The first Alesker Rebbe – the righteous “Lev Someach” of Alesk – the holy sage, source of salvations, and leading rav of the generation Rav Chanoch Dov Meyer ZTK”L, was born in the year Tav Kuf Samech to his great parents, the renowned Tzaddik Rav Shmuel of Belz and Rebbetzin Roiza A”H. Rav Shmuel was a son of the Rav and renowned chasid Rabbi Shamai of Belz (who was the son of the holy Gaon Rav Meir ZT”L, widely known as the “Kadosh of Belz” and a disciple of the saintly Baal Shem Tov).

It is told that when the Lev Someach was born, the holy Sar Shalom of Belz (the Lev Someach’s future father-in-law) declared, “Two holy souls who will light up the world have just arrived in this world.” (When the Sar Shalom was later asked about the status of those two souls, he replied that one of them ha.d already fallen from his initially lofty level, while the other (i.e. the Lev Someach) was continuously achieving ever-greater levels of righteousness.)

Upon the Lev Someach’s seventh birthday, his father Rav Shmuel took him and his older brother (the future Manavidieh Rav) to the holy Choizeh of Lublin. When the two boys came in to the Choizeh’s house to greet him, the Tzaddik took them both close to him and blessed them, commenting that, while both boys were destined to reach great spiritual heights, the young Chanoch (the Lev Someach) would become the greater of the two. Referring in later years to this encounter, the Lev Someach would note that, from then onward, the sacred image of the Choizeh had become permanently engraved in his mind.

The Lev Someach once described a trip he made to the Choizeh together with his future father-in-law, the Sar Shalom. It seems that there was then a custom for the young children to recite the Birchos HaShachar for the Choizeh, and the Tzaddik would answer Amein; if one of the boys was a son of a holy Tzaddik, the Choizeh would give him three reinish (coins). When the Lev Someach recited the Birchos HaShachar and was rewarded with the three coins, instead of spending the money as most children would do, he chose to put the beloved coins away and keep them for his later years.

When he was yet a young child, the Lev Someach became engaged to the holy Sar Shalom’s daughter, the Tzaddekes Freida. Describing as an adult how the shiduch took place as a result of the far-reaching vision of the Choizeh, the Lev Someach recounted that the Sar Shalom went in to see the Choizeh with a Kvittel beseeching a match for his daughter Freidel. In response, the Choizeh stated, “Your future son-in-law is very well-liked in my eyes, and he will travel on your wagon.” At that time, the Choizeh’s words were mystifying.

Some time later, the Sar Shalom traveled again to Lublin to see the Choizeh. For the outset of the trip, the Sar Shalom was joined by a group of his Chassidim and supporters, who remained with him until the group reached the edge of their city, at which point they left to return home. Unbeknownst to anyone, the young Lev Someach remained in the wagon. When the Sar Shalom realized after awhile that the boy had not gotten off to return home with the other passengers, the elder Tzadik asked him why he did not do so before it was too far for the boy to walk back home. The young Lev Someach simply answered that he wanted to travel with his rebbe all the way to Lublin. Taking note of the boy’s reply, the Sar Shalom remembered the words of the holy Choizeh (“Your future son-in-law will travel on your wagon”) and waited for the right time to put the prediction into effect.

On the day when Bedikas Chometz was to be performed before Pesach, the Sar Shalom went out of the city to draw the special water known as “Mayim Shelanu” that is used in conjunction with the ceremony. (The Sar Shalom did this in keeping with the admonishment of the “Bach”, who upon leaving the city of Belz, stated that there would no longer be any clean water in Belz.) Many children began running after the Sar Shalom’s wagon to join him in the water-drawing procedure, but most of them became too tired and soon gave up the chase. One child, however – the young Lev Someach – refused to stop running after the Tzaddik’s wagon, prompting the Sar Shalom to summon him onto the wagon and engage the determined child in a Torah discussion.

The Sar Shalom was so enamored of the boy’s personality, that immediately upon his arrival home, the Tzaddik told his rebbetzin that he had found a suitable chosson for their daughter, and he wanted to make the engagement that very day. Despite the rebbetzin’s objection that the busy day of Bedikas Chometz was not a proper time to make shidduchim, the match was finalized on that Erev Pesach, with complete success!

In the course of all the subsequent years that the Lev Someach lived by his sainted father-in-law the Sar Shalom, the two of them discussed and learned Torah for more than three thousand nights.

Rebbetzin Fraidel operated a business that provided a small living for the couple. On one occasion, when the Lev Someach prepared to travel to Lemberg to buy seforim, the rebbetzin asked him to also buy some merchandise for the business. On the way home, while the Lev Someach was staying over at an inn, the wagon filled with merchandise was stolen. Greatly pained by this calamity, the Lev Someach went back to Lemberg and repurchased the same amount of merchandise that had been stolen, strongly admonishing the wagon-driver not to reveal to the rebbetzin about the unfortunate robbery.

