Viznitz Monsey chassidim have warmly welcomed the news of a significant expansion at the central Bais Medrash Hagadol “Levush Mordechai” in Monsey, which serves thousands of members of the growing kehilla. Beginning next month, part of the Ezras Nashim will be converted into a new gallery designated for younger yungeleit, providing hundreds of additional seats.
The expansion comes as a direct result of the kehilla’s continued growth, with the Bais Medrash already struggling to accommodate the large crowds that fill the shul on Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim in the presence of the Viznitz Monsey Rebbe, shlit”a. While the Bais Medrash currently has approximately 1,330 available seats, recent registrations topped 1,940 requests, leaving a shortage of more than 500 seats.
In response to the growing demand, and with the bracha and approval of the Rebbe, a special committee was established several months ago to examine possible solutions. Various plans were considered, including reconfiguring the interior of the main sanctuary, but those options were ultimately deemed insufficient to meet the community’s needs and would have required lengthy and costly construction.
The plan that was ultimately approved will see the northern gallery of the Ezras Nashim opened for younger yungeleit beginning on Shabbos Parshas Va’eschanan–Nachamu. The move is expected to create hundreds of new seating opportunities, with convenient access through the hallway adjacent to the shtieblach, while the southern gallery will continue to serve the women’s section.
To enable as many members as possible to secure a permanent place in the Bais Medrash, the kehilla has announced a special introductory price of $120 per seat in the new gallery, substantially below the standard seating cost.
The hanhalas hakehilla and gabbaim are currently finalizing arrangements and preparing the new section, expressing hope that the expansion will allow many more chassidim to establish a makom kavua for tefillah in the Bais Medrash.
It doesn’t sound like they’re creating new seats; rather, they are reassigning seats.
The vast majority of the yungerleit (and who cares about the women anyway???) are very upset about the reassignment of the seating arrangements. We will wait to see how it develops