The annual Melave Malka of the Maple Street Shul took place Motzei Shabbos Vayakhel-Pekudei, Adar 23 – March 17 at the Congregation Ahavas Moische in Crown Heights.
The crowd included guests from the Crown Heights community as well as from Boro Park, Williamsburg and Flatbush.
A festive Melava Malka Meal was prepared by Benzion Kohen of Mermelstein caters and special thanks were given to Benzion Raskin of Benz’s fish for his contribution to the Melava Malka.
The event celebrated the synagogue’s growth and continued survival amid past years of hardships, said R’ Eli Blachman, who has been the Shul’s president for over 35 years with the blessings of the Rebbe and Crown Heights Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin OBM.
Blachman greeted the assemblage and thanked all those that came to show support of the shul and its leadership. He told that when he hesitated about organizing the Melave Malka one year, “The Rebbe told me that I must do something, even small but don’t stop it.”
Rabbi Yeshaya Kaminker, who delivers a dvar torah every Shabbos morning before musaf along with Blachman, presented Reb Yisroel Karp, the shul’s Chairman of the Board for over 40 years, with a pocket set of the complete collection of the Sichos Kodesh of the Rebbe.
Rabbi Yaakov Tovia Weiser, Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Nachlas Yaakov of Vien, thanked the Maple Street Shul for allowing his yeshiva to use the premises during the weekdays.
Rabbi Weiser spoke about the importance of Botei Medresh and Botei K’nisios in bringing refuah and yeshua to Klal Yisroel – particularly at a time when the third Bais HaMigdash has not yet been rebuilt.
Stressing the themes of unity, keynote speaker Rabbi Mendel Rifkin thanked those in attendance for their support, and for their sense of communal responsibility in helping the Maple Street Shul survive and thrive, as Jews have once again begun to live in proximity to the Maple Street area.
To conclude the evening, participants took pleasure in listening to inspiring renditions of nigunim and Chassidic melodies performed on the violin by Reb Yitzchok Hurwitz.
Hurwitz performed as soloist and concertmaster around the U.S. and Europe and taught violin at The Juilliard School of Music and he was Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. His violin is the “Viotti” Stradivarius, made in Cremona, Italy in 1712. He now teaches violin privately in Crown Heights.
Those who were unable to attend in person, are encouraged to donate a suggested $54 at MapleStreetShul.com
Chazak Chazak Venischazek!
Your Monsey Nephew and Family
Yanky Blachman updated the kitchen with granite kitchen tiles and back splash.
He is indeed playing on a Stradivarius, although I don’t think it can be the “Viotti”.
And now from our angle. We call him “Rabbi” Eli Blachman. Let the world know that yes indeed it is a pleasure working with you. We are really honored by having such a great man & Kehilla as our host!
AYH
(for # 6 – no connection to Weiser from Vienna. Neither weiser is cocnnected to Weiser nor is today’s Vienna Connected to Vien. Viener Kehila in NY was founded in 1942 by refugees from Vienna’s Schiff Shul).
What a beautiful event, keep up the good work, We missed the yearly appearance from Rabbi Schwei was he out of town?
i wasn’t there – but i was told the violinist was so good they would not let him stop playing. that’s cool. but i remember when Maple Street hosted Megama. i would love it if next year you guys did a tribute to Moshe Yess. you would have to start working on it long before the event. and add a few Carelbach tunes just for fun. over the years it is obvious Maple Street likes music. Eli – discuss with your board if next year’s Melave Malka they would approve a Moshe Yess tribute with a little Carlebach mixed in.… Read more »
amazing. years ago when other Jews were running from Crown Heights, the Rebbe said not to run. not only that – the Rebbe wanted Shuls on the outskirts of Crown Heights to be saved from being sold and being used as who-knows-what. since then Maple Street Shul has been held under the leadership of Eli Blachman and Yisroel Karp. gone are the days when it was a struggle to find a Minyan to come all the way to Maple Street. now, not only is the Shul that saved a popular spot for families who live south of Empire.. this Melave… Read more »
any connection?
Boruch Ha Shem, Congregation Ahavas Moische continues its wonderful work for the benefit of the entire Crown Heights Community. A tremendous Yasher Koach to Eli Blachman for his self-sacrifice and dedication to doing the Rebbe’s Mivtso of keeping a shul alive.
Eli keep strong ,
you are doing a great service to the community ,
We love you , you saved the shul from being lost 30 years ago , its a pleasure to see it grow year to year.
only happiness and good health
Hashem loves you too
it looks like it was beautiful with a packed house, what a shame I was unable to make it
keep running the shul just as you did the past 30 years, and even better
I find it very hard to believe that he is playing the Viotti Stradivarius as it is currently owned by an institution in London and cost just shy of US $5,000,000. It may be a copy, though certainly not the original.
If I am mistaken, which I do not think I am, then please correct me.