Several days after the Lev Someach’s return home, a Jewish man who was tragically paralyzed came in to see the Sar Shalom, tearfully telling the Tzaddik that he had stolen merchandise from one of his children and had subsequently become paralyzed. The Sar Shalom launched an investigation into the incident, but could not get any further information as no one had reported any robbery. When the Lev Someach was apprised of the situation, he “admitted” that his merchandise had been stolen during his business trip, and that he had hidden the matter from his rebbetzin so that she would not get upset. Hearing all this, the Sar Shalom advised the admitted thief to visit the Lev Someach, plead for forgiveness and entreat the Tzaddik to pray for his recovery from the paralysis that had beset him. The Sar Shalom assured the confessed thief that the Lev Someach was extremely righteous and his prayers on behalf of the man would surely be accepted.

The holy Lev Someach merited to spend time with many Tzaddikim, including the “Saraf” of Strelisk zy”a (with whom he met 32 times), the Ropshitzer Rebbe, the Rizhiner (Roziner?), and other Tzaddikim.

In the year Tav Reish Yud, when the great Tzaddik Rabbi Berish of Alesk was revealed, a delegation from Alesk came to the holy Sar Shalom to ask who should be crowned as the leader in Alesk. The Sar Shalom answered, “What’s wrong with my son-in-law Rav Henoch?”

However, the people were afraid that they would not be able to support such a great Rebbe, to whom so many Chassidim came to visit. The Sar Shalom, however, assured them not to worry, as his son-in-law would bring along a blessing of sustenance. Ultimately, the holy Lev Someach did become the Rav of Alesk, where he served as Rebbe until his last days, and the Sar Shalom’s blessing regarding sufficient financial support was fulfilled to the fullest.

The Lev Someach led the kehillah in Alesk with manifest strength. Although he was by nature very peaceful and humble, whenever there arose a case of improper behavior among his followers, he came out very strongly against those who breached Torah directives, especially when the issue concerned “hasogas gvul” (encroaching on a fellow Jew’s source of business income). The Lev Someach also appointed a recognized Posek to serve under his leadership, since the Rebbe was very busy with the people who regularly came to his house seeking advice on personal matters. At the same time, the Lev Someach himself was a great Talmid Chochom and leading Posek, whose every halachic decision was built on the rulings of his great father-in-law, the Sar Shalom zy”a.

The Alesker Rebbe – the Lev Someach – was widely recognized throughout the Torah world due to his righteousness and purity. Thousands of Jews thronged to him from far and wide, coming to obtain advice from the Gadol HaDor. It is told that once on Motzoei Yom Kippur, when the Rebbe came to the words “Shuvu Lochem L’Oholeichem” (“Return to your tents”), he called out to the young people around him, “You can be sure that it does not refer to us.”

The people in Alesk were witness to many distinct personal salvations that came about as a result of the power of the Lev Someach’s Tefillah, which he had received from his sainted father-in-law. To be sure, the Lev Someach was constantly seen davening for Klal Yisroel. It is told that on one occasion, the Rebbe was detained for a long time before davening, so when the Gabbai saw that it was getting quite late, he went in to remind the Rebbe that it was time to commence davening. The Lev Someach proceeded to remonstrate the Gabbai, saying, “I’m already standing and davening for Klal Yisroel for several hours, and you tell me to go daven??!!”

The Lev Someach believed that leading the Tefillos in shul can bring the shliach tzibur many types of salvation. According to Rav Ezriel Glick shlita, who served as special assistant to the Satmar Rebbe ztvk”l, the Satmar Rebbe once honored an Alesker grandchild with davening for the amud. Despite the fact that the boy did not have a particularly pleasant voice, the Rebbe nevertheless sent him over to the amud to lead the davening. After the boy completed leading the tefillos, he told the Satmar Rebbe that even though he was not really a “Baal Tefillah,” he accepted the honor because he was not feeling so well, and he had been assured by his zeide (the Lev Someach) that “an amud heals.”

The Lev Someach passed away on the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul in the year Tav Reish Mem Daled. At the moment of his passing, all of the clocks in his house amazingly stopped working, as did the clocks that were by his followers. This was truly a miraculous event!

It is important to pause at this point and present a brief overview of the holy seforim of the Lev Someach, first and foremost of which is the special Siddur he composed. It is enough to mention one aspect that demonstrates the unique holiness of this Siddur. It is known that the Lev Someach was a great source of salvations for all types of sick people, and the custom was that when the names of those who were ill were mentioned during davening, he would look into the Siddur of the Ari HaKadosh while praying for their recovery. However, once the Lev Someach’s own Siddur was published, he would use that instead each time the cholim were mentioned, apparently feeling that his Siddur helped him achieve a particularly effective ability of salvation. Utilizing the power of his special Siddur, the Lev Someach was able to produce many salvations for Jews in need.

The Alesker Rebbe also produced two other seforim, “Lev Someach Al HaTorah,” and the “Lev Someach HaChodosh,” which explains in full detail all of the customs of Alesk. Each of the Lev Someach’s seforim contains numerous thoughts of hidden Torah. When Rav Ashkenazi Shlita married off his youngest son several years ago, the Rav disseminated the sefer “Likutei Lev Someach” – a collection of brief thoughts based in hidden Torah. These were culled from all of the Lev Someach’s seforim, as well as from other seforim that quote him. In the beginning of this new sefer, there is a lengthy family history of the Lev Someach; a major amount of work was put into this sefer by HaRav HaGaon Hershel Ashkenazi Shlita, Rosh Mesivta of Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah and son of the Rav Shlita. “Likutei Lev Someach” has been widely accepted among Torah scholars and connoisseurs of seforim.

