The sad news from Antwerp announced the passing of the Gaon Rabbi David Moshe Lieberman, at the age of 96.

For many years he served as the Chief Rabbi and Gaavad of the’ Shomrei Hadat’ community in Antwerp, served as a shaliach to the Lubavitcher Rebbe and was one of the founders and a member of the presidency of the “Rabbinical Centre of Europe”.

For decades he served as the chief rabbi and head of the Beit Din “Machzikei Hadat” in Antwerp while battling for the sake of Torah, there and throughout Europe.

He was a brilliant orator and a profound speaker at the Rabbinical Centre of Europe conferences. He led all the agendas concerning European Jewry and left a great impression when he addressed the leaders of the European Union and the prime ministers.

About a month ago he suffered from a medical challenge and was hospitalized as many poured out their hearts in prayer for his healing. Thousands are expected to attend the funeral procession.

Rabbi Moshe Liberman was born on the 21st of Nissan 1924 in Kiln, Germany, to his parents Yitzchak Isaac and Sara Hinda Liberman. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled with his mother and brother to France. During the war he managed to escape to the United States along with several members of his family. In 1925 he traveled to study at the Etz Chaim yeshiva in the town of Haida in Belgium, led by the late Rabbi Shraga Feivel Shapira.

In Nisan 1946, Rabbi Lieberman came to the United States studied at the Lakewood Yeshiva. In, 1947 he went to study at the Central Tomchai Temimim Yeshiva- 770. He had a warm relationship with the earlier Lubavitcher Rebbe and the later Lubavitcher Rebbe He was privileged to join the private sessions with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Over the years he had five private sessions with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The last one was the day after, 19 Kislev 1950. The Rebbe gave him a series of instructions and towards the end of the conversation he made an effort to give him a Bracha.

In 1959, he was sent by the Rebbe to Chicago to serve as a rabbi in the “Bnei Reuven” congregation. As soon as he received the bitter news of the passing of the Rebbe, he hurried to take a flight and managed to reach the funeral procession.

In Tevet 1951, he established his home with Mrs. Chaya Chitrik, daughter of the Chassid Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik. He Received smicha from Rabbi Yisroel Zeev Gustman and from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. In 1956 he began serving as a rabbi in the “Or Chadash” congregation in Chicago. In 1957 he moved to the city of Detroit, where he began to serve as rabbi of the “Bnei Yehuda” congregation and at the same time served as principal of the local Jewish school.

In 1954, after the passing of Rabbi Hillel Medalia, who served as Av Beit Din of the Shomrei Hadat community in Antwerp, Rabbi Liberman was crowned Rabbi and was received with great love and affection by members of the Shomrei Hadat community as well. By members of the ‘Machzikei Hadat’ community.

In 2004, together with the late Rabbi Gershon Mendel Gerelik, the late Rabbi Shlomo Duber Pinchas Lazar and Rabbi Azriel Chaikin, he founded the “The Rabbinical Centre of Europe”

On Tu B’Iyar 2010, Rabbi Liberman received from the Belgian government, a medal of honor for serving the public in aiding all residents, Jews, and Non-Jews alike without discrimination.at a ceremony held in the city offices with the participation of public figures.

He left behind many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren spread out all over the world.

His son, Rabbi Tzemach Menachem Mendel, is the rabbi of the Chabad community and the chief Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the city of Ashkelon in Israel.

His son, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch, is a Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and a community rabbi in Edgewater (near London) in England.

His son-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Chitrik, serves as a Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the principal of the Beit Hanna Seminary in Tzfat.

His son-in-law, the late Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kaplan, was a Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Chief Rabbi and founder of the Chabad community in Tzfat.

His son-in-law, Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, serves as the Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr in western Ukraine.

His son-in-law, Rabbi Mordechai Zvi Kraznyansky, serves as the Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Melbourne, Australia

His son-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Pinson, serves as the Shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and of the rabbis of the city of Brussels.