200 @ Maple Street Shul annual Melava Malka

By Yitzchok Wagshul – Crown Heights Chronicle

The annual melave malka of Congregation Ahavas Moische, better known as the Maple Street Shul, was held last Motzoei Shabbos, April 9 at the shul.

Because it is situated on what, until recently, had been the southernmost border of our neighborhood, the Maple Street Shul has long been considered a “community shul,” rather than merely of significance to local mispallelim. Its annual melave malka is traditionally attended by a wide spectrum of residents from all areas of Crown Heights.

The event drew around 200 people throughout the evening, including the Rov and Mara D’Asra, Rabbi Aharon Yaakov Schwei shlita, and the internationally noted activist and lecturer Rabbi Dovid Hollander shlita.

Rav Schwei reminisced about the fact that in his youth, the Maple Street shul was “his shul,” because he used to regularly review a maamar of Chassidus there for the congregants. He expressed great satisfaction at the growth that portion of the neighborhood is experiencing B”H, and urged that more homes in the area be purchased, so that before long, there will again be many shuls there, a mikveh, and so on.

Rabbi Hollander spoke movingly about Jewish issues and the need to stand firm in support of the Torah way of life. Referring to the current crisis the Maple Street Shul is undergoing, arising from the collapse of its retaining wall and the need to raise funds for its repair, Rabbi Hollander likened the shul itself, which has remained steadfast at the border and never let up in its activities, to a retaining wall. It symbolizes the need of all of us to remain at our posts and faithfully guard the boundaries of the Torah outlook.

“The Maple Street Shul,” the Rabbi proclaimed, “is the ‘retaining wall’ of Am Yisroel.”

Contributions to the emergency repair campaign can be made payable to Congregation Ahavas Moische and sent to the shul’s president, Eli Blachman, at 682 Lefferts Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203.