By Libby Herz for COLlive.com
From as far back as he could remember, Rabbi Moishe Feiglin dreamed of a life of Shlichus. He would often imagine the location of his future shlichus, and the ways he would build a Jewish community. As a bochur, he worked as a Shliach in the Yeshiva in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and felt like he was on the path towards his ultimate goal of supporting and helping young people strengthen their yiddishkeit.
He later married Sara (nee Hecht), and learned in kollel by day, and with Wilkes Barre alumni by night. Simultaneously, the young couple worked on finding a permanent shlichus.
On numerous occasions, the Feiglins wrote to the Rebbe for guidance on a location. When they opened the Igros Kodesh, they found the answer baffling. Stay in the community, read one of the Rebbe’s letters. Continue what you are doing, read another. The Rebbe’s message was unmistakable, the Feiglins concluded and understood that they were needed in Crown Heights.
So in 2001 Moshe and Sara Feiglin initiated the ALIYA Institute; an acronym for Alternative Learning Institute for Young Adults. The program, based out of a small storefront on Albany Avenue, catered to young men ages eighteen and older who couldn’t find their place within the community. Many felt so uncomfortable in other shuls that they no longer attended.
The Aliya shul was extremely well-received, and they quickly grew out of the initial space. They rented the Sholom Senior Center for minyanim for Shabbos and Yom Tov. “We started in Elul,” says Feiglin, “and we were packed all Tishrei.” Spurred to action by the enthusiastic reception, Aliya opened a yeshiva in Brooklyn Heights. It wasn’t long before Aliya found its permanent home on East New York Avenue.
The atmosphere in Aliya is one of positivity. The boys know that they will not be judged, and they thrive with the knowledge that they are accepted exactly the way they are. “If somebody stops by and puts on tefillin, the rabbi will buy him a meal from the Artisan Bakehouse next door,” says Yossi Vogel.
Rabbi Mendy Baitz runs the night programs and learns one-on-one with individuals. Nissan Russel acts as chef, gym manager, handyman, and maintenance manager, while Mrs. Feiglin prepares delicious homemade meals for the boys on Shabbos and Yom Tov.
In fact, Mrs. Feiglin often conducts Friday night meals alone with the children so that her husband can run the Friday night meals at Aliya. During the initial coronavirus outbreak during Pesach and Sukkos, together with the Feiglin children, she prepared luxury meals and Pesach seder kits which were delivered to Aliya boys who were unable to attend a Seder. Before Shavuos, she whipped up a complete milchig and fleishig package for each boy. “My wife is the unsung hero of Aliya,” says Rabbi Feiglin.
The robust schedule at Aliya includes a daily Lunch n’ Learn, and programs every night. Staples include a Thursday night farbrengen and a weekly yiddish class taught by Rabbi Noteh Shemtov, a full-time rabbi and mashpia who also works one-on-one with the boys. The yiddish class is arranged by Nissan Russell. “We learn books in yiddish and then we learn a maamar,” says Russell. “It has 100% improved our ability to learn maamarim.”
Aliya’s popularity has increased steadily over the years. They currently house a division for men eighteen-years and up, plus a division for boys 15-18 years old. Yosef Halevi meets with the school-aged boys after school and for Sunday evening events, and Moshe Chanin conducts weekly self-help groups for the younger boys.
The need for strong connections and support within the immediate community is critical for young men to thrive and feel connected. The Mentor Me program was instituted in memory of one beloved member who passed away. “We train the boys to be there for someone else and to be coaches for others,” Rabbi Feiglin says. Aliya also gives therapist referrals, and has a fund for victims of sexual abuse.
Aliya actively seeks jobs for its members. ”We send out Whatsapp messages for jobs,” he says. “And they are snatched up within minutes.” Aliya members have found jobs ranging from cashier, office jobs, construction, and more.
Since its inception, Aliya alumni have become professionals and leaders in their fields. The current crowd on Shabbos includes fifteen-year-olds and men through the late thirties. “They have been with us since the beginning,” Feiglin says of the older crowd. “The original crew still comes and supports us.”
Feiglin attends between ten and fifteen alumni weddings yearly. “Our biggest pride is celebrating at weddings of our alumni,” he says. Aliyah continues to support the boys through this new stage of life by offering chosson classes each week. They also fundraise for the new couple, and secure the Rebbe’s kapota and kittel for the chosson. Moshe and Sara even walk the chosson to the chuppa if he has no parents to do so.
The chapter of marriage provided Aliya with a new challenge. “The men want their wives to feel comfortable here,” Feiglin says. This inspired a massive renovation. In addition to a new paint job, the building now boasts high ceilings, stylish chandeliers, a cozy lounge area, and an elegant women’s section.
Aliya members are proud of their shul, and celebrate there for l’chaims, brissin, sholom zochors, and other milestones. During the summer months, Aliya rents the newly renovated deck out for smaller events.
The building boasts two music rooms and hosts music classes two times a week. One notable music teacher was well-known drummer, Shlomo Recu. Many successful bands first met up in the Aliya music rooms.
Nissan Russell runs the gym, where boys are welcomed to pursue fitness goals and let off steam. “Physical, emotional and spiritual are critical to well being are all important,” says Feiglin. The gym includes a punching bag, numerous treadmills and bikes, racks filled with free weights, and six weight machines.
The mission to help local boys continues. “We are renovating the basement and we want to build a small mikvah exclusively for Aliya boys,” Feiglin says. There are also plans to expand the building, and build a state-of-the-art kosher gym for the community.
So what is Aliya exactly? Is it a shul? Or is it a school? Or is it a drop-in center for those who need an open heart and encouraging word? Aliya is all of those things, and more.“It’s a Chabad House for boys in Crown Heights,” says Feiglin. “We call it in-reach.”
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Aliya
525-527 E New York Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Minyan Times:
Shachris:
Sunday 9am
Monday- Friday 730am
Shabbos: Shachris 10:45am
Mincha Maariv Bizmano
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Our Shuls – profiles of the shuls of Crown Heights on COLlive.com:
Itchke’s Shteibel – Maple St. Shul
91st Street Shul – Cong. Bais Avrohom Yitzchok on East 91 Street
Merkaz Sefarad on Crown Street
Hechal Baal Shem Tov on East NY Ave
Bais Shmuel on Eastern Parkway
Anshei Lubavitch on Albany Ave
Beis Midrash Eliyahu Nachum (Lefferts Shul)
The Mitzvah Center on Troy Ave
Unbelievable reach this organization has. I’ve seen it again & again.
Aliyah Girls is not mentioned here but I have seen girls heal in therapy so much more effectively thanks to their support