Rare Summer in Boro Park: Four Major Yahrtzeiten Fall on Shabbos

By Y.M. Lowy

This summer is an unusual one in Boro Park, with four major Yahrtzeits falling out on Shabbosim. Each one is bringing large numbers of Chassidim from far and wide to the neighborhood for a Shabbos of connection with their Kehilla.

A Yahrtzeit on Shabbos has a different feel. It’s not just a tish. The whole Shabbos becomes part of it, the davening, the zemiros, the shmeesen, all centered on the tzaddik’s Yahrtzeit.

The first was this past Shabbos when the Sanz-Klausenburg kehillah marked the Yahrtzeit of the Shefa Chaim zt"l. 

Next is Rosh Chodesh Av, the Yahrtzeit of the Bobover Rebbe, the Divrei Shloime zt"l, which this year is on Shabbos. Thousands of Bobover Chassidim are expected to spend Shabbos in Boro Park.

Later in the summer, the third Shabbos Yahrtzeit will be for the Rachmastrivka Rebbe zt"l, who passed away two years ago on 29 Av. His loss is still felt strongly, and his followers will be gathering for a Shabbos.

The last will be the Yahrtzeit of the Skulener Rebbe, the Noam Eliezer, with the Skulener Chassidus spending Shabbos together in his memory.

All four Yahrtzeits falling on Shabbos is not something that comes around often. It won’t happen again for another 19 years. For many in Boro Park, this summer will leave a lasting mark.