While most Jewish families looked forward to spending their Rosh Hashanah meals with family and friends, some of Brooklyn’s poorest Jews feared the Yom Tov table would be barren.

At the urging of its supporters, Boro Park’s unique restaurant-style soup kitchen once again furnished lavish meals throughout the Jewish New Year to meet the needs of some of the city`s poorest Jewish residents.


“Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation”

"Masbia won`t be taking a holiday vacation," said Alexander Rapaport, one of the founders of Masbia. "As yom tov approaches, the phones are ringing off the hook with people looking for a seudah."

Unfortunately, there was no lack of diners. In addition to Masbia’s regular patrons, a letter went out to 400 single mothers notifying them that Masbia would be serving food over the holidays. Assemblyman Dov Hikind helped spread the word to those in need on his radio show last week.

Masbia saw many new faces on Rosh Hashanah, including youth-at-risk who had nowhere else to turn. On Yom Tov morning after kiddush, the restaurant resonated with music as diners sang Sabeinu Mtuvecha. The accents included Litvish, Chassidish and Sefardi.

MASBIA was founded by few individuals who believed that the rich in the community would jump to support an organization like this, and that`s exactly what happened, said Rapaport. "Donors pushed us to be open on the holidays, they brought the money forward to make us open on the holidays," Rapaport said. "We want to be open 24/7 we just need the money to be able to do it."

But Masbia’s core of supporters do not cover its expenses. “We rely extra on the community for support at Yom Tov time,” Rapaport said. “People are responsive, Baruch Hashem. But we have to take each Yom Tov as it comes. If we don’t keep asking for help, we can’t keep serving Yom Tov meals.”

According to Rapaport, each Yom Tov day at Masbia costs some $1,800 or more.

MASBIA is funded almost entirely through private donations. This year`s donors include Strauss Bakery, which donated fresh baked goods; Dagim, who offered fish; and EMI-YOSHI who is providing fancy dishes for the meals to be served on. Perfect-Setting provided the tablecloths and linens.

The Best Of The Best

At Masbia, no expense is spared.

"Because there is often shame in coming to a soup kitchen, we want people to feel very good coming here," said Rapaport. “But more than that, our donors want us to go all the way—they don`t want to sponsor a skimpy soup, they want to sponsor the best."

To create a yomtov-dige atmosphere, the tables were set elegantly with fine china (donated) and stocked with juice, soda and even gourmet wine. The menu would have satisfied even the most discriminating diner. Meals included salmon and white fish, ribeye steak, chicken, and a variety of kugels accompanied by Herzog wines. There was also a fruit platter for patrons to make a shehechiyanu on.

An average holiday meal at MASBIA would go for roughly $80 at any New York restaurant, Rapaport said.

"We want everyone who comes to feel better than if they had cooked themselves. Those who come for a hot meal will be getting the best of the best.”