Boro Park Business Owner Exudes Fire of Emunah as Flames Consume his Establishment

YS GOLD 

The blaze at the Boro Park Matzoh Bakery took eleven hours to be extinguished by New York’s Bravest—but the fire of emunah in the heart of Reb Chaim Braun, a Viznitzer Chossid who has owned the establishment for decades is seemingly inextinguishable. 

As the flames consumed everything he had toiled for over decades, Reb Chaim stood at outside handing out cards that had printed long before being faced with this nisayon of his lifetime. “Ein of milvado,” they read.  

Until that night, they were just words. Now, they came to life. 

Later that morning, as firefighters struggled to bring the fire under control, Reb Chaim joined his regular minyan at the Vizhnitzer beis hamedrash on 51st Street. He went up to the amud to daven Hallel — with the trademark Viznitzer bren, and with the greatest fervor and joy. 

But he still wasn’t done giving praise to Hashem, leading the chassidim in a dance after davening to the words “Ki Hashem Hu HaElokim — Ein Od Milvado”—all at a time when he still didn’t know the full extent of the damage, or what would be with insurance, machinery, inventory, and everything else.

Years of living with emunah had prepared this chossid from Boro Park of 2025 for this moment in which it became clear that these weren’t just words. In real time, amid all the uncertainty and doubt, he was lifted above the moment, connecting with the true Boss with fire, with fervor, and with deep faith.