Ohev Tzedek

This once beautiful building was Congregation Ohav Zedek, but it wasn't just a shul. It was an absolute [music] epicenter of Jewish music, bringing in thousands of Jews to hear [music] some of the most incredible Jewish cantors of the time. >> Founded by Austro-Hungarian Jewish [music] immigrants in 1873, Ohav Zedek was created to preserve the traditions, customs, and way of life they had brought with them to America. But by the early 1900s, they faced a new [music] challenge. How do you inspire the next generation to walk through the doors? Their answer [music] might surprise you. They hired the world's most famous cantor, Yossele Rosenblatt, offering him the highest salary ever paid to an American cantor at that [music] time. >> But the results were incredible. Every week, the shul would be packed with thousands of people, Jews and non-Jews alike, to hear the famous, world-renowned Yossele Rosenblatt daven for the amud. Jews from around your city would pack these very blocks [music] just to get a glimpse of Yossele Rosenblatt. This institution proved to the frum community in America that they no longer had to hide or be ashamed of what they were. They could be proud, young, frum Jews in America, celebrating Shabbos every week with incredible experiences [music] that today we get to benefit from. So the next time you have an incredible musical experience in your shul, very possibly [music] was inspired by Ohav Zedek. Now join us as we go to the Harlem Jewish Pushcart Center. [music] You're not going to want to miss this.