A century ago, Jews flocked to the Catskill Mountains, not merely for the summer months, but to live year-round.
One of the primary reasons for the move, was the farming profession, which allowed Jews to keep the Shabbos. Corporate jobs in the city, required working six days a week, with Sunday as the only day of rest.
Monticello, Liberty, Hurleyville, Glen Wild, Woodridge, South Fallsburg, Ellenville, Livingston Manor and Woodbourne, to name a few, built beautiful town Shuls which remain standing to this day.
One of the pleasures of Davening in one of these rustic relics of the past is to admire the artwork on the walls, the high domed ceilings, the stained glass windows, the ancient radiators, the musty basements and the simplistic, yet endearing architecture of the Aronei Kodesh.
Although a few of these Shuls still operate year round, others gather dust until they are revived by their summer guests.
Several years ago, the Nikolsberger Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Jungreis, embarked on a plan to restore the Woodbourne Shul to it's former glory. Although Woodbourne hosted a Seforim store, the city was more famous for it's pizza, ice cream and pool tables, not to mention as serving as a meeting place for teenagers.
Rabbi Jungreis instituted round the clock Davening, provides hot food, cake and drinks as well as a listening ear for countless youngsters looking for guidance. The 93 year old Shul now serves as a bustling meeting place for Ruchniyus.
Kol HaKavod to the Rebbe.
Not only is RJ a "Rebbe", he is also the Rebbe of children. Two of my children were privileged to pass through his classroom.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting man. He is a Rebbe of a Shul in Boro Park, a classroom Rebbe, and now also a Rabbi of a Shul. Big Tzaddik.
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