Rabbi Benjamin Hecht

We are sorry to hear of the passing of Rabbi Hecht. I recall him from my younger days in Ottawa (when I often walked to shul with his late father Harry Hecht, who lived a few blocks from us), from the shiurim he would give in Toronto, and from being part of our small shul (known as Mizrachi Bayit at the time) many years back. He was a very creative thinker, who left a mark on the Jewish community. May his memory be a blessing.

We are so sorry to hear of R'Hecht's passing. R' Hecht was a unique person who filled an important role in Toronto's Jewish community. We appreciated learning from him as his approach to learning was intentional, intellectually stimulating and challenging. We still remember some of his words and quote them periodically. He approached psak thoughtfully, listening to the person asking so as to answer appropriate to their situation. We miss him.

We are so sorry to learn of the passing of Rabbi Hecht. He provided unconventional thinking and guidance and was of great help to us when we experienced a loss ourselves. He was definitely one of a kind - 100% genuine. Confident in his knowledge and abilities - which were substantial. May his memory be a blessing.

Rabbi Hecht taught me so much. I will profoundly miss him and his classes. May his memory be a comfort to his family and to all who knew him.

Dear Dodi, Tik, Chai and Razi, We are devastated to learn of rabbi Hecht;s passing. Such a resplendant neshama! such a golden man. May you all have strength. love the Hart's

It is with great sadness that I hear of passing of Rabbi Hecht. In addition to being a great scholar, he was a kind and gentle person, and had time for everyone.

My condolences to the Hecht family. Bengie and I were classmates at Hillel Academy in Ottawa. Our families were friends from the old Machzekie Hadas Shul. We reconnected in Toronto when I moved to the Bnai Torah area and we’d meet up in Shul. Bengie was kind and thoughtful and had a brilliant mind. He will be missed by many!

I am so sorry to hear of Rabbit Hecht's passing. I learned so much from him, both in Jewish learning and just how to live a good life. Rabbi Hecht made such an impact on the entire Jewish community. He will be missed by so many in the community. May his memory be a blessing to his family and all who knew him.

Your Dad was such a special person. Both of your parents were. I'm so sorry Dods, Chai, Tikvah and Razi.

So sorry to hear about Rabbi Hecht's passing. He was a meaningful teacher to me when I was deepening in Jewish practice and he encouraged me to think more deeply about Torah, halacha and Jewish thought. I fondly recall receiving his words of Torah through the NISHMA mailings when I moved from Toronto to New York for my undergraduate studies, which helped keep me connected to Torah from home. Sending my condolences to the family. May his memory be a blessing for all of us.

Dear Hecht family, From days long ago ('80s) in Ottawa, remembering Harry and Jenny, a.h., to hearing while homeschooling of others who homeschooled, to Nishma/Chaburah, the Hechts have made their mark in several generations. Rabbi Benji, a true "thinking Rabbi", shone among them and I miss the "tension" of Elu v'Elu in Chaburah dearly. It was a bright, "new", if challenging, pathway... You all spoke so well at the levaya...which I have just viewed to be with you, at least virtually, from ירושלים. May those memories, and others you will soon hear, serve to comfort you at this time. המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלים

Dodi, Tikva, Chai and Razi. We've always felt like part of the family. I learned so much from your beloved father. Working closely with Rabbi Hecht all these years has been a special fortunate part of my life. We always stood in awe of his brilliant intellect. We will miss him terribly. We are most fortunate to have known him, your dear mother, Naomi, and all of you.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet. Rav Benji was my Rabbi, teacher and friend. We last spoke on his second day in hospital, and not a day has gone by since then in which so many of us have davened and hoped for his complete recovery. May his beautiful neshama have a speedy transition.

ברוך דיין האמאת My connection to Benji goes back to our births. Our Fathers were "Greeners" and Holocaust Survivors married to local Ottawa Jewish women. I was born 5 days after him and we grew up together davening at B'nai Jacob on James Street. When we moved to Toronto, I'd run into him near Bathurst and Wilson or in Thornhill at Sobeys and the time in between would melt away when we spoke. Rav Hecht was a kind and brilliant man. My wife and I would like to wish that his family knows no more sorrow. May his memory be a blessing.

Tikva and family, I am so sorry for your loss. May you be comforted among the mourners of Tziyon and Yerushalayim.

I first met Rabbi Hecht when he was the Rabbi in Kingston NY. This was the time when I became Shomer Shabbat and Rabbi Hecht helped me . From that time on, we got to be good friends . He is and was the best . May his Neshama have an aliya and may his family have no more sorrow.

dear dodi and family. adele and i were very sad to hear of the passing of your beloved father. we knew your father for almost 50 years and knew him as a man of the highest integrity and love for the jewish people. may your family be comforted among the mourners of israel and jerusalem. lawrence and adele levine

Dear Hecht family I am so sorry to hear of your Rabbi Benji’s passing. I knew he was very ill and was praying for his recovery. I went to school with Benji in Ottawa and remember his late parents also. May the wonderful memories sustain you during this very difficult time. May his memory be for a blessing.

To the family - Meyer and I are so saddened by the passing of our dear friend. We became close friends in the last few years before we made aliyah in 2011, so we didn't get to know his children. But please know that we loved him - and Naomi - and that we feel the loss deeply. In fact, we had kept in touch even after moving away until the illness struck. Baruch Dayan Haemet.

We are saddened by this news for the family and all of Israel. Driven to enlighten and enliven the life’s of others his spark will be missed.

We are so sorry to hear this news, but are consoled that Rabbi Hecht is now with Naomi and no longer in a state of limbo. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Yershalayim.

I am so very sorry for your loss. I genuinely admired Rabbi Hecht. He lived a life of Torah that I aspire to. He was a role model. I hope the Almighty gives you strength during this difficult period of time.

My sincere condolences to the Hecht family. I attended the Rabbi's Sunday morning classes for many years and they were very interesting, stimulating enjoyable and very knowledgeable. May his memory be for a blessing.

My recollections of Rabbi Hecht are of a kind, humble and sincere man, both accessible and intellectually driven, committed to honest, independent, creative thinking within the world of halakhah. One never doubted the genuineness of his intentions, and his humility and sincerity did not detract from his determination to stand for his convictions nor to act as a leader when needed. Rabbi Hecht took steps to help make changes specific to the course of my life, and I am grateful to have known him and had the chance to ask him questions and hear his answers. May his memory be for blessing.