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By Ari Rubin, Beis Moshiach Magazine

The gentile residents of Brownsville rubbed their eyes in disbelief as two hundred or so men, women and children, marched in an impressive parade down the streets of the Brooklyn neighborhood. Leading the way were children holding torches and in the center, Chassidim danced with a Sefer Torah. They had never seen such a sight.

If only the bricks in the buildings could speak, they could have told about similar scenes in this neighborhood seventy-eighty years ago, when Brownsville teemed with Jews including Lubavitcher Chassidim.

A particularly moving moment was when the procession reached the corner near the big building where it still says on the front, “Chevra Torah Anshei Radoshitz.” Sadly, the building now serves as a gentile place of worship.

This hachnosas Sefer Torah, which took place on 7 Shevat this year, l’ilui nishmas Mrs. Sarah Leah Overlander, was a significant milestone in the life of the new community which is growing in Brownsville.

EARLY YEARS OF CHABAD IN THE USA

Brownsville is next to Crown Heights. Jews first moved here two hundred years ago. Jewish factory owners bought spacious properties there in order to house their Jewish employees. Within a short time, the residential section spread out and the entire area became one to which tens of thousands of Jews moved from Europe.

About a hundred years ago, Brownsville was the largest concentration of Jews in New York. Hundreds of thousands of Jews lived there. At its peak, Brownsville was nicknamed “Yerushalayim of America.”

Although traditional Chabad Chassidim from Russia were few in number, there were those who grew up in Chassidic homes but, over the years, the American spirit caught up with them and externally, they left their source. When they arrived in Brownsville they greatly desired uniting as an established kehilla and this is how shuls, organizations and institutions, sprang up according to the original communities people came from, with descendants of Chassidim founding shuls with the nusach ha’tefilla familiar to them – Nusach Arizal. These shul had names like “Tzemach Tzedek” and “Anshei Lubavitch.”

These Chassidim did not identify as rank-and-file Chassidim and maintained no connection with the Rebbeim. There were only a few Chassidim who were actually called by the title ‘Chassidim’ who lived in New York. Among them were R’ Avrohom Chaim Rosenbaum, R’ Dovid Shifrin, and R’ Menachem Mendel Lokshin, who were the nucleus of Chabad Chassidim in New York.

R’ Dovid Shifrin ensured that R’ Menachem Mendel Lokshin be appointed as the rav of five Chassidic shuls in Brownsville. This is when a Chabad presence began in the neighborhood. At the same time, “Agudas HaChassidim of Brownsville” was founded, led by R’ MM Lokshin. This was the first coalescence of Chabad Chassidim in New York.

They say about R’ Shmuel Hain, a Lubavitcher Chassid who lived in Brownsville, that he davened in an Ashkenaz shul. One day, he noticed someone saying Kaddish according to our nusach, i.e. with the addition of the words, “v’yatzmach purkanei vikareiv meshichei.” He went over to him and jokingly “scolded” him for veering from the usual wording. The man, who was first acclimating to life in the US, feared he had done something wrong and began to apologize but R’ Shmuel reassured him and revealed to him that he was also a Lubavitcher Chassid. The newcomer relaxed and began to cry on R’ Shmuel’s shoulder. They resolved to start a Chabad shul in Brownsville.

A BUSTLING JEWISH CENTER

In 5684/1924, the US closed its doors to immigrants from Europe. Chabad Chassidim who wanted to emigrate had to prove that they had a title of ‘rav’ and a position waiting for them.

The Rebbe Rayatz began sending rabbanim of Anash to the US in order to save them from Russia and provide for their future welfare. Among the attempts that were not successful was Reb Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father, who was registered to receive a salary for being a rav in a shul in Brownsville.

Other Chabad Chassidim did manage to emigrate to the US as rabbanim and upon arriving were appointed to serve as rabbanim of shuls in Brownsville. They used their positions to exert influence on their congregants in the Jewish-European spirit. They gave shiurim in Chassidus which was rare in those days.

One of the people who came from Europe at that time was Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson. He was appointed as rav in a shul under R’ MM Lokshin’s leadership. With his creative approach he began to promote the idea of the unification of Chabad Chassidim throughout the US.

