A special Hakarat HaTov to everyone who participated in the Massive Morning Minyan on Sunday. There is no better way to usher in Elul and prepare for the Yamim Noraim season than to daven together as a community, whether on Shabbos or a “regular” weekday. There were even people from the North Eruv who came to join us. If you weren’t able to attend this past Sunday, don’t fear - you can come join us any time - there is always a place and a smile awaiting you at minyan at Shaare Tefilla.
A special thanks to Alex Becker for sponsoring the breakfast in memory of his father, the legendary Mr. Izrael Becker, whose yahrtzeit it is this week, and for whose life attending minyan and being in shul was an integral part. A special thanks goes as well to those who prepared the breakfast and the social hall for the delicious breakfast, as usual, under the leadership of Jacques Ohayon.
Speaking of Minyan -
Last Week’s MSOTW
In 1903, a shul was founded in Centerville, New York, called “Anshei Centerville,” in Sullivan County. In 1917, the town was renamed Woodridge; by this time, the area was heavily Jewish. In the 1930s, a fight broke out amongst the membership over who would be the shochet for the community, leading to the formation of a breakaway, Ohave Sholom (breakaways almost always have the word “Shalom” in them…). Several years later, Anshe Centerville merged with its breakaway. Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz visited the community on a visit to the United States one summer, and blessed it that it should never be without a minyan. Since its founding, over 100 years ago (with the possible exception of early COVID), this beautiful shul has never missed a minyan. During the summer months, it sees an influx of summer vacationers in the Catskills, with a more modest crowd during the “off season”; it also houses a Yeshiva in its basement with dormitory facilities nearby. In the year 2000, the shul was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, as have several other shuls in the Catskills region. The walls are decorated extensively with pictures based on religious themes.
This Week’s MSOTW
This Shul was founded in 1891 (in a different location), and is still going strong. Name the shul, the city and the famous Rabbi who served as its leader for several years.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