The holy Lev Someach had two sons, HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Itzikel Alesker zt”l, and HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Shlomo Sassover zt”l. His well-known son-in-law (“a son-in-law like his son”), HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Anshel Ashkenazi zt”l, was the son of HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Yoel Ashkenazi zt”l, who was the Zlatshover Rav, author of the sefer “Shaalos U’Teshuvos Maha”ri Ashkenazi” and father-in-law of the sainted Kedushas Yom Tov.

Following the petirah of the Lev Someach, his son Rav Itzikel was appointed in his stead to lead Alesk, in the process becoming widely renowned for his special power of leadership. Likewise, his brother Rav Shlomo became the spiritual leader of Sassov, where he became widely recognized for his special powers of Tefillah, which brought many salvations for Klal Yisroel.

The Chassidim recount how on the last Shabbos of the Lev Someach’s life, during the “tish” which he always led, the handle of the Shabbos knife broke off from the body of the knife. The Rebbe proceeded to give over the handle to his son Rav Yitzchok, while he gave the knife itself to his son Rav Shlomo. The Chassidim understood from this that the Lev Someach was transferring his power of leadership to his son Rav Yitzchok, whereas he was transferring his power of “sharp” intellect and ability to effect miracles to his son Rav Shlomo. This “distribution of powers” was subsequently confirmed as each son established his rabbinical court and demonstrated their individual capabilities.

Due to the fact that a larger group of Alesker Chassidim were living at that time in the city of Stanislav, Rav Anshel Ashkenazi, son-in-law of the Lev Someach, was appointed to be the rabbinical leader of the city’s Alesker kehilla. Rav Anshel was recognized as a great servant of Hashem, a passionate Jew, who served the Creator with all of his soul and all of his might.

After Rav Anshel’s passing, his son-in-law Rav Itzikel succeeded to the position of Alesker Rebbe in Stanislav. Rav Itzikel was taken from this world on the tragic Hoshanah Rabbah when the Germans yemach sh’mom drove the Jews of Stanislav to the cemetery, forcing them to dig mass graves for themselves (Hashem Yinkom Domom). On the way to the cemetery, Rav Itzikel was totally overwhelmed by the horrible tragedies afflicting the Jewish people, and sadly passed away. His devoted Chassidim made sure to immediately perform the ritual purification on his body, and he was buried in a separate grave near the Ohel of HaRav HaKadosh Rav Chaim Montania zt”l (the brother of the Baal Ahavas Yisroel of Viznitza zt”l).

In the year Tav Shin Nun Ches, in the month of Elul, Rav Ashkenazi Shlita traveled with his father HaGaon HaTzaddik the Melbourner Rav Shlita to Alesk in the Ukraine, to visit the noted burial place of the Lev Someach zt”l. They found the exact spot of the grave, with a fence built around the cemetery and an Ohel built over the grave itself. The Rav Shlita also visited Stanislav, where the local residents pointed out the grave of Rav Itzikel, and there was an emotional gathering when the Melbourner Rav said Kaddish for the first time at the Tzaddik’s grave. Subsequently, a monument was installed at the grave with a protective fence surrounding it, thus enabling Jews to freely come and daven there for all their personal needs. Since that trip, a group of the Rav’s grandchildren travels annually to Alesk to gather at the Lev Someach’s burial site and pray for all of their personal concerns.

Rav Itzikel’s son HaRav HaTzaddik Rabbi Alexander Chaim zt”l, who stood throughout the years by his father’s “right side”, served as the head of the highly distinguished Yeshiva Ohr Torah in Stanislav. Rav Alexander Chaim zt”l put in great efforts to ensure that the yeshiva would function properly and that all its activities would be implemented in the best possible fashion. When the years of difficulty for the Jews of Europe began later on, the Rav traveled to Switzerland, where he accomplished great achievements. Subsequently emigrating to Eretz Yisroel, Rav Alexander Chaim served at the side of HaGaon HaKadosh the Baal VaYoel Moshe of Satmar zy”a, helping to establish institutions of Torah and Jewish education. He also made great endeavors there in the area of chesed, assisting Jews who were in difficult straits. The Rav passed away in Eretz Yisroel in the year Tav Shin Lamed Daled. (We hope at another time to write more details of the family history of the Lev Someach, his children, his son-in-law Rav Anshel, his son-in-law Rav Itzikel, and Rav Itzikel’s son Rav Sender zt”l, as every aspect of their lives contains much that is worthy of noting.)

Rav Alexander Chaim’s son, HaGaon HaTzaddik the Melbourner Rav Shlita, who currently lives in Brooklyn’s Seagate community, grew up in Stanislav “on the knees” of his holy grandfather HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Itzikel zt”l, drawing in abundant amounts of sanctity and purity. The Melbourner Rav went on to influence his children and grandchildren through the transmission of the sacred chain of Torah observance that was established by his illustrious ancestors.

