Posted to Crown Heights News on
by Yonit Tanenbaum

Dovi Chaimson, owner of Kingston Bargain Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was with his wife on a main street in Jerusalem back in 2007 when he saw a sign: “Mincha at 3:15.” He was relieved to see a convenient minyan nearby where he could say mourners’ kaddish for his mother who had passed away a few days earlier on the 30th of Shvat.

The Most Punctual Mincha Minyan, The Merchants’ Minyan

by Yonit Tanenbaum

Dovi Chaimson, owner of Kingston Bargain Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was with his wife on a main street in Jerusalem back in 2007 when he saw a sign: “Mincha at 3:15.” He was relieved to see a convenient minyan nearby where he could say mourners’ kaddish for his mother who had passed away a few days earlier on the 30th of Shvat.

Upon entering the small Shul in Jerusalem’s center, Chaimson was overcome with wonder and appreciation. It amazed him that so many Jewish shop owners and employees – from the ultra observant to the non-affiliated – in one of the busiest areas in Israel, put aside their work and income at a precise time every day, in order to pray together to their Creator. He wondered if such a trend could be implemented in his hometown in Brooklyn, New York.

His proposal was met with eagerness on the main drag of Crown Heights. Kingston Avenue shopkeepers and workers agreed upon a time of midday prayer and have been congregating at the same time for Mincha every workday since. It soon became known in the neighborhood as the Merchants’ Minyan.

Yesterday, Rosh Chodesh Adar, 5770, marks two years since the passing of Chaimson’s mother. Since the congregation’s induction on Adar 7 two years ago, “We have never missed a day,” comments Shloime Gutleizer, owner of Apple Drugs Pharmacy. Having originally been held at the Art Institute on Kingston Ave. for the first week, and then at Mishkan Menachem on Crown Street for six months, Shane’s Shul on Kingston Ave. is now the congregation’s permanent location.

At 1:45 PM Sunday through Friday, merchants converge for the Mincha prayer, following which a brief halacha shiur is given by Rabbi Levi Y. Browd, director of Yagdil Torah. The congregation’s organizers approached Browd to arrange post-davening Divrei Torah, for Yagdil Torah promotes Torah learning in Crown Heights and provides study opportunities for neighborhood residents. “I admire people who sit for those extra few minutes after davening to hear words of Torah,” the director said.

Attendees are pleased to have a convenient minyan that runs punctually every single day, because they have the assurance that they will be part of the mitzvah without having to leave their posts at the office for an extended period of time.

J.J. Katz from Heights Properties calls it “a great thing.” It was difficult to attend a collective minyan before the Merchants’ Minyan was functioning, he said. “Mincha has the biggest reward when said with a minyan,” Mr. Katz explained, “because it is right in the middle of the work day, in middle of making parnasa.”

Kingston Pizza owner Shloime Lerer compliments the minyan on being “Baruch Hashem, very matzliach,” with its punctuality and attendance. He says he appreciates the convenience of the congregation’s location, as it is directly across the street from his pizza shop.

While it began with as few as six members looking frantically for a total of ten to complete their minyan, the Merchants’ Minyan has since grown to as many as 30-40 daily participants.

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16 Comments

  • Shain-s Shul

    In general: If anyone needs a puctual Minyan, Shacris Mincha or Maariv – Shain’s Shul is the place!

  • touched CH resident

    This is really very beautiful. I wish these merchants much Hatzlocha in their business undertakings in the z’chus of their participation. Hopefully this publicity will encourage others to partake in this special Minyan too.

  • What a Zchus!

    Making Hashem, the Rebbe, and all of us, very proud! May you all be Matzliach a hundredfold!

  • kohaindna

    Beautiful!
    May you all go may’chayil el chayil, and lead us all to the geula with Moshiach Tzidkainu.
    Very proud parents and grandparents from Far Rockaway.

  • MEIR RHODES

    OMG ISN’T THAT AVI KAMMEN THE ENERGY CZAR OF CH AND HARVEY LANG THE OLD ENERGY CZAR IN THE SAME MINYOUN? THE MESSIAH MUST BE ON HIS WAY.

  • Chani

    Dovi, ur mothers Neshama should have an aliya, and she should be a gutteh better for all of us!!

  • Not a CH resident

    wow, CH “discovered” that its a good idea to have a punctual minyan for mincha!
    Whats the next news story?
    “I was traveling in London and I saw an amazing site: a Kosher bakery. Lets open a kosher bakery in CH. we can do it too!!!”

  • Tzvi Lang

    Meir not only did I bring him to the minyon but I suggested that he (Avi Kammen)apply for his “energy czar” job.
    But you are right about the Messiah.