ABOUT US
The Alesker shul is a true model of what a Bais Hashem should be, where every Torah-connected Jew, no matter his dress code or background, finds his place. To put it simply, we view every Jew as a part of Klal Yisroel. This means that the connection between all the mispallelim is a real Kesher Uman, where everyone in the shul feels like brothers.
If we would be asked to describe the Alesker shul in one perfectly appropriate phrase, we would call it Bais Hamedrash Ha’eshkolis. This means that the shul doesn’t have merely one crown, but is in fact adorned with many crowns.
If we would be asked to describe the Alesker shul in one perfectly appropriate phrase, we would call it Bais Hamedrash Ha’eshkolis. This means that the shul doesn’t have merely one crown, but is in fact adorned with many crowns.
“Al Shloshah Devorim Ha’olam Omed: Al HaTorah V’al Ha’avodah V’al Gemilas Chasodim.” These three entities maintain the existence of this world – and in the same sense, Boruch Hashem we can say Al Shlosha Devorim Alesk Omed, these three things uphold the shul, and Boruch Hashem we have been zoche to achieve much success in these three pillars.
The levels of harbotzas Torah in the Alesker shul are very high indeed. In addition to the five daily shiurim in which many mispallelim participate, the Heichal Haseforim is open 24 hours, 7 days a week – available to all who wish to benefit from its vast resources.
Besides the daily shiurim, every Shabbos Mevorchim there is a popular shiur given on Or Hachaim. Moreover, every Yom Tov features special shiurim and drashos given by choshuve rabbonim from both within the shul as well as from other kehillos. Finally, every Motzoei Shabbos the shul hosts a beautiful Avos U’banim program, where fathers learn together with their children and create a strong personal bond based on limud haTorah.
The hundreds of daily mispallelim in Khal Lev Someach – Alesk are vivid testimony to the magnificent avodah that is an essential and nearly constant aspect of the shul, with minyanim running in the morning from sunrise until chatzos. In fact, there are minyanim for Shacharis every 15 minutes. A very similar schedule is set up for Mincha and Maariv, with minyanim constantly taking place for most of the time period from early afternoon until midnight.
Throughout Shabbos morning, there are multiple minyanim starting as early as 7:00 AM.
In general, the spiritually uplifting warmth of the davening on Shabbos and Yom Tov – especially on the Yomim Noroim – is truly unprecedented and amazing.
The chesed that is performed in the Alesker shul goes way beyond the usual expectations, reflecting great devotion and achdus among the mispallelim. Before Pesach, over $30,000 is distributed for the purpose of kimcha depischa (maos chitim). Before Purim, more than $10,000 is distributed for matonos la’evyonim. During the year, when someone in the shul is making a simcha, or a member simply doesn’t have sufficient funds for any personal need, his friends from the shul are immediately ready to step in and help, Many organizations from around the globe come to the Alesker Shul for fundraising purposes, and the mispallelim contribute generously.
We can sum up our fantastic chesed activities with the phrase, Ashreinu Ma Tov Chelkanu Uma Noim Goralanu.
Over this past year we corrected and repaired many items that were needed in the shul. We added more showers in the mikvah, installed new, more efficient sinks in the lobby, and added many more hangers to the coat racks. The entire lighting in the shul was replaced with stronger lights. In general, many more extra touches were put in place to beautify and enhance the shul.
We have a number of additional plans for improvements in the future, i. e. new tables and chairs, repainting, etc. We also hope to open a Bais Hora’ah to provide answers to detailed halachic shailos and a Gemach to lend out funds to those who are in need.