New Morris Kryss Shul Dedicated in Boston

By COLlive reporter

Jewish leaders gathered in Boston to celebrate with The International Jewish Student Center of Boston (IJSC) as it dedicated the Morris Kryss Shul, one of Jewish Boston’s most beautiful convening spaces. The occasion honored and paid tribute to its benefactor, Jewish philanthropist, Mr. Leo Kryss. The Shul was given by Mr. Kryss and his family in loving of memory of Leo’s father Josef, and his grandfather, Morris Kryss OBM.

Founded by Rebbes’s Shluchim Rabbi Hirschy and Elkie Zarchi, the center’s location in Cambridge Crossing is situated at the convergence of Cambridge/Somerville/Boston/Charlestown allowing it to serve hundreds of the Jewish student community attending one of the many colleges and universities in Boston.

Rabbi Zarchi shared the history of the center’s founding and its manifestation of Rebbe’s vision and love for the Jewish people. For the majority of the international Jewish students in Boston who do not live on their respective campuses, the IJSC is their home for all things Jewish.

The center is led by Shluchim, Rabbi Berel and Esther Leah Grunblatt. In his remarks, Rabbi Grunblatt shared how much the new space has meant to the students and the great expansion of programs it has enabled.

The Kryss family was in Boston for the occasion of the graduation of their son, Morris. Mr. Kryss spoke with great emotion of the miraculous survival of his father and grandfather from the holocaust and how proud he is to dedicate the Shul in their honor, which has become such a meaningful home for so many.

The Kryss family were joined by many friends and family who came to celebrate the Shul’s dedication with them. Among the guests was Rabbi Yossi Schildkraut, Shliach of Rebbe to São Paulo, Brazil and rabbi of the Kryss family for over 30 years.

Rabbi Schildkraut spoke of the Kryss family’s kindness and generosity, and the exceptional dignity with which Morris Kryss, of blessed memory, greeted all he came in contact with.

In his remarks at the dedication, Rabbi Zarchi told of the important role that his friend, Rabbi Schildkraut, played in encouraging the establishment of the center and his steadfast support of it since its inception, including by involving his friends and community leaders, Leo and Bia Kryss.

The Kryss family now divides their time between their home in São Paulo with Rabbi Schildkraut and in Indian Creek, Florida where they are active benefactors of the Shul of Bal Harbour, headed by Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar.

Among others who joined for the occasion were Rabbi Menachem and Mussy Altein of Chabad at MIT, and Rabbi Mendy and Nana Raskin, directors of programs, branding, and special projects at Harvard Chabad, Harvard Chabad teaching fellows Rabbis Berel Feldman and Mendel Zarchi, Rabbi Tzvi Backman of Chabad at Tufts University, Rabbi Sholom Duchman of Colel Chabad, the Bengio family – leaders in the Jewish community in Madrid whose daughter Donna spoke of the IJSC’s early days and the leadership role she played in its founding, and Sara Wolfensohn and Neil Mayle, personal friends of the Zarchis and benefactors of their work in Boston.