The Melbourner Rav Shlita was a student of HaGaon HaTzaddik Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l, the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, and subsequently learned by his uncle HaRav HaTzaddik Rabbi Yoel Ashkenazi zt”l, the Tresever Rav. The Melbourner Rav then moved from Europe to Eretz Yisroel, eventually becoming the son-in-law of his uncle HaGaon HaTzaddik Rav Zalman Weber zt”l, the Admor of Frankfurt (who was himself the son-in-law of Rav Itzikel from Stanislav). Rav Zalman was the grandson of the great sage and Tzaddik Rav Mordechai Eliezer Weber, the Ada’er Rav, whom the holy Sanzer Rav, the Divrei Chaim zy”a, referred to as “Rav Ada Bar Ahavah. Additionally, Rav Zalman was a grandson of the great Tzaddik the “Aryeh D’Bei Eela’ah”, and his father-in-law was the Ba’al Yismach Moshe from Uhel.

The Melbourner Rav Shlita had a great share in the rescue of the Belzer Rebbe, HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Aharon zy”a, who was saved with Divine kindness from the defiled hands of the evil Germans yemach sh’mom. During his time in Eretz Yisroel, the Melbourner Rav worked together with the great sage the Ba’al Shevet HaLevi Shlita, to reestablish the Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin in the Holy Land. (The Ba’al Shevet HaLevi acknowledged the Melbourner Rav’s efforts in this regard, while speaking at the dinner for his yeshiva last year here in America.)

In the year Tav Shin Yud Zayin, the Melbourner Rav Shlita was appointed to become the rav in Sao Paulo, Brazil, serving in the rabbinate there for twelve years. During this period, the Rav founded Yeshiva Ohr Torah in Brazil, carrying on the legacy of Yeshiva Ohr Torah in Stanislav. This yeshiva was successful in bringing back hundreds of Jewish souls to the service of their Father in Heaven. Following his achievements in Brazil, the Rav ascended to the rabbinical leadership in Melbourne, Australia, where he served for over eighteen years. It is worth noting that when the Melbourner Rav first arrived in that city, one could perhaps find three Chassidishe Yidden wearing shtraimlech there, but by the time of his “farewell” dinner, there were more than two hundred shtraimel-wearing Chassidim living in Melbourne under his inspiring leadership.

Following the bitter destruction of the Holocaust, during which the finest Torah leaders and scholars of Klal Yisroel were decimated, many Jews found a peaceful home, with Hashem’s help, here in America. They began to rebuild Jewish life anew, establishing Batei Midrashos in the names of previous Tzaddikim to perpetuate their legacies. In the year Tav Shin Chaf Daled, nearly twenty years had passed since the end of the war, and yet not one bais medrash or similar institution had been built to continue the legacy of the Tzaddikim of the Alesker dynasty. Responding to this unfortunate situation, Rav Ashkenazi Shlita, who bears the name of his great-grandfather HaRav HaKadosh Rabbi Itzikel Alesker (the Alesker Rebbe in Stanislav until World War II), founded the Alesker Kehilla and Yeshiva in America, in the name of HaRav HaKadosh the Lev Someach of Alesk zy”a.

With this establishing of the Alesker Kehilla, which continued a long chain stretching back to the beloved “alter haim” of Europe, Rav Ashkenazi helped nullify the evil intentions of the Jewish people’s enemies yemach sh’mom, who wanted to ensure that Jewish communities would be no more than a chapter of history.

Initiating the new Kehilla with the establishment of the Alesker Yeshiva, the Rav rented the Williamsburg Bais Medrash of the Kaliver Rebbe zy”a, who was the Rav’s father-in-law. The new Alesker Yeshiva quickly gained a reputation as a place where a young man who was a Ben Torah and a Yirei Shomayim could typically be found; Jews who sought a match for their daughters knew that when they chose a boy from the Alesker Yeshiva, they were getting one of the finest students from the American yeshiva world.

Two years later, in the year Tav Shin Chof Vav, the yeshiva had grown, and the Kaliver Bais Medrash became too small to contain the ever-larger number of students. At the same time, the Rav was also seeking a quieter atmosphere for the yeshiva bochurim outside of the bustling part of the city. Accordingly, he bought a separate building on 674 East 2^nd Street to house the yeshiva, and simultaneously used the newly purchased structure to establish the Bais Medrash “Khal Lev Someach Alesk.”

The new building containing the Alesker Bais HaMedrash and the Yeshiva was inaugurated in the month of Elul of that year, on the yahrtzeit of the Lev Someach zy”a. The “Chanukas HaBayis” was celebrated with great ceremony, with the participation of prestigious Chassidic Rebbes, Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshivos from all across the communal spectrum. The guests included the “Zutshka” Rebbe zt”l, the esteemed Gaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, and many other rabbinic luminaries.

Shortly after the Alesker Rebbe, Rav Ashkenazi Shlita, established his mosdos in Kensington, the entire neighborhood took on a new image. The Rebbe injected a new energy and strength into the area’s frum population, which included older Yidden – many of whom had survived the Holocaust and remained devoted to Yiddishkeit – who made a permanent place for themselves to daven in the Alesker Bais Medrash.

