Boro Park

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Boro Park is a Charedi neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, where over one hundred thousand Jews live today maintaining a Charedi lifestyle. It is considered one of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel. The neighborhood has a large population of Jews who study Chassidic teachings.

Population and Location[edit | edit source]

The neighborhood is located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, New York. As the Jewish population grew, the neighborhood's boundaries expanded beyond its defined borders, spreading into adjacent neighborhoods like Kensington and Bensonhurst.

Most Boro Park residents belong to various Chassidic groups, and dozens of Admorim (Chassidic leaders) operate Chassidic courts in the area. However, you can also find synagogues and small communities of Litvish Jews and Modern Orthodox followers of Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik.

The neighborhood maintains vibrant Chassidic activity and serves as the center for the Bobov Chassidic court, which includes nearly a thousand families, as well as other Chassidic groups including: Pupa, Chernobyl, Rachmastrivka, Skverer Boro Park, Spinka, Stolin, Lelov, Burshtin, Paltishan, and Munkatch. Dozens more Chassidic groups from around the world operate community centers in the city, including Ger, Belz, and Satmar, each with over a thousand members in this city. These three Chassidic groups have dozens of buildings throughout the neighborhood.

Chabad Community[edit | edit source]

Already during the time of the Rebbe Rashab, Chabad Chassidim who immigrated to the United States began settling in Boro Park, and by 1914, the Chabad synagogue 'Chevra Anshei Lubavitch Nusach Ha'Ari' was already operating.

In Nissan 1928, the Anash community in Boro Park chose Rabbi Eliyahu Yachil Simpson as their community rabbi.

Shortly after his election, he began working to establish a proper building for the Chabad synagogue in the neighborhood. In 1929, the construction of 'Congregation Ahavas Achim Tzemach Tzedek' was completed, a two-story building with its first floor dedicated to the synagogue and the second floor for Rabbi Simpson's family residence.

Shortly after construction was completed, the Rebbe Rayatz came to the United States during his first trip to America, and following Rabbi Simpson's suggestion, the new house served as the Rebbe's lodging place, who inaugurated its use.

Later, following a fire, the synagogue moved to 15th Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets, and after about two and a half years, it moved to 46th Street, the permanent location where the synagogue operates to this day.

In Kislev 1942, the first branch of Beis Rivkah in the United States was established in the synagogue, and later a branch of Chedrei Torah Temimah Lubavitch also operated there.

Among the synagogue's congregants were Rabbi Moshe Dober Rivkin, Rabbi Yitzchak Dober Ushpal, Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov, and others.

During holiday processions, the synagogue was the center from which Chassidim would split up to various synagogues in the neighborhood, and where they would gather afterward, make Kiddush, and return together to 770.

Chabad Activities in the Neighborhood[edit | edit source]

Heichal Menachem, under the leadership of Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Leib Altein and Rabbi Yisroel Stern, organizes classes and farbrengens on special days, including a conference and study evening on Yud Tes Kislev (the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus) at Vizhnitz Halls, with hundreds of neighborhood residents and prominent rabbis participating.
Simchas Beis HaShoeva celebrations on 13th Avenue during all nights of Chol Hamoed Sukkos, annually attended by thousands of neighborhood residents, accompanied by an orchestra.
Children's parade on Lag BaOmer on 18th Avenue with tens of thousands of neighborhood children participating.
Opening booths at large events for writing to the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach through Igros Kodesh.
Distribution of weekly booklets on Chassidic thought in synagogues.
Sale of our Rebbeim's seforim on special days through an advanced phone system and at other times through booths set up on location.
Bochurim from 770 go out every Shabbos to gather communities in neighborhood synagogues.
During all three festivals, a procession leaves from 770 and travels through the neighborhood streets.
Tzivos Hashem Boro Park.

Beis Medrash Beis Menachem[edit | edit source]

Beis Medrash Beis Menachem Boro Park is the center for spreading Judaism throughout the area. This location hosts Rambam completions, farbrengens, distribution of Chassidic publications, learning sessions, prayers, library, holy videos, and more.

Chabad Institutions in the Neighborhood[edit | edit source]

Beis Medrash Beis Menachem on 16th Avenue (48)
Chassidic Library - Heichal Menachem on 16th Avenue corner of 52nd Street
Beis Medrash and Chabad House at 1546 46th Street in 'Beis Eliyahu' Ahavas Achim Tzemach-Tzedek synagogue, Boro Park. This synagogue was established in Rabbi Simpson's home, who was the synagogue's rabbi. The Rebbe Rayatz visited here during his first visit to America. Today, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok HaKohen Rosenfeld serves as the synagogue's rabbi.
Chabad Center "Achva" - Boro Park, under the leadership of Rabbi Yeshaya Friedman
Chabad House Boro Park, Rabbi Aharon Ginsburg