Boro Park Flashback: The Battle for Shemiras Shabbos in Boro Park

Each generation has its unique nisayon, a challenge which it is expected to overcome. And while, looking at Boro Park today it is hard to imagine that there was a time, a mere few decades ago, where one could not take for granted that a Yid living in Boro Park would shutter his store for Shabbos, a sad chapter in Boro Park history featured rampant chillul Shabbos.

Old timers recall the majority of 13^th Avenue being open on Shabbos, and many shuls featured early Shabbos morning minyanim to accommodate this. It may seem incredible in retrospect, but it is tragically the truth. The iconic Shomrei Shabbos Shul is only named that way because it was a break off from another area shul; but its heroic members could not abide davening alongside mechalelei Shabbos.

And while it is difficult to relive this era in Boro Park history, it is worth getting a glimpse into the heroes who set out to change the status quo of Shemiras Shabbos of Boro Park of the 1950’s.

Rabbi Chaim Rauche recently passed away at the age of 100. He was an upbeat Yid, a longtime Boro Park resident who was encouraged by the Zutchke Rebbe—who had his shul at 4402 14^th Avenue—to begin frequenting the stores of Boro Park, with warmth, asking them to please close their establishment for Shabbos. And that was when the Va’ad Shemiras Shabbos movement, including the Shabbos march that continued for many years in Flatbush, was founded right here in Boro Park.

Rabbi Rauche recalled coming to Boro Park from the Lower East Side about 70 years ago, and he sought to transplant his barber shop to Boro Park. However, at that time there were the “blue laws” which meant stores were not allowed to open on Sunday. Thus he would lose two days a week of business. “Each Sunday when I would come to open my store on Fort Hamilton, there was a certain cop waiting to give me a summons. Ultimately we prevailed in Albany to remove the blue laws, something that eased the way for shemiras Shabbos for many of our brethren.”  

These shopkeepers became like to children to Rabbi Rauche who would worry about them each and every Shabbos whether they were closing. When it became too difficult for him to walk—due to his old age—he would send his daughter to a certain establishments every Shabbos.

As we continue our stroll down memory lane, the example of Rabbi Rauche and his battle for Shabbos continues to reverberate and inspire.    

 

Memory Lane is a special project of BP24, and appears weekly. Comments may be emailed to [email protected]