Moshe Rybak

Moshe, or Zigi as he was known to his closest friends, was born on December 10, 1944 in Kherson, then in the Soviet Union and now in Ukraine, to Polish-Jewish parents. After losing much of their family in the Holocaust, Moshe's parents immigrated to the newly-established State of Israel in 1949. Moshe was raised as an only child in the city of Holon where he was an excellent student and participated in various youth groups. In 1962, Moshe joined the Israeli Defense Forces, serving in an artillery unit. Later on, he would work on an oil tanker and serve in the Israeli Police, before briefly practicing law in Israel.

Moshe married the love of his life, Ayala, in October, 1974. In short order, Ayala gave birth to three sons, Chaim, Ety and Ehud "Didi", before the young family immigrated to the United States in December, 1980. In the United States, Moshe pursued a career in the burgeoning field of computer science. Aside from his family, computers became Moshe's life-long passion, as he would devour books and other material on the subject. Moshe was truly ahead of his time in the field, as he was learning and working with concepts that would only become mainstream decades later. Moshe's curiosity and intellect extended to interest in a variety of fields, including existential philosophy, religion, the human mind, mathematics and politics, just to name a few. Even in his later years, Moshe was studying new, often difficult, material and subjects.

Above all, Moshe loved spending time with Ayala. In healthier times, they traveled throughout the United States and the world. When not traveling, they enjoyed a large circle of friends in the New York area, as well as just walking their dogs. They also loved spending time with their grandchildren - from being the only child of parents whose families perished in the Holocaust, Moshe beamed with love and pride over his three sons and six grandchildren. Moshe took care of Ayala as she fought aggressive cancer in her later years, and he often remarked that he greatly missed Ayala after her passing. The thought of Moshe and Ayala together again brings great comfort to their children.

Moshe is predeceased by his parents, Adam and Ludvika, and by his loving wife, Ayala. He is survived by his sons Chaim (Jodi), Ety (Michelle) and Ehud "Didi" (Amissa), his grandchildren Noah, Lily, Audrey, Gillian, Allison and Jamie, and a large group of friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Moshe's honor to Friends of the IDF (fidf.org) or to Congregation B'Nai Israel, P.O. Box 345, Emerson, NJ 07630 (bisrael.org)

May his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life.