The Jewish Press, June 27, 2001

Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva Calls Support of Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov:
"Hatzolah of the highest priority"

by Nini Rubin

They said it couldn’t be done. They said that Russian Jews who had immigrated to the United States with the collapse of Communism would never be able to establish religious communities of their own. They said Russians could never comprise self-sufficient entities, davening together, learning together and sharing the joys and sorrows that are the composite of life itself. "They" were wrong. For in the midst of Midwood, Brooklyn, there grows a Russian enclave that mirrors the frum community life that surrounds them.

Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov is the first frum Russian Kehilla probably in the world today and embodies, in every sense of the word, the age -old definition of the Yiddishe Kehillas-one that has kept our people strong throughout the ages. Shomrei Torah u’Mitzvos daven, go to shiurim, attend each other’s simchas, bolster each other in times of trial and in due course, grow stronger in their commitment to Yiddishkeit.

Indeed, Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov founded by Rabbi Avraham Binsky- a charismatic and forward thinking leader, educated in the finest Yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel- is growing beyond the parameters of what anyone could have believed possible at its inception. "When Rabbi Binsky first broached the idea of forming a Russian Kehilla to us, we were highly skeptical about its success," said Dr. Heshy Blobstein, one of the Kehilla’s staunchest supporters. "It sounded like a great idea, but one that common wisdom held would never succeed." Nevertheless, succeed it did.

Today, Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov, begun with a tiny nucleus of three families, has become an energetic and thriving community with over 250 active participants and over 500 regular shiur attendees. Shiurim are held five nights a week on various levels. Shabbos and weekday davening attract a sizable olam and a Bris program has been the catalyst for hundreds of brissim in the Kehilla.

Special functions throughout the year, related to Yomim Tovim also help to foster a communal feeling.

"They come from all over the New York, Metropolitan area to hear the shiurim," Dr. Blobstein explained "so the effect of the Kehilla has become far-reaching." Without question, one of the most cogent reasons for why the community has succeeded so splendidly, is that it is a product of the community itself. It gives those who are a part of it, a place where they are comfortable and at home. In fact, one can never underestimate the cohesiveness of the community spirit. It brings together, in one wholesome entity, disparate sums. "When people feel comfortable coming to shul, because the language is not a barrier and the people there are all on the same level of religiosity, they feel comfortable," Rabbi Binsky explains. "When they feel comfortable they keep coming back."

In fact, they are coming back in such numbers that members of the Kehilla recently launched a Half Million Dollar Capital Expansion Campaign that will allow them to buy a building that can adequately serve their needs. "We are renting space in the Young Israel of Midwood which has been sufficient until now," explains Yury Skalet, one of the most active members of the search committee. "However, we are looking for a place of our own so we can truly establish our own unique identity and foster the leaders of future generations. One of the ways is to establish a Russian Kollel." The new building will be the venue for a community center that will boast a full roster of activities and training programs geared toward the needs of the Russian community.

The Kehilla has already attracted families and individuals who are taking a pro-active stance in the Kehilas’ activities. Jonathan and Dina Leader, residents of Manhattan heard about the wondrous success of the Kehila and volunteered their support. The Leaders have bought new seforim for the library, sponsored a luncheon for single women and plan to underwrite educational trips.

The Kehilla relies heavily on the generosity of community activists and on fundraising events like the parlor meeting held last Monday evening at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Blobstein and chaired by Rabbi Chaim Horowitz. Rabbi Horowitz cited the ongoing efforts of Dr. Blobstein on behalf of the Kehilla, and highlighted the "boundless energy and talent of the Russian people. When the Russians arrive here, the capitalistic pull is very strong and they are sorely tempted to jump into the materialism of American life. The Kehilla gives them joy and meaning in their lives."

In his introduction of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Horowitz said it was "an indication of the Kehilla’s importance that the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Hagaon R’ Shmuel Berenbaum, shlita, dedicated so much of his busy schedule to the Kehilla’s activities."

The Rosh Yeshiva spoke of the devastating effect that life under Stalin had on generations of Russian Jews citing living conditions during the Bolshevik and then the Communist regimes which made it almost impossible to survive unless one relinquished basic Torah precepts. "Here we see that the only thing that distinguishes us from the Goyim is that we have the Torah." To underscore the point, the Rosh Yeshiva related a story of how one Yid, after being beaten mercilessly during a pogrom, cried that he had finally come to the realization of why he was different from the Goyim. "If not for the Torah I would be no different from these barbaric murderers."

Rav Berenbaum heaped effusive praise on Rabbi Binsky, a native of Vilna, and his extraordinary accomplishments with the Kehilla. "No doubt the strong love of Hakodosh Baruch Hu and his strong will to learn Torah can be attributed to the fact that Rabbi Binsky was born in the birthplace of Reb Chaim Ozer."

The Rosh Yeshiva reiterated several times during his remarks how urgent a cause supporting Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov was and how it was a matter of "hatzolah, avoiding shmad and allowing one family to save the next one. It is hatzolah of Yisroel, hatzolah of a shevet and hatzolah of yidden who for seventy years had no connection to Yiddishkeit."

Above all, declared the Rosh Yeshiva, supporting Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov gives a nachas to the Ribbono Shel Olam. "If a friend lives in a basement and has no chair and no table we would try to help him find a better place to live. So too, the Ribbono Shel Olam has no chair no table in this world, only the Torah. That is why if we can make the Russian Jews who are His children learn Torah then think what a great nachas it is for the Ribbono Shel Olam."

The parlor meeting was attended by lay leaders of the community and Rabbonim. Dr. Blobstein asserted that, "With the success of this function, Kehilas Moreshes Yaakov will be able to embark on the Capital Expansion Campaign and continue to provide an oasis of Yiddishkeit for more and more families looking to start a new life as Torah true Jews."