The Rav would regularly consult with and seek advice from the Satmar Rebbe zy”a on the various concerns of the community, obtaining much encouragement and relevant insight from his sainted mentor. In fact, the Satmar Rebbe gave a special donation of five hundred dollars – a fantastic amount in those days – to the Alesker mosdos at the institutions’ first annual dinner.

The well-attended dinner for the Alesker mosdos in the year Tav Shin Nun Ches also featured a Siyum HaShas celebrating the learning of the entire Talmud in the Bais Medrash. At this event, Rav Ashkenazi recounted how, in the year Tav Shin Chaf Zayin, he had called the Satmar Rebbe to invite him to the Melave Malka that Alesk was holding that year. The Satmar Rebbe responded to this offer by saying, “Why are you making a Melave Malka? If you would make a dinner, it would be very successful!”

The Alesker Yeshiva was then highly esteemed in the Torah community, recognized as a place where capable young men were successfully and thoroughly learning all aspects of the Torah. In those years, the yeshiva students were completing Mesechtas in Shas on a yearly basis, including many of the most difficult Mesechtas, such as Shabbos, Baba Basra, and the like, and they were able to pass review tests on these tractates given them by the leading Torah sages of that time.

In previous years, the yeshiva operated in conjunction with the yeshiva of the Pittsburgher Rebbe zt”l, who lived at that time in Newark, New Jersey and called himself the Tchernovitzer Rebbe, as his father the Admor of Pittsburgh was still living. Following his father’s passing, he moved to Eretz Yisroel to assume his father’s position, so his yeshiva fully moved into the Alesker Bais Medrash, where it continued successfully for a number of years until financial difficulties forced it to close.

In the year Tav Shin Lamed Vav, Alesk undertook a new venture to expand the level of holiness in Kensington. Realizing that the now sizable local frum community did not have its own mikveh, and residents were forced to go into Borough Park whenever one was needed, Rav Ashkenazi supervised the building of a new mikveh in the yard of the Bais Medrash. The new mikveh was constructed in accordance with all halachic stringencies and with full embellishments, following the rulings of all the Poskim, and with the approbation of the leading contemporary sages, including Rav Gedaliah Schorr and Rav Moshe Bick zt”l. In fact, these two Gedolim proclaimed that they were greatly impressed with the tremendous efforts put into the kashrus and proper operation of the mikveh by Rav Ashkenazi.

In the year Tav Shin Lamed Zayin, the Rav founded Yeshiva D’var Yerushalayim, for the purpose of teaching Torah to Jews who were unfortunately weak in their familiarity with Judaism. Rav Ashkenazi put a great deal of energy into the yeshiva in the effort to bring the students closer to a life of Torah observance. The yeshiva operated for many years with great success; in fact, there are many Jews today whose entire adherence to frumkeit is a direct result of the years they spent learning in Yeshiva D’var Yerushalayim. As a result of their experiences in the yeshiva, they have merited to establish Jewish households faithful to Hashem and His Torah.

By that point in time, the community had become well aware of the Rav’s auspicious endeavors, and he had garnered many supporters. When a group of Flatbush residents came to Rav Ashkenazi and entreated him to move into their neighborhood, the Rav felt that he could not ignore their heartfelt request. Yet at the same time, he did not want to abandon his beloved group of mispallelim in this area. The decision was thus made to establish a separate Alesker Bais Medrash on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue L, with the Rav dividing his leadership of the minyanim between both shuls, and providing a steady influence of Torah and service to Hashem in each location.

In the month of Cheshvan of the year Tav Shin Mem Alef, a terrible fire broke out in the first Bais Medrash (in Kensington), tragically destroying or damaging a number of Sifrei Torah. At the major funeral that was subsequently held for the decimated Torah scrolls, the Rav passionately outlined several areas of personal behavior among members of the community which he felt were in need of rectification, as a response to this Heaven-sent tragedy.

As the Bais Medrash was then not fit for use, a temporary location for davening was rented at 301 Avenue F, and a much larger space on 18^th Avenue and East 2^nd Street was rented for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Soon afterwards, active members of the shul, led by the extremely dedicated Reb Yeshaya Grossman a”h, spearheaded the purchase of the new building that was located at 203 Avenue F, which has become the permanent home of the Bais Medrash to this day. (Mr. Grossman a”h accomplished much good for the Kehillah over the years, and he is memorialized near the Aron Kodesh in the main Bais Medrash.)

Facing the stark reality that huge sums of money would be required to purchase the building and properly renovate the area of the Bais Medrash, the mispallelim informed Rav Ashkenazi that they were prepared to fully commit themselves to raise the necessary funds and ensure the rebuilding of the shul. However, they stipulated that they would only do so on the condition that the Rav would lead the minyanim in the Kensington shul on a full-time basis, both during the week and on Shabbos, so that the membership could completely benefit from his spiritual illumination. Acknowledging the members’ great yearning for his guidance – to such an extent that they had become like Torah students who could be considered as children – the Rav acquiesced to their request and the renovation process was set in motion. Despite many difficulties along the way, the new Bais Medrash was finally completed to perfection and in full splendor.

