as he suffered tremendous yissurim, he would always quote Rashi – we accept what Hashem brings upon us. He called it “the most important Rashi in Chumash”.

 

To Always Seek the Good

In his last years, despite suffering much yissurim, he would still give his famous Shabbos shiurim whenever possible. What quickly became apparent to people was that while he would start off in a weak, low tone, but as he proceeded into the sugya, his face would light up, and his voice would strengthen as he would be revived by the words of Torah he was saying. 

Even towards the end of his life, when he was in the hospital, it was Torah that gave him the strength to go on. Visitors would sometimes think he was sleeping, but as soon as he heard words of Torah, he was suddenly alert and involved. One of his grandchildren related that he was learning with a chavrusah over the phone, thinking his grandfather was sleeping, but suddenly, Rav Mottel heard the sugya they were learning and immediately started relaying chiddushim on the sugya.

His wife, the Rebbitzen, was a living example of devotion. She did not leave his side throughout his illness and worked tirelessly to bring him home and assure his comfort. He was very appreciative of this and never hesitated to express it.

He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of children and grandchildren following in his path, many of them Talmidei Chachamim and Marbitzei Torah.

His son, Reb Eli Katz, founded a shul, K’hal Beis Eluzer, in the Forshay area of Monsey over 20 years ago in memory of their grandfather, the Faltishaner Rebbe.

Another son, Rav Yitzchok, succeeded his father’s position as Rav of K’hal Avreichei Torah Vodaas, giving the shiurim and following in his father’s path. He also founded a Kollel l’zecher nishmas his father, Kollel Maamar Mordechai, which has over 20 yungerleit. The Kollel will b’ezras Hashem be making a siyum for the yahrzeit.

Rav Mottel was a walking, living Sefer Torah. He lived Torah, both in learning and in living a life according to Torah. He was a shining example of what both a talmid chochom and a true Eved Hashem should look like.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.