Monsey

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Monsey in Rockland County, a beautiful suburban city in the Hudson Valley in New York State, is located 40 kilometers north of New York City. As of 5782 (2022), the settlement had 36,254 residents. A significant portion of them are Charedi Jews. Many Chassidic courts are established in the city, with the largest court in the city being Vizhnitz Monsey. Monsey has a Jewish community center. About 41% of the local residents speak Yiddish, and about 6% speak Hebrew.

Chabad Community

The schedule board at the entrance to "Kahal Tzemach Tzedek" synagogue in Monsey

The Chabad community in Monsey and its suburbs is the largest community in New York State of Chabad Chassidim after Crown Heights. The community consists of hundreds of Chabad families. Among the first Chabad Chassidim who lived in Monsey were Rabbi Simcha Werner and Rabbi Leibel Oster who worked extensively to spread Chassidus among Vizhnitz Chassidim and others. Rabbi Werner also opened a Chabad Talmud Torah for several years, and a Kollel for young married men that continues to operate until today.

The Tzemach Tzedek Chabad synagogue is the central Chabad synagogue in the Monsey area and its suburbs. The synagogue is located on the northern border of Monsey. Most of the families of the Tzemach Tzedek synagogue community are students of Rabbi Vichnin who studied with him at Tomchei Tmimim Morristown.

Rabbinate in the City

The first rabbi of the Tzemach Tzedek community was Rabbi Chaim Dovid Nota Vichnin (who also served as the head of Yeshivas Tiferes Bachurim Morristown). Until his passing in 5755 (1995), Rabbi Sholom Dovid Geisinsky and Rabbi Shlomo Blumingfield his position. After that, Rabbi Shusterman filled his position until 5767 (2007). Then Rabbi Boruch Lesches from Sydney, Australia was appointed to serve as the Chief Rabbi of the Chabad community until this very day.

Rabbi Zalman Leib Markowitz is involved in the educational field of the Chabad community of Monsey.

Institutions in the City

In the year 5760 (2000), Rabbi Shusterman was brought from Johannesburg, South Africa, to manage the Chabad Talmud Torah in the city.

The Chabad community in Monsey established a series of additional institutions, including a girls' school "Beit Chaya Mushka" with a magnificent library, and more.

For a certain period, a teaching institute operated where about ten bochurim studied per cycle, learning at the institute under the supervision of the Mara D'asra Rabbi Baruch Lesches, and the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Mendel Falter. With the support of R' Israel Shulman and R' Avraham Heiman who took patronage of the semicha program.

Beginning in 5767 (2007), many Chabad chassidim began moving to the city of Pomona north of Monsey since housing in Monsey became very expensive due to high demand from Vizhnitz chassidim. Currently, hundreds of Chabad chassidic families reside in Pomona, with about ten Chabad synagogues.

Chabad Institutions in the City Today

• Heichal Menachem Monsey - Ner Yisroel Synagogue, led by Rabbi Gedaliah Oberlander.
• Congregation Beis Menachem Synagogue - North Monsey, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Kagan.
• Congregation Chabad Synagogue - South Monsey, Rabbi Ben Tzion Saloff.
• Congregation Tzemach Tzedek Lubavitch Synagogue, Rabbi Baruch Dov Lesches.
• Congregation Beis Levi Yitzchak Synagogue - Pomona, Rabbi Moshe Eliyahu Gourary.
• Chabad Cheder Monsey - for boys and girls, led by Rabbi Israel Shusterman.
• Mesivta Lubavitch Monsey, led by Rabbi Sender Lustig, and managed by Rabbi Moshe Liberow.
• Beis Chaya Mushka School, led by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Kagan.
• Cheder Zichron Shmuel - for boys and girls, led by Rabbi Moshe Eliyahu Gurary.

Chabad Institutions That Operated in the City in the Past

• Yeshivas Neiros Lehair (operated only in the year 5781/2021), managed by Rabbi David Kahnov.
• Mesivta Lev Temimim Monsey (operated until the year 5780/2020), managed by Rabbi Gil Chami.
• Kollel Machon Hora'ah, led by the Mara D'asra Rabbi Baruch Lesches, and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Mendel Polter.