Throughout the years, Rav Ashkenazi has been extremely devoted to the needs of the Jewish community in Kensington, investing an unusual degree of effort to develop the neighborhood’s Orthodox character. In one particular example, when he discovered that a local house was available for purchase or for rent (whether from a non-Jew or a Jew), the Rav would seek out a frum Jew who was interested in obtaining the residence. Similarly, when the Rav heard that a frum Jew in the area was looking for a place to live, the Rav would do his utmost to find an available house that satisfied the person’s needs. These efforts gradually cultivated Kensington into a neighborhood that has become densely populated with thriving Orthodox families.

While recognizing the successful development of the area into a recognizable Torah community, Rav Ashkenazi was nevertheless concerned that there were very few Chassidishe Jews living in Kensington. Accordingly, in the year Tav Shin Mem Ches, he joined together with his supporters to initiate the building of apartments that would be rented out to Bnei Torah and Chassidishe families. This major endeavor ultimately met with great success, transforming the community into a blossoming center of Chassidic living that has continued to significantly expand, as can be readily witnessed nowadays.

Since the time of that initiative, the neighborhood began to grow and flourish even further. New batei medrashim have been established and an increasing number of surrounding apartments have been rented to Chassidishe Yidden, leading the area to take on an appearance similar to Jewish Williamsburgh. Boruch Hashem, the concept of “Hazorim B’dimah B’rinah Yiktzoru” (“one who plants with tears will reap with joy”) has come to fruition in the fullest sense of the expression, as we see today the resplendent neighborhood with such beautiful results.

As a result of the area’s redevelopment into a hub of frum and Chassidishe households, the Alesker Kehilla has become a “central Bais Medrash”, where on a daily basis one can find numerous minyanim for Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv, benefiting the entire community, as well as a multitude of Torah classes.

We will attempt here in somewhat concise terms to convey the range of holy activities that take place in our Bais Hamedrash, as a completely detailed description would simply be too lengthy for this journal. Moreover, we know the famous statement of Chazal that “Aino Doimeh Sh’mia L’reiah” – hearing about something cannot compare to actually seeing it for oneself. Nevertheless, we will try to give as clear a summary of the shul’s activities as can possibly be committed to paper within the confines of this printed history.

The delineation of the Bais Medrash’s ongoing services will be outlined as per the three pillars of the world – Torah, Avodah (prayer), and Gemilas Chasodim (acts of kindness).

The first two foundations of the world, Torah and Avodah (prayer), are carried out publicly with everyone’s involvement, such as the Torah classes and the minyanim. The third foundation of the world, however – Gemilus Chasodim (acts of kindness and charity) – are performed quietly and away from the public eye. We will describe this aspect of the shul’s activities here in only a brief outline, with the expectation that we will expound on this aspect in greater length at another time.

We would like to begin with the campaign of “Maos Chitim” (collecting funds for Pesach expenses for the needy), wherein we collect donations from the mispallelim for this purpose, as is required by the Shulchan Aruch at the beginning of Hilchos Pesach. We must note, however, that unfortunately no matter how much money comes into the Bais Medrash for Maos Chitim, there are still many Pesach needs of local families that are unmet, and the Rav Shlita regularly adds significant funds to ease their burdens for Yom Tov.

The Rav separately gathers funds for needy community members, to be disbursed on Purim, Everyone knows that they will fulfill the halachic requirement of giving gifts to the poor of our community in its optimal fashion by giving their donations to the Rav, who distributes all of the funds in a respectful manner.

In general, when the Rav hears that a fellow Jew in the neighborhood is undergoing serious financial difficulties, he undertakes to help the individual with a major influx of funds, sometimes in the form of a loan and at other times as an outright gift. All of these tzedakah activities are performed in a quiet fashion and with a great amount of effort to ensure that those who are in need are not in any way embarrassed by their situation.

Similarly, on a periodic basis, and specifically before every Yom Tov, the Rav distributes large amounts of funds for local residents who are in serious financial straits, as well as for needy Torah scholars and Torah students. The Rav additionally distributes clothing before Pesach for the honor of Yom Tov.

All of this is only a small portion of the expansive and generous chesed activities that the shul undertakes for the sake of the members of the congregation.

“Haboh L’horgecha, Hashkem L’horgo” (“If one comes to kill you, arise first and kill him”) – the holy seforim cite this rabbinical dictum to emphasize the great value and importance of learning Torah early in the morning prior to davening. The underlying theme of this practice is that a person’s entire day will function in a similar fashion to the manner in which it functioned at the beginning of the day. Given that, as the Gemara states, “a person’s (evil) inclination seeks to overpower him every single day” – i.e. it “comes to kill you,” the solution is to “arise first and kill him” – one should get up early in the morning to learn Torah so that he will then be able to “kill” the evil inclination when it attempts to distract him.

