‘Guest Shul’ Opens This Shabbos

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Yossi Percia / COLlive

The new edition of the “Tzach List” Chabad community phone book records 51 weekday and Shabbos shuls in the ever-growing Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.

One more will be added to that list this Shabbos.

A group of residents, spearheaded by Schneur Minsky, were busy the past few days overseeing the final touch-ups on the 1st floor of the brick town-house at 1457 Union Street, between Kingston and Brooklyn Avenues.

The building belongs to the complex of Lubavitch World Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway and is owned by Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch.

Minsky and Yossi Popack renovated the top floor last year for bochurim staying in New York for the Tishrei month, in coordination with Vaad Hatmimim. Merkos agreed to have the new shul there on a temporary basis.

“This shul will be all about chesed, tefilah and limud,” Minsky, who is in the art framing business, told COLlive.com.

“We will be open on Shabbos and Yomtov and there will be no talking (during davening),” he said. “We plan to be a place where visiting Shluchim can come and farbreng.”

The “Guest Shul” (no official name has been chosen) can seat 50 to 60 men and 25 women which will most likely be comprised of local residents, like Avremel Lokshin and others who are involved in its founding.

Seats for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur davening will be free of charge. A chazzan is yet to be chosen.

A Mashpia, on the other hand, has been named: Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmenson, a neighbor from Union Street and member of Lahak – the organization that publishes the Rebbe’s teachings.

This Shabbos, one of the last of the year, will be the first for this shul. Are all welcome.