Masbia opens in boro park to feed the hungry


With joyous fanfare a new era in Boro Park’s illustrious track record of selfless kindness was ushered in this past Sunday. Many rabbis attended the very historic event in which the first of many soup kitchens was inaugurated in the heart of the Orthodox Jewish community. All were astounded by the cleanliness and beautiful ambiance of the facility. Masbia, as the soup kitchen is called, means “nourisher”, alluding to the word in the Jewish grace after meals that refers to the One who feeds all: G-d.

Masbia’s doors are open to all who are in need of a hot meal. Founded by dedicated community activists the soup kitchen serves only fresh meals, and that is always done so with unparalleled generosity. Despite the fact that many more such kitchens are needed, Masbia’s founders are confident that the public’s overwhelming support will eventually and gradually help many new identical soup kitchens to sprout up throughout the metropolitan area.

The founders of Masbia saw a dire need in our community, which has a very larger number of indigent people. They intend to address that pressing problem by feeding the many who unfortunately go hungry, for the simple reason that they cannot afford a decent meal.

The doors of Masbia are open from 4pm – 9pm to all who are in need of fresh hot meal, as well as to those who would like to see for themselves how Boro Parkers, as they say, Sanctify when they satiate.

In response to the unpleasent realty that many people in boro park lack the money in today’s difficult economy to eat properly or feed their families, a number of highly respected askonim joined together a few months ago to embark on the project of opening a free soup kitchen, the first to be developed to serve the orthodox jewish community in new york city.

This past Sunday the grand opening of Masbia was held, with dozens of prominent rabbonim participating in order to demonstrate their enthusiastic support for this long overdue project to assist the many poor in our community. Indeed, the rachmastrivka rebbe, shlita, came to affix the mezuza to the doorpost of Masbia which is located at 4114 14th avenue near the corner of 41st street.

Yet, unlike traditional free soup kitchens, the organizers of Masbia have gone to great expense to develop an aura that more resembles a respectable restaurant than simply a functional dispensary of basic hot foods to those who are experiencing financial difficulties.

The torah has long placed an emphasis on not humiliating those less fortunate. Those behind Masbia, which has taken its name from the hebrew word meaning “satisfy,” recognize that many residents in boro park and surrounding communities might be ashamed to come to an establishment that gives off the aura of being exclusively for those who are poor.

In order to avoid this stigma, before Masbia even opened its door to feed the hungry, almost $100,000 was spent to especially decorate the free soup kitchen/restaurant. If one were to enter Masbia, one would think that it was just a very nice restaurant.

The primary support for starting Masbia came from Mr. Mordechai mandelbaum, who agreed to except the obligations of founder. Posters have been placed in all major boro park shuls and hopefully more and more individuals who can benefit from the free soup kitchen set up in a pleasant restaurant setting will learn of the existence of Masbia.

With separate tables and cubicles, Masbia is specifically set up to serve both men and women who need a warm nutritious meal. Organizers of the project are hoping that hungry women will come in both individually and with their children.

Presently, Masbia is scheduled to be open Sunday through Thursday, from 4 pm to 9 pm. Unlike the traditional soup kitchen where needy clients come and hold out plates to be filled with food by volunteers, at Masbia, all of the “customers” will be directed to a table where they will be served with both honor and dignity by a professional waiter.

Masbia has arranged for catered meals to be provided each evening by pinny’s meal mart. When an individual comes into Masbia, the waiter will offer a choice of two soups and a main course of either chicken or meat. Those dining can also feast on fresh bread, a pasta side dish, vegetables and a tasty desert.

At, times additional cake and tea will be available for patrons in buffet style. The menu will vary from day to day and all of the food is fresh. Those offering to donate leftovers from simchas and shabbos meals are politely declined.

The motto of Masbia is “serving nourishing meals to all” and the goal is to truly provide chiken soup from the heart.

In announcing the opening of this historic free kitchen soup as a restaurant, one of the organizers noted that many people who have, baruch hashem, been blessed with financial security are of the mistaken opinion that government food stamps and similar welfare programs are sufficient to feed all of the poor and hungry inhabitants of our community.

Recognizing the growing the number of poor yidden in our community, those behind the creation of Masbia have declared that this soup kitchen/restaurant “is not a luxury but an absolute necessity in our thriving community.”

This attitude has been endorsed by most of the leading rabbonim of boro park. As it is anticipated that the need for those deserving poor who could benefit from a dignified free kitchen soup is great, organizers of Masbia anticipate the need to establish additional locations throughout boro park.

The reaction of those in need who have discovered the existence of Masbia and taken advantage of the warm and nutritious meals has been a most positive one. One gentelman thanked the staff, declaring, “It is a wonderful feeling to be treated like a respected diner in a fine restaurant. You leave not only delightfully satiated, but also feeling like an important person. I cant thank you enough for what you have done for me and others in my situation.” Readers interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities to support this important mitzva can call (718) 972-4446.