With this concept, we can gain an understanding of the prominence of Torah learning in the Alesker Bais Medrash, where we witness individuals who pull themselves out of bed to come and learn in the shul at five o’clock in the morning. They find that the shul has prepared for them a fine warm mikveh, and plenty of hot coffee, all to ensure that they will have the peace of mind that is needed to utilize their precious time properly. At 5:30 A.M., the first shiur of the day is given by Rabbi Yisroel Berger, who has been giving an expert Daf Yomi shiur in our Bais Medrash for more than twenty years.

We must pause here and take special note of an important aspect of the Torah study in our shul. In the year Tav Shin Samech Gimel, following Pesach, Rav Ashkenazi determined that it was vital to establish a “Kollel Boker” (“professional” morning Torah study program) specifically for married men who are busy earning a living throughout the day, so that they could have set times for learning in public before they go out to the world of work, and for which they would receive a fixed stipend. In recognition of the fact that the need to regularly provide payment to the kollel participants would eventually require significant finances, one of the shul’s respected members, Reb Nachman Fried, agreed to fund the kollel for a period of time, in memory of his unforgettable father Rav Shlomo Dovid a”h. The kollel was thus given the title of “Kollel Bnei Shlomo D’K’hal Lev Someach Alesk” in his father’s name, and to this very day Reb Nachman serves as one of the key supporters of the kollel.

The kollel is arranged on a flexible schedule in accordance with its participants’ particular needs. Some members learn from 6:00 until 7:00 and some learn from 7:00 until 8:00, while there are those who are able to commit to two hours of learning from 6:00 until 8:00. Throughout this time period, the entire room of the large Bais Medrash is specifically set aside for Torah learning, and the simultaneous minyanim for Shacharis are only held in the other rooms of the shul.

At 7:20 A.M., a Daf Yomi shiur is given by Rav Ashkenazi Shlita, who expounds on the Gemara with clarity and depth of understanding. This shiur has been given for over forty years, which means that the complete Shas has been studied here more than five times. Although the Rav’s recent physical difficulties have prevented him from delivering the shiur on a regular basis, the “seder” has not been disrupted, and the shiur has been given by his son HaRav HaGaon Rav Zalman Ashkenazi Shlita.

In the evenings, there is a Daf Yomi shiur at 8:00 P.M. given by HaRav HaGaon Rav Alexander Chaim Ashkenazi Shlita. We must take special note that HaRav HaGaon Rav Yitzchok Levi Hollander Shlita began to give this shiur more than thirty-five years ago, in the year Tav Shin Lamed Alef. The Daf Yomi cycle was then up to the middle of Mesechta Pesachim, and Rav Hollander subsequently learned through the entire Shas nearly five times in public. (Many of the mispallelim will remember that Rav Hollander was also a regular featured speaker at the shul’s annual dinner a number of years ago.)

At 9:00 P.M., a separate Daf Yomi shiur is given by HaRav Moshe Aryeh Rothman, and there is also an evening shiur in Mesechta Makkos given by HaRav Yehudah Schwartzberg from 8:30 until 10:00 P.M.

When we talk about the Torah classes that the shul offers on the holy Shabbos, we have to first mention the shiur in Chumash, Rashi and Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh that Rav Ashkenazi gives in his house. This shiur is filled with Torah insights and stories of holy and wise Tzaddikim, crafted in such a compelling manner that it draws both young and elderly attendees alike, eager to imbibe the precious words. Rabbi Rothman’s Daf Yomi shiur is also a weekly Shabbos feature in the shul.

The sainted Bais Aharon stated that learning Torah before davening Shacharis gives its participants a sense of “the lower” Gan Eden, and that learning Torah before davening on Shabbos morning creates a sense of “the higher” Gan Eden. This can help us comprehend (?) the shiurim that are learned in our Bais Medrash on Shabbos morning before davening, including the Daf Yomi shiur that is also given throughout the week by Rav Zalman Ashkenazi.

Similarly, there is a shiur in Hilchos Shabbos given every Shabbos morning by HaRav HaGaon Aharon Zelig Ashkenazi Shlita, who expounds on every Mogen Avrohom and Turei Zahav with great clarity and insight. Rav Aharon Zelig further discusses the thoughts of the later Poskim until concluding with their practical Halachic rulings on contemporary issues related to Shabbos observance. Shabbos afternoon features the continuation of the daily shiurim given by Rav Yisroel Berger, Rav Zalman Ashkenazi and Rav Alexander Chaim Ashkenazi.

In the summer months, on the lengthy Shabbos afternoons, the members of the shul sit attentively and listen to a rotating roster of respected Torah lecturers as they delve into Pirkei Avos with its sweet and fascinating thoughts. These talks leave the Tzibbur with a special feeling of additional Oneg Shabbos.

On Motzoei Shabbos, when one comes into the Bais Medrash, they are witness to an uplifting sight – the main room of the Bais Medrash, as well as all of the surrounding rooms, are filled with people involved in Torah learning. The large Bais Medrash features the program known as “VeShinantom L’Bonecha,” in which nearly a hundred boys and their fathers sit and fulfill the mitzvah of “And you shall teach them (words of Torah) to your sons” in its purest form. The sound of Torah learning is so impressive that one cannot gain a full appreciation of its impact simply by looking at the pictures of these weekly gatherings. This program is directed by our two esteemed mispallelim, Reb Yitzchok Waks and Rav Shmuel Horowitz, who lead it with a tremendous amount of devotion.

