Memory Lane: Rav Shmuel Eliezer Strauss

In studying the history of Congregation Ohel Abraham Mishkan Joseph—one of the oldest Shuls in Boro Park, having been established in the 1920’s—we came upon its second rabbi, Rav Shmuel Eliezer Strauss, a talmid chochom and author of the sefer Gan Shmuel. 

It was not easy finding the whereabouts of Rabbi Strauss, who served this congregation approximately between the years of 1941-1944, for there are sadly no descendants remaining from the rabbi today. We were fortunate to receive his picture through a Providential series of events which we will outline below. 

Russia 

As we have noted, it was not possible to learn firsthand information about Rav Shmuel Eliezer, due to the lack of offspring who may have remembered him. Thus, not much is known about his childhood. He was born in the town of Zhytomyr, Russia, in 1874, and his gravestone tells us that his father was named Yehuda Leib. 

He married Rebbetzin Devorah, the daughter of Rav Yaakov Moshe Sass of Ivya. Her parents had preceded them in coming to America and resided in the upscale Jewish community of Harlem. The Strauss’s arrived in America in 1903, and almost immediately, Rabbi Strauss took a position as a rov in Altoona, Pennsylvania.  

“All Rabbinical Performances”

In 1940, the Strauss’s were still in Pennsylvania, but soon thereafter, they would move to Boro Park, where they would remain until the end of their lives. As noted, around 1941, he accepted the position as the rov of Ohel Abraham Mishkan Joseph. 

Dr. Phillip Kipust is a legend when it comes to the commemoration of Boro Park history, and he authored the series I remember Boro Park which appeared in Boro Park Community News over many years. A lifelong Boro Park resident (and the principal at Boro Park’s Yeshiva Toras Emes) Dr. Kipust was a treasure of Boro Park memories, in addition to what he collected from others who were far older than him. 

The following is what he wrote about Rav Strauss: 

“Rabbi Samuel E. Strauss was the Rabbi of Congregation Obel Abraham Mishkon Joseph located at 4914 18th Avenue, from approximately 1940-1944. I remember him, because my family attended services at that synagogue in those years. He was the Rabbi there when my grandmother Ida Kipust (R.I.P.) passed away in 1941 and he came to our home to pay a condolence call.

While looking through the books in my home library recently, I came across a copy of a book he had written in 1944 and had presented to my grandfather. The title of the book is Gan Shmuel. The front page notation states, “Lectures and Interpretations upon Biblical and Talmudic Subjects.”

The Rabbi’s address and phone number are listed as, address:1683 53rd Street, Tel.: Windsor 8-4023.1 remember passing Rabbi Strauss’s house on many occasions and was attracted to the sign in front of his house which read “Rabbi Samuel E. Strauss Performer of all Rabbinical Performances.’ I do not remember if the sign was at the location of the address mentioned in the book or at a different location where he lived. Perhaps one of the readers will recall the sign and the location.” 

Gan Shmuel 

In his sefer, Gan Shmuel, published in the years of 1945 and 1947, respectively, he writes about his style in presenting sharp divrei mussar, but in a humorous style. He explains that we are called to “serve Hashem with joy.” “At the same time, I have used a sharp method that would entail the wisdom of Torah and life.” 

Rav Strauss left this world in the winter of the year 1960, at which time the Shomrei Emunah Shul of Fourteenth Avenue called all members to give a final honor to “The rebbe of our Chofetz Chaim class,” indicating that he taught Torah in the shul. 

Rav Strauss was interred in the Shomrei Emunah section of the New Montefiore Cemetery following a lifetime of teaching Torah and leading Yidden.