Very few of those with Chabad roots who emigrated to New York, found Brownsville to be a comfortable place to settle. Although it was less expensive than other neighborhoods, the Jewish residents of Brownsville were more particular about religious observance and would close their stores on Shabbos. Many from the old world who came from Europe, no longer wore their Chassidic garb and dressed more modern, as Americans did at the time.

SHULS IN THE CHABAD SPIRIT

The main Chabad shul in Brownsville was “Agudas Achim Anshei Lubavitch” at 195 Watkins Street. It was one of the biggest ones in the neighborhood and the biggest one in which nusach Ari was davened. Many of Anash davened there under the leadership of the rav of the shul, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Dachovitch. The shul was used for farbrengens and for the teaching of Chassidus. At its height, about 400 people davened there on Shabbos.

Another shul was R’ Yisroel Jacobson’s “Anshei Bobroisk.” Although not all who davened there were Chabad, the place was a magnet and Chassidic hub which provided a lot of chayus to many of Anash.

R’ Yisroel’s home also became a lively Chassidic center where Anash would convene and farbreng, reminiscing about their time in Lubavitch and the days that they basked in the presence of the Rebbeim. On Friday nights, R’ Yisroel would give shiurim in Chassidus in his home and on motzoei Shabbos he would give a Tanya shiur.

The farbrengens which took place in his home were restorative for the Chassidim in the neighborhood who yearned for a Chassidic atmosphere and the Chassidim they had known in Russia.

Here is an authentic description of one of the farbrengens:

“The talk was geshmak, the niggunim drew the heart, the relationship between the participants was with tangible friendship. The main point was regarding the Rebbe Rayatz and his mesirus nefesh… the simcha that night is indescribable; the mashke poured with amazing song, joy and camaraderie. R’ Shmuel made whistling sounds with an empty bottle and the joy went on… We learned about the supernatural miracles of how the Rebbe Rayatz arrived in Riga and that he managed to leave Warsaw.”

Until R’ Jacobson’s arrival in America, there were a few Chassidim who gathered on Yud-Tes Kislev in a restaurant for a farbrengen, as was customary then. They would eat meat and fish, say l’chaim, and that’s what the Yud-Tes Kislev festivities were like.

The first year following R’ Jacobson’s arrival in New York, he arranged a Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen in his home. Dozens of people, not all Lubavitchers, participated.

The following year, the gala farbrengen took place in the shul and over 200 people participated, Chassidim and descendants of Chassidim, rabbanim and important personages. The Shas was divided and it was all done with a warm, Chassidic spirit as is the custom of Lubavitchers from generations back.

Important guests sometimes came from overseas to raise money for the Rebbe Rayatz’s activities. Of course, they had to visit Brownsville. A farbrengen would be held in their honor which revived people’s spirits and of course the Chassidim would help raise money.

One of those fundraisers was the gaon, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Havlin, who came to raise money for yeshivas Toras Emes. He was invited to the home of R’ Jacobson where a few dozen of Anash also gathered. An appeal was made for the yeshiva after which they sat and farbrenged and reminisced about Lubavitch.

When the number of visiting fundraisers increased, the Chassidim rented an apartment for these things. As R’ Jacobson wrote, “And so, another nook was added where Anash would come in to awaken memories of earlier times and sit at a warm and pleasant assembly of Anash.”

I RAN THROUGH THE STREETS AND DID CARTWHEELS

The growing Chabad activity in the neighborhood began to have an effect and the community began to take on life and color. Chabad Chassidim worked to be mekarev other Jews to Chassidus. The Rebbe Rayatz’s encouraging letters in this direction, pushed them to act.

Thus, R’ Jacobson began an array of shiurim in Chassidus in many shuls throughout Brownsville. He himself would walk great distances and reviewed Chassidus in many locations.

R’ Jacobson said that his first year in America, he reviewed a maamar in one of the shuls and left. Several people began inquiring as to who that rabbi was who reviewed a maamar and from then on, began going to his shul for the third Shabbos meal to hear maamarim.

