BJH: Today we have the honor of interviewing Rabbi Amrom Jungreis, Rov and Rosh Kollel of Mosdos Kehal Chassidim.
Rabbi Jungreis: Thanks for having me!
BJH: Please tell us a little about yourself.
RJ: I was born and raised in London, England! After I married my Rebbetzin, we moved to Boro Park where we have family.
I had the zechus to receive סמיכה and have שימוש from the famous Ga’on Rabbi Moshe Halberstam זצ”ל of the עדה החרדית as well as of יבלחט”א the Rav and author of the N’tei Gavriel שליט”א where I served as a dayan for over a decade.
I also served a number of years as שואל ומשיב in the Kollel בית חיים יהושע in Boro Park, where I have also given Shiurim at different places, including all the famous ‘Irgun Shiurie Torah’ shiurim. Many of my divrei torah will be printed in a sefer that will be published in the next few weeks IYH.
I moved to Baltimore 2 years ago along with my Eishes Chayil, Rebbetzin Peri Jungreis, a teacher in a few of our local schools, and our 5 beautiful children, to become the Rosh Kollel and Rav, and ultimately ended up taking over the Mosdos as well, B”H.
The administration team that makes up MKC are: Rabbi Amrom Jungreis – Rov and Rosh Kollel; Mrs. Tamar Schulman – Executive Director and daycare director, Mrs. Shoshana Sofer – preschool director; Mrs. Rochel Devoiry Hill and Mrs. Faige Lurie – girls elementary principals; Rabbi Menachem Mendel Ganzfried – cheder principal.
BJH: Tell us, how long has MKC been in Baltimore?
RJ: MKC was started about 10 years ago, with 20 Chassidish families moving to Baltimore from all over New York to make Baltimore their home. The families are a warm mix of chassidim from Belz, Satmar, Skver, Skulen, Vizhniz and more, united in the shared hashkafos of ahavas haTorah, chessed, and raising strong, Chasidishe families.
BJH: Tell us more about MKC!
RJ: With a lot of siyata dishmaya, MKC has grown so much over the past 10 years! We now have 4 separate Mosdos/divisions – the daycare, preschool, girls elementary and cheder for the boys, and go from 6 weeks old through 4th grade, with over 150 children, both Chassidish and Litvish who come to learn Torah and embrace the greatness of yiddishkeit. We have both Chassidish and Litvish staff who work for us in the mosdos who are amazing and truly make up the vibe in the schools.
BJH: How is MKC integrated into the Baltimore community?
RJ: Great question! Our mosdos have been warmly welcomed by the Baltimore Torah community, and Harav Moshe Heinemann is part of its Rabbinic committee. We have had special visitors come and see the cheder including Rabbi Heinemann shlita and Rabbi Feldman shlita. In fact, Baltimore families who appreciate yiddish-speaking chinuch and warm chassidishe approach have chosen K’hal Chassidim schools for their children, in all divisions with small class sizes, making our kehillah an additional facet in the growing yeshiva community.
In addition, I give Shiurim at local shuls, and my wife, Rebbetzin Jungreis, has weekly chabros for girls, and also gives Shiurim all over. She is a dