Rabbi Mordechai Jungreis, beloved Nikolsburger Rebbe of Boro Park, has assumed leadership of the Woodbourne Shul. During the regular school year, Rabbi Jungreis serves as the Pre-1A rebbi in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, where he has infused thousands of children with Yiddishkeit. In addition, Rabbi Jungreis leads Beis Medrash Khal Chassidei Nikolsburg-Kollel Boro Park at 4912 16th Avenue in Boro Park. There, Rabbi Jungreis exerts a magnetic pull on chassidishe children-at-risk with astonishing success.
Chassidim of Rabbi Jungreis have freshened and upgraded the shul. In addition, they have rented a home across the street for the Nikolsburger Rebbe’s summer residence. The shul’s doors have opened wide and weekday Shacharis is at: 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 a.m., and from 12:00 p.m. onward. Minchah on Sundays begins at 3:00 p.m. and every 15 minutes thereafter; Minchah during the week begins at 5:00 p.m. and every 15 minutes thereafter; Ma’ariv begins at nightfall and every 15 minutes thereafter.
With the downstairs refurbished and turned into a large second beis medrash, the shul accommodates more than one minyan at a time. Often, a third simultaneous minyan can be met outside the front doors. The last minyan for weekday Maariv is scheduled for 11:45 p.m., but do not be surprised if you see minyan after minyan well past midnight.
woodbourne-41On Shabbos, the Nikolsburger Rebbe leads tefillos and tisch in the shul. The Motzaei Shabbos grand melaveh malkah that lasts beyond the regular Havdalah time draws large crowds and is appreciated not only by those living nearby, but by those that manage to arrive there in time to catch some of it.
Another ingredient that Rabbi Jungreis has introduced is a constant smorgasbord of cake, nosh, and drinks set out at all times. In addition, during late afternoon and evening hours, delicious chulent and kugel (potato and lukshen) are served to all takers. Rabbi Jungreis thus generously provides edible as well as spiritual nourishment.
As more and more sefarim are being brought into the shul daily, the facility now offers visitors to Woodbourne a retreat where they can learn their Daf Yomi, Mishnah, Gemara, Chumash, or Shulchan Aruch daily shiur, where they can review yesterday’s shiur, check a halacha, as well as recite Tehillim in tranquility, all mere steps away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street while wives or children are shopping nearby. The opening of the shul 24/7 has had a profound effect on Woodbourne. Seeing people on Main Street rush to catch a minyan at all hours at the Woodbourne Shul, no longer can anyone imagine that rabbis once issued any ban limiting visits there.