When the Rebbe Rayatz was imprisoned in Russia in 5787, Chabad Chassidim in Brownsville immediately got involved to have him released. R’ Jacobson wrote:

“News that the Rebbe was imprisoned in Russia reached here with a delay. We met to discuss what to do. We received information that intervention was needed. The lawyer, Mr. Kramer, was active in Washington through Senator Borah (who was a famous, influential politician. What he said was reckoned with even in other countries).”

It was later learned that these efforts had a significant impact on the Rebbe’s release. When news of his release arrived, the Chassidim were ecstatic. Their dancing overflowed to the streets of Brooklyn which aroused the astonishment of other residents who had never seen such behavior.

A similar thing happened when news came of the rescue of the Rebbe Rayatz from war-torn Europe.

“When I heard the news, I ran to the shul. I ran in the street and did cartwheels on the pavement. I could not restrain myself and hold back my joy,” said R’ Jacobson. “That night, we held a farbrengen in my house and the truth is we all found it hard to talk in our great excitement.”

THE REBBE RAYATZ VISITS BROWNSVILLE

The peak of excitement was when the Rebbe Rayatz visited the United States at the end of 5689/1929. The Rebbe wanted to vitalize the Chassidim in the US and to urge them to help their brethren in Russia.

When the news reached Brownsville, the Chassidim convened for a meeting in which they made a plan for the visit:

“For every Lubavitcher Chassid and those who daven Nusach Ari in Brownsville… the meeting will take place in the Anshei Lubavitch shul in Brownsville and present will also be Anash from nearby neighborhoods.”

A delegation from the Anshei Lubavitch shul went to the Rebbe Rayatz and asked him to come and daven with them on Rosh Hashana. They presented themselves as representing 1200 Jews in Brownsville who had a connection to Chassidus, although they were not all of Anash. Some were descendants of Chassidim and still had a love for “Beis Rebbe.”

The Rebbe readily agreed and the Chassidim immediately arranged for a place for the Rebbe to stay and to set up the shul. A well-known doctor and resident offered his spacious house for the Rebbe for Rosh Hashana and he rented an apartment for himself and his family.

The first night of Rosh Hashana, thousands of people gathered around the shul to see the Rebbe, and even crowded outside. The windows of the shul were opened wide and all listened to the Rebbe’s davening which was said with an outpouring of his soul and copious tears, for four hours. The crowd did not go home but waited until the Rebbe would finish davening; then they went home.

The Rebbe’s davening made a powerful impact on the people, an impact that was not forgotten for many years to come. It looked as though the walls of the shul cried along with the Rebbe. Years later, those who davened in the shul would look in awe at the place where the Rebbe sat during the tefilla.

When the davening was over, as the Rebbe walked in Brownsville, all stopped walking and gazed at him.

Also during the tefillos of the days that followed, as well as with the maamarei Chassidus that the Rebbe said, many Jews of the neighborhood gathered in order to listen and watch, to relive the shtetl days that they remembered.

The Rebbe said the maamarim loudly so that his voice could also be heard outside the shul.

The Rebbe had the Rosh Hashana meals in the home of the doctor together with a minyan of Anash. At the meal on the second day of Rosh Hashana, he told a story about the Tzemach Tzedek, how before Rosh Hashana, he made sure to return to Lubavitch. Some took this as a hint as to the nachas the Rebbe had by his stay in their Chassidishe community.

FORTY-FOUR LUBAVITCHERS

During parts of the visit, the Rebbe stayed in Crown Heights which was a Jewish neighborhood at the time, more well to do than Brownsville. But the Jews of Crown Heights did not stand out as much as they did in Brownsville. Since it was a modern neighborhood there was no mikva. Whenever the Rebbe wanted to immerse he went to Brownsville and immersed in the mikva on Christopher Avenue. Then he would go to the home of R’ Yisroel Jacobson for tea and mezonos.

Even when he went to live in Crown Heights in 1940, whenever he wanted to immerse, he would travel to Brownsville and immerse in the mikva on Prospect Place. When the Rebbe arrived in the US he also used this mikva.

