Dr. Moshe Avital (July 1928 – October 2020) was a Holocaust survivor, educator, author, cantor, and passionate witness to Jewish history whose life journey became a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and cultural memory. Born in the small Jewish village of Bilke in what was then Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine), Moshe grew up in a deeply Jewish home with both secular and Jewish schooling, steeped in tradition and the rich heritage of his people.

Surviving the Shoah

In 1939, when Moshe was just eleven years old, the turmoil of World War II changed everything. His community was uprooted, and in 1944 he and his family were deported to Auschwitz with the rest of the Jews of Bilke. From Auschwitz he was transferred through multiple camps, including Plaszow, Gross-Rosen, and eventually Buchenwald. Only a fraction of those who began the journey survived; Moshe was one of the few to emerge alive.

After liberation by the U.S. Third Army in April 1945, he spent time recovering in France before joining the Aliyah Bet movement — the effort to bring displaced Jews to Palestine despite British restrictions. Intercepted by British forces and held in Atlit detention camp, he was eventually freed with the help of the Haganah, the Jewish underground group that became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.

Fighting for Israel and Building a Life

Moshe joined the Haganah and later fought in Israel’s War of Independence (1947–1949) and again in the 1956 conflict, defending the nascent state he had long dreamed of.

In 1950, Moshe moved to the United States to pursue higher education. At Yeshiva University he earned degrees in education and Hebrew literature, including a Ph.D. with honors. Over more than fifty years, he became a devoted Jewish educator — shaping curricula, teaching across North America, and serving in influential roles such as Director of Education and Culture for the American section of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Author, Cantor, and Community Leader

Dr. Avital was also an accomplished author and thinker. He wrote extensively on topics ranging from the Holocaust and Jewish history to Zionism, Jewish holidays, biblical commentary, tefillah (prayer), and American Jewish life. Over the course of his career he published numerous books and hundreds of articles in both Hebrew and English, earning the prestigious Abraham Friedman Memorial Prize in Hebrew Literature for his contributions to Jewish culture and literature.

Music was another thread in his life’s tapestry. A gifted singer with a voice remembered for its depth and feeling, Moshe served as the long-time cantor at Congregation Sons of Israel in Leonia, New Jersey, for twenty-five years, bringing soulful liturgical music to his community.

Legacy and Later Years

In his later years, Moshe dedicated himself to Holocaust remembrance and education, traveling widely to speak about his experiences and the importance of memory, moral responsibility, and intercultural understanding. He shared his testimony with audiences around the world, connecting deeply with those who heard him speak.

Dr. Avital lived for decades in New Rochelle, New York, and split his time between the U.S. and his beloved Jerusalem in his final years. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 92, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of courage, scholarship, and compassion.