When the main learning ends, Rav Horowitz publicly learns through one mishnah, which is followed by a Kaddish. All the children loudly exclaim “Amen” and “Y’hei Sh’mei Rabbah…” – with the fervor and purity of youngsters who have never committed any sins – with the intention that their responses should serve as merits for a complete and speedy recovery for both the Rav Shlita (“Yitzchok ben Alta Chaya Sora Yehudis”) and the esteemed Rebbetzin (“Chava bas Raizel”). Following the Kaddish, the children recite a chapter of Tehillim, reading each Posuk aloud, likewise requesting a Refuah Shleimah for the Rav and Rebbetzin. Raffle prizes of seforim and other items are then distributed to the winning participants, and the children go home filled with renewed inspiration and a fresh desire to learn Torah in the upcoming week.

When one looks around the other nearby rooms in the shul at this time, they find a similarly impressive sight, as nearly a hundred older children gather for the program known as “Seder HaLimud L’Motzoei Shabbos.” These youngsters review their Torah studies of the previous week with depth and intense discussion with their friends. They also benefit from the presence of a learning advisor (a “Sho’el U’maishiv”), Rav Yisroel Wolpin, a Talmid Chochom who is able to resolve any difficulty that arises in their learning, no matter what topic they are studying. Each week, the last fifteen minutes of this program features a special appearance by a Torah scholar who expounds on a particular innovative Torah thought. The boys who learn in this program have the opportunity to win valuable seforim as prizes, such as a Shas, a Rambam, a Ritva, and the like.

As is already quite well-known to all those who live in and around this neighborhood, whenever one needs a minyan, it can be found in our Bais Medrash. The shul features on a daily basis tens of minyanim, for Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv, for a multi-faceted congregation of Jews from all types of backgrounds.

Each morning, from 6:00 until 10:00 A.M., the shul offers approximately ten to twelve consecutive minyanim for Shacharis, spread out among three separate rooms. The davening by each minyan is permeated with a sweet and fervent sound of prayer, carefully enunciated and not rushed through, as is fitting for such a respected congregation of Chassidim, accomplished people and Bnei Torah.

Similarly, each evening features a minyan for Mincha and Maariv nearly every half-hour. There is a Maariv minyan specifically for those who daven according to the earlier time when evening begins, and a minyan for those who wish to daven Maariv after the time conforming to the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam. The main purpose is that each member of the shul can find a minyan according to his convenience.

The Alesker Bais Medrash is notably different than other shuls, in that it serves as a place of Torah and Tefillah for people of a wide variety of backgrounds, each person finding his particular needs addressed in a manner that makes him feel comfortable. In this regard, the Shabbos minyanim are arranged to meet everybody’s needs. On Friday evening there are two minyanim: the first one begins shortly after the time of Shabbos candle lighting, and the second one begins three-quarters of an hour after the time of candle lighting, for those who wish to daven Maariv according to the time of Rabbeinu Tam. On the long summer days, there is yet an additional minyan on Friday evening, which takes place one hour before candle lighting time, for those who wish to start Shabbos early.

We have to take note at this point of the gathering that takes place on Friday nights in the Rav’s house. Following the learning of Chumash, Rashi and various Meforshim, everyone present joins in the singing of holy songs and praises to Hashem in honor of the holy Shabbos, with a special warmth and devotion of the soul.

On Shabbos morning, the shul features four minyanim for Shacharis. The first minyan begins at 7:00 A.M., and at its conclusion the mispallelim gather to learn a shiur in Sifrei Chassidus. The second minyan begins at 8:00, and is specially arranged for those who desire to conclude Shacharis within the halachically mandated “z’man tefillah.” The third and main minyan, located in the large Bais Medrash room, commences at 9:00 and is graced by the presence of Rav Ashkenazi Shlita, who naturally adds to the inspiring atmosphere of the minyan. The fourth minyan, which convenes at 10:00, caters to those members of the shul who wish to devote additional time to learning Torah before davening. The tefillos by every one of these minyanim proceed with warmth and fervent devotion, in the manner that is befitting a Shabbos davening.

The minyanim for Mincha on Shabbos are likewise coordinated to match the individual needs of the mispallelim. There are minyanim for those who wish to daven early in the afternoon, for those who wish to daven before sunset and for those who prefer to daven after sunset. The subsequent Shalosh Seudos meal is highlighted by the inspirational singing of zemiros according to the customs of Alesk, followed by the Rav’s Torah discourse, which is filled with Chassidishe explanations and thoughts of Mussar. The Rav always finishes his comments with heartfelt blessings for the physical and spiritual welfare of Klal Yisroel, which should be completely fulfilled until we experience the coming of Moshiach speedily in our time.

On Motzoei Shabbos, many gather in the shul for a beautiful Melave Malkah, during which HaGaon HaTzaddik “HaRav MiMaglanitza” Rav Berel Ashkenazi Shlita recounts fascinating stories about Tzaddikim whose Yahrtzeits occur during the upcoming week. Rav Berel has received these narratives from various trusted sources and he dramatically relates them to the congregation.