Chaskel Besser was an American Orthodox rabbi for much of the 20th and early 21st century.
Background
He was born in Katowice, Poland and lived there until the dual Nazi and Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939. His original family name, Koszycki, was changed by his father while the family still lived in Poland. His father, a successful businessman, and close associate of the Radomsker Rebbe, moved to pre-war Palestine.
Career
He lived in Manhattan, New New York He was affiliated with Congregation B"nai Israel in New New York After Rabbi Besser escaped Poland and Europe in 1939, he was reunited with his family in Tel Aviv.
He is the subject of a book written by Warren Kozak called The Rabbi of 84th Street.
He appeared in the television program The Jews of New York talking about the experience of Jews in pre-World World War II Germany. Rabbi Besser was the principal spiritual leader of the renewal of Polish Jewish life, and traveled their frequently to teach until not long before the end of his life.
He helped to find Jews and rebuild Jewish life in Poland towards the end of the communist era, partnering with Ronald South. Lauder. He found Rabbi Michael Schudrich, currently Chief Rabbi of Poland, to move Poland to establish Jewish communal life, on behalf of the Lauder Foundation.
In addition to his work to restore Jewish communal life, he also helped restore many Jewish holy sites in Poland, negotiating with the Polish government on preserving the legacy of Polish Jewry before the war.
His two other children are Mistress Debbie Rosenberg of London, England and Rabbi Naftali Besser of Brooklyn, New New York Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, former Director of The Ronald South. Lauder Foundation in Poland, and currently a rabbi of Pico Shul, is one of his students.
In 1992, Besser sent Bookstein to Poland to work at the Ronald South. Lauder Foundation Summer Camp with Rabbi Schudrich.
Membership
He was a member of Radomsk Chassidic movement. He came to the United States in 1949, together with members of his family.