Memory Lane: Torah and Kashrus in Boro Park of Yore

A while back, we profiled Reb Avrohom Dovid Egoz (Ogus) who was a prominent writer in Der Morgen Zhournal and elsewhere, and resided in Boro Park of yesteryear. In the fall of 1922—the same year that the magnificent Congregation Beth El was inaugurated—he penned a broad article on the development of orthodox institutions in the Boro Park community, a sign of the growth of this prominent neighborhood. 

Torah

“It was about thirteen years ago, when the Yishuv was beginning to blossom, that the prominent men of the neighborhood understood the need for a Talmud Torah. 

“Although Boro Park has been entitled “The rich Yerushalayim of America, there are nevertheless poor people there as well. For those who are not wealthy enough to hire private melamdim for their children, a Talmud Torah is necessary, but it is also a need for those with means as well that their children should have a place where they will be raised in the ways of Yiddishkeit. 

“So, a number of noble men got together and the Machzikei Talmud Torah was built on 43rd Street between 13th and 14th Avenues. It is a large and beautiful building, with a shul and fine classrooms. 

“Right now, the Talmud Torah has twenty-eight classrooms and fourteen talented and able teachers which support about nine hundred students. The principal is Mr. Samuel Barowsky, an accomplished individual, an experienced pedagogue, and a yiddisher mentch, who is dedicated with every fiber of his being to the institution, and fulfills his duties on the best way.  

“Seeing that the existing building cannot accommodate the student body in accordance with the growth of Boro Park, the school added a second building, which is being inaugurated today. The new building is built with all the modern amenities, and cost about $50,000. There will be room for another 400 children, and an extra shul. The chanukas habayis today will hopefully be a great success, for this is an institution in whose success the Boro Park community is invested. 

Vaad Hakashrus 

The second institution to which Mr. Egoz dedicated his column in the year 1922 was the newly-formed Vaad Hakashrus of Boro Park which was headed by Boro Park’s most esteemed Rabbonim. 

“The Vaad Hakashrus is a relatively-new organization, having been founded half a year ago. The primary founders of the Shul came from the aforementioned Shomrei Emunah shul (in the clipping that we bring here, which appeared in 1922, we see the signatures of truly venerated Boro Park Rabbonim, some of whom indeed served in Shomrei Emunah. We have profiled most of them in this column in the past). 

“The balebatim in Shomrei Emunah saw that there is great hefkeirus with regard to kashrus in Boro Park, and they began a movement to address this. Messrs. Roth, Weinstein, Harris, Hochstein, and Bennet took on the task, and the Vaad was founded. Thereafter, other shuls attached themselves to the movement. Four Rabbonim were appointed, and Rav Meir Yehoshua Peikes was appointed as its head. 

“In the short time of its existence, the Vaad Hakashrus has accomplished a great deal. Thanks to the Rabbonim and the balebatim who assist them, it has become the norm that every Jewish butcher shop is fully kosher, for if there is even the slightest suspicion of the kashrus of an establishment, a thorough investigation is immediately made. 

“The Vaad has hired five mashgichim, upstanding and trustworthy Yidden who can be relied upon, and they, together with the Rabbonim keep their eyes open constantly that nothing untoward should take place in the butcher shops. Every butcher store, and every delicatessen, has a sign from the Rabbonim. The Rabbonim, Rav Velvele Margolies and Ramaz Margolies, have expressed their opinion that the Boro Park Vaad Hakashrus may serve as a model to other neighborhoods. 

Supporting the Vaad costs $10,000 a year. The Shomrei Emunah Shul, which gives tzeddokoh with an open hand, gives $1,500 toward to the Vaad, the Sfardishe Shul, $1,000, Temple Beth El, $500, and a little bit falls in from smaller shuls. 

“Boro Park has another two large institutions—the yeshiva (presumably Yeshiva Etz Chaim, which was inaugurated that year) and Israel Zion Hospital, but we will speak about them another time.