Not in sound, but in thought — the pauses between words, the care in his phrasing, the way he turned a question into an opening rather than a conclusion. Since the passing of Rabbi Moshe Hauer zt”l, that voice continues to echo — a steady reminder of what genuine leadership looks like.

During the five and a half years that I worked with him at the Orthodox Union, I came to understand that his leadership was not a style; it was a value system. The hundred-plus files in my computer that bear his name — meeting notes, reflections, drafts — capture not only what we discussed, but how he led: with clarity, humility, and care.

Lesson 1: Leadership begins with responsibility.
Our first team meeting took place at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station as the uncertainty of Covid loomed. Fear and confusion hung in the air, yet his calm presence anchored the room. That day set the tone for the years that followed - years marked by challenge and resilience. Covid, war, tragedy - yet under his guidance, he taught us what it means to lead. He reminded us again and again that Torah does not pause for crisis — that our achrayus, our responsibility to one another, only deepens when the world feels unsteady.

Lesson 2: Vision means making space, not taking space.
Rabbi Hauer had a vision for the Orthodox Union and the Women’s Initiative — expansive and Torah-driven — but it was never imposed from above. He didn’t dictate; he cultivated. His meetings were conversations, not directives. When others spoke, he listened fully, often pausing before responding, as if to weigh not only what was said but what was meant.

Lesson 3: Progress is better than perfection.

I learned this most powerfully through the creation of the Torat Imecha Halacha initiative. Rabbi Hauer wanted women learning halacha — as simple as that. I raised countless complexities that seemed insurmountable. For two years we went back and forth. Each week  would tuck the topic at the end of our weekly meeting agenda, hoping we would run out of time. He never gave up. “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good,” he would remind me. “No” was not an option. His persistence taught me that you can champion a value and advance ideas relentlessly without telling people what to do. 

And when the program finally launched, I shared messages from participants — women thanking us for helping them remember a detail in Shemoneh Esrei or reconnecting with halacha in daily life. Rabbi Hauer listened, smiled, and said nothing more. There was no I told you so, no triumph. Only quiet satisfaction that people were growing in Torah.

Lesson 4: Compassion is the core of connection.
So many have shared how his sensitivity transformed moments of pain into comfort. He gave advice sparingly,  but empathy freely. When he spoke publicly — at conferences, Tehillim gatherings, and national programs — his words were never about himself. They were about us — Klal Yisrael — how we could elevate, unite, and heal.  Rabbi Hauer’s willingness to help was transformative, his sensitivity and care ever-present. In private interactions, as in every public setting, he led with compassion first. 

Lesson 5: Legacy is measured in ongoing impact.
We often speak of din v’cheshbon — judgment and accounting. At first glance, the order seems reversed. Shouldn’t there first be a reckoning of one’s deeds before any judgment is rendered? And does Hashem need an accounting at all? He already knows every detail, every act and omission.

Perhaps the phrasing hints to something deeper — that even after a person’s lifetime, their cheshbon continues to unfold. Every act of kindness they inspired, every word of Torah that spreads in their merit, every soul they touched — all continue to add to their account.

And so it is with Rabbi Hauer. Every project he encouraged, every person he guided, every idea he inspired carries his imprint. His cheshbon continues, expanding through every corner of the community he strengthened.

Rabbi Hauer zt”l taught me that leadership begins in humility and ends in care. That faith and purpose can coexist with grief. That even when the way forward is painful, it is still — and always — possible.

Yehi zichro baruch — may his memory continue to teach us all.

Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman is founding director of the OU Women's Initiative.

About the OU Women’s Initiative 

The OU Women's Initiative elevates and connects Orthodox Jewish women through Torah study, leadership development, and community engagement.  

About the Orthodox Union

Founded in 1898, the Orthodox Union (OU), or Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, serves as the voice of American Orthodox Jewry, with over 400 congregations in its synagogue network. As the umbrella organization for American Orthodox Jewry, the OU is at the forefront of advocacy work on both state and federal levels, outreach to Jewish teens and young professionals through NCSY, Israel Free Spirit Birthright, Yachad and OU Press, among many other divisions and programs.