The Rebbe Rayatz’s visit inspired the Chassidim to spread Chassidus on a larger scale than was done up till that time. A branch of Agudas Chassidei Chabad was founded in Brownsville, to which the Rebbe Rayatz gave much attention. The Rebbe wanted to know who were appointed as leaders of this branch and whether they already started holding meetings of Anash. Over the years, the Rebbe Rayatz urged them to expand their activities.

Forty-four balabatim registered as members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in Brownsville, They considered themselves Chassidei Chabad and were ready to devote themselves to the Rebbe’s activities as well as to raise “maamad” money, etc. This number was considered impressive relative to the numbers of those years, before the post-war flood of immigration. One could say that Brownsville was a Chabad center in the US in those days.

‘CONQUERING’ BROWNSVILLE

The community grew to impressive proportions. It also made an imprint as far as spreading Chassidus among tens of thousands of residents of the neighborhood. One could no longer ignore the presence of the Chabad community in Brownsville.

One day, some balabatim asked R’ Jacobson to start a mesivta (high school). R’ Jacobson acceded to their request and all the technical arrangements were made. The yeshiva had almost opened when opposition arose from some rabbanim in Brownsville who were afraid of the expanding influence of Lubavitch in the neighborhood. They worked to bury the plan and started an identical educational program under the leadership of the misnagdim – Mesivta Rabeinu Chaim Berlin.

Boys registered for this yeshiva, some because they had no choice, but their relationship with R’ Jacobson grew stronger. After yeshiva, they would go to his classes on Chassidus and his farbrengens. His shiurim gained traction and began to become known. Talmidim of yeshivos in the area knew that his home was open to all and one could always join the shiurim.

The impact of the Chassidic teachings was deep and many bachurim began drawing close to Chassidus. They would attend farbrengens, say l’chaim, and eventually started their own minyan in which they davened at a slow pace as befits Chassidim. Word spread in the neighborhood that many boys were inspired to yiras shomayim thanks to the Lubavitchers.

This gave the Rebbe Rayatz much nachas:

“In response to your letter informing me about the group of talmidim, those who learn in Mesivta Torah Vodaas, who go to him to learn Chassidus,” the Rebbe wrote to R’ Yisroel on 8 Nissan 5695, “I was very pleased, and it is a good thing that aside from learning Tanya, he should learn with them the easily understood maamarim in the kuntreisim and mainly that one maamar should be learned several times so that it be absorbed very well and they will become habituated to learn on their own… please send regards and convey my blessings to them that Hashem help them in learning and fear of heaven with proper health.”

When R’ Jacobson went to the Rebbe Rayatz in Europe, he brought with him the list of talmidim and reported to the Rebbe about their spiritual state. The Rebbe took a great interest in them and said which maamar of his maamarim they should learn.

Following that, the Rebbe wrote to them that he approved their founding Achei Tmimim which would be run by Chassidei Chabad. That quickly led to the finding of a permanent place for their learning, appointing mashpiim to oversee the times of learning and dividing the shuls in Brownsville among the talmidim so they could review maamarei Chassidus there.

THE REBBE MH”M CAME TO THE SIMCHOS OF CHASSIDIM IN BROWNSVILLE

When the Rebbe Rayatz moved to America and settled in nearby Crown Heights, a new era began in the history of Lubavitch. Agudas Chassidei Chabad bought 770 Eastern Parkway for the Rebbe Rayatz.

Chabad Chassidim in Brownsville would walk a long way, dozens of blocks, about half an hour, to spend Shabbos and Yom Tov with the Rebbe. With time, some families moved to Crown Heights.

Due to the distance between Brownsville and Crown Heights and the exertion of the walk, the time set for the Rebbe Rayatz to deliver maamarim was Tuesday, because many Chassidim found it hard to walk. However, on Yomim Tovim, all the Chassidim, together with their children, walked to Crown Heights to daven with the Rebbe. They would then return home for kiddush and the next day they returned for Shacharis and walked back home again.

