Masbia Expands Dinner Hours in Brooklyn to Support Families During Chametz Cleanup

Beginning Sunday, March 30 — the first day of Chodesh Nisan — Masbia Soup Kitchen will extend its in‑house hot‑dinner service hours at both its Boro Park and Flatbush locations for the first two weeks of the new month. From Sunday through Thursday, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, families whose kitchens are temporarily out of service while cleaning their homes of chametz can receive a free, ready‑to‑eat dinner. This initiative eases the often‑overlooked burden of feeding loved ones during Passover preparations, ensuring that no family must turn to expensive takeout or go hungry because their kitchen is unusable.

Preparing a home for Passover brings hidden costs beyond the Kosher for Passover groceries. With many teenagers home from school and kitchens in transition, families often find themselves buying ready-to-eat meals that can exceed $200 per dinner for an average frum family. By expanding dinner hours, Masbia removes that expense, allowing families to redirect limited resources toward essential Passover needs.

“A basic take‑out dinner for an average frum family can exceed $200 — equivalent to two cases of eggs and two cases of grape juice,” said Alexander Rapaport, Executive Director of Masbia. “Offering extended dinner service frees families from costly take out dinners and helps them focus on preparing for the holiday without added financial strain.”

Rosh Chodesh Nisan (March 30th) also marks the 20th anniversary of Masbia’s founding. It was on this date in 5765/2005 that the Rachmastrivka Rebbe Z"l, Rabbi Chai Yitzchok Twersky, affixed the mezuzah at Masbia’s original Boro Park location alongside Masbia’s founder Mordechai Mandelbaum and many leading rabbis of the time - a historic moment that launched Masbia’s enduring mission to feed the needy with dignity and compassion.