Rabbi Motty Katz helped and inspired thousands over the course of his many years in the public eye before his premature demise on April 7 after a protracted battle with COVID-19.

Originally from Cleveland, Katz moved with his wife to Passaic, N.J., where they became an integral thread in the fabric of the community for many years.

He worked as a teacher in the local Jewish elementary school, while co-managing the local mikvah with his wife. During this time, the talented musician and lyricist released his first album of original compositions, titled “Bakoshos.”

Despite being childless, the couple was admired for their unshakeable strength and faith in the face of tough challenges that life threw at them.

They later relocated to New York City, where for more than a decade, Katz helped hundreds in his role as head chaplain at New York University’s Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, always lending an ear to patients and advocating for their religious needs.

The popular rabbi contracted the coronavirus early on as the pandemic ravaged the state of New York. For weeks, the community heeded calls for prayer on his behalf until his passing on the eve of Passover.

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