One of the prominent Chassidim who lived in the neighborhood was Rabbi Mordechai Groner (father of R’ Leibel Groner, the secretary). He lived in Brownsville since 5680/1920 and was known for his extraordinary hospitality. Any Chassid who visited the neighborhood knew that R’ Mordechai’s home was open to him.

Despite the distance between his home and 770, he would walk there and back on Friday night and Shabbos day.

On Shevii shel Pesach 5709/1949, the Rebbe Rayatz did not go out to farbreng because of his health, but R’ Groner did not know that and he arrived for the farbrengen. The Rebbe saw this and said, “Since R’ Mordechai Groner came, it’s a pity for the time he spent; we need to do something for the sake of his time.” The Rebbe (Ramash) stood for half an hour (or an hour) and told some stories that he heard from his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz.

The tmimim who lived in Brownsville would finish their Seder quickly and then rush to Crown Heights to be take part in the Rebbe Rayatz’s Seder.

The center of Chabad Chassidus switched from Brownsville to Crown Heights.

Still, most of the simchos that Chassidim made took place in Brownsville and the Rebbe went there to rejoice with them. The first wedding that the Rebbe went to in Brownsville was that of R’ Mordechai Dov Altein in 5704. The Rebbe spoke and made a powerful impression on the crowd, some of whom were not Chabad Chassidim.

Another time the Rebbe visited was for a conference of rabbis which took place in a shul in Brownsville in Cheshvan 5703 as the genocide of the Jewish people was at its height in Europe. The rabbanim gathered to pray for the welfare of the Jews of Europe. The Rebbe Rayatz sent the Rebbe to represent him. A picture was taken of the event.

THE CHASSIDIM OF BROWNSVILLE IN MOURNING

10 Shevat 5710. The Rebbe Rayatz passed away Shabbos morning to the sorrow of the Chassidim. Shortly thereafter, the Rebbe told Zushe Posner to run to the shuls of Anash in Brownsville and tell them the news. Young Zushe, together with another bachur ran to Brownsville. When they arrived at one of the shuls where a considerable number of Lubavitcher Chassidim davened, they were up to the Torah reading. Rabbi Mordechai Mentlick was called up to the Torah.

Upon hearing the news, R’ Mentlick did not tarry. He put on his coat and went to 770. Rabbi Gurfinkel, the baal korei, did the same. They had to find an immediate replacement to finish the reading. The tmimim did this relatively quietly and many people in the shuls did not know what happened. It was first on motzoei Shabbos that everyone found out.

Many Chassidim made their way from Brownsville to 770. They wanted to stay there all day but the Rebbe told them go home and eat the Shabbos meal in peace, saying on Shabbos there is no sadness.

Once the Rebbe took on the nesius, he said to spread Chassidus among shuls in Jewish neighborhoods. Chassidim and tmimim would walk to Brownsville and review Chassidus in different shuls. When they finished, Shabbos was already over. They would go to the home of one of the Chassidim who lived in Brownsville and get money for the subway from him for their trip back to 770.

In Brownsville there also developed a massive network of Released Time programs under Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, which at its peak had about 5000 Jewish children in public schools learning about Judaism in the weekly classes.

Brownsville was also the neighborhood where the first branches of Bais Rivka opened, named for Rebbetzin Rivka, or in some cases Beis Sarah, named for Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah. The branches were founded under Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and spread from Brownsville all over New York.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD EMPTIES OUT

Like many other Jewish neighborhoods in metropolitan New York, Brownsville was populated with more and more blacks and Jews left for other neighborhoods. Many Chabad Chassidim also left to live in Crown Heights, near the Rebbe.

Crime turned Brownsville into a neighborhood where the remaining Jews were afraid to leave their homes. Within a short time, the neighborhood became black with only a few old Jews remaining. About 200 large shuls were abandoned.

Rabbi Chaim Aharon Kuperman was one of the few who stayed, to serve as rav in one of the Brownsville shuls. He would bring to shul those Jews who were unable to get to shul on their own due to their advanced age.

When the shul was closed at the beginning of the seventies, R’ Chaim fought so that the shul would not be sold to gentiles. He knew what would happen after seeing beautiful shuls turned into churches.

R’ Sholom Levertov, who had moved to Crown Heights, kept walking every Shabbos to one of the shuls to maintain the minyan. He would walk no matter the weather, rain, snow and heat.

The Rebbe once asked how he managed to finish all of Tehillim on Shabbos Mevorchim when most of his free time was spent on walking. The Rebbe advised him to recite the chapters that he knew by heart and finish the rest later.

RENEWAL

In recent years, with the cost of housing in Crown Heights rising, young couples began looking for creative solutions outside of Crown Heights. Some of them have chosen Brownsville. Parts of the former high crime neighborhood have changed. Most of the massive apartment buildings that were crowded with criminals were demolished over the years and two-story homes were built in their place with dual parking spaces and a backyard. The cost? Half the price of apartments in Crown Heights and a twenty-minute walk away.

About twenty Anash families live there. They believe that the day is not far off when Brownsville will return to its glory days.

In an interview to Hamodia earlier this year, Rabbi Mendel Schtroks, one of the founders of the Brownsville kehillah, described the community: “We are a very close-knit community. We are coming from a community that is so packed that you barely know your next-door neighbor. Here, we are all connected, even if we live a few blocks away from each other. The housing is very affordable, from the cheapest housing in Brooklyn. The (non-Jewish) neighbors are very nice and friendly; during the hachnasas Sefer Torah, they were standing on their porches, dancing, waving and taking pictures. “

Rabbi Yossi Overlander, a board member, explained that most of the Brownsville residents are older, established African American families who are peaceful and friendly. There are mostly single-family homes, set back from the street, allowing the sunlight to shine through the windows. Most houses have driveways large enough for two cars and both front and backyards. Residents wake up to hear the birds chirping and see the sun shining through their windows.

Houses have been well-maintained and are in decent condition. Although the main street of Brownsville, Pitkin Avenue, is a very busy one, with lots of trafic and retail activity, just one turn down a side street presents a very different view, as these streets are quiet and peaceful.

The Jewish community members are all very helpful to each other, as all want to feel connected, like a large family. Brownsville Anash organizes events and shiurim for men, women and children. Recently, there was a Yud Shevat farbrengen, and a Tu B’Shevat event for the women, with a shiur on “The Deeper Meaning of the 7 Minim.”

Rabbi Menachem Lipszyc of Crown Heights addressed the Yud Shevat event, sharing memories of growing up in Brownsville. He related that his family was one of the last to leave the area, close to 70 years ago, and it has probably been that long since there was a hachnasas sefer Torah in the neighborhood.

While most of the current Jewish residents of Brownsville are Chabad Chassidim who have moved from Crown Heights, there are a few families who have moved from other areas, and all are getting along, like one big, happy family.

THE HACHNASAS SEFER TORAH

The Hachnasas Sefer Torah was a very leibidig event. The Sefer Torah was dedicated by Rabbi Overlander and his siblings from around the globe, l’zecher nishmas their mother, a shlucha for over 30 years, Rebbetzin Sara Leah Overlander, a”h, on her 10th yahrtzeit.

The celebration began with a final kesivas osiyos at the Overlander’s home on Amboy Street in Brownsville. From there, the procession danced with the Sefer Torah through the streets to a spacious hall, located on Dumont Avenue, where there were more hakafos, followed by a sit-down seuda for 200 people. Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Dayan and Posek of the Chabad kehillah in London and and Dayan at Kedassia, addressed the event. The Sefer Torah was then placed in the aron kodesh of Brownsville Anash, where it will be used.

The event was attended by hundreds of people, many of whom had grown up in Brownsville and came to see Torah being brought back to the neighborhood. These old-timers were wistfully reminiscing about their childhood years, spent on these very same streets, and were amazed and excited that they were able to come back once again.

Until now, the developing community in Brownsville was largely unheard of. However, with the news of the Hachnasas Sefer Torah, the secret is out and word is spreading. As Rabbi Levi Vogel, board member, commented, “This is where our grandparents grew up, before moving to Crown Heights. We are really coming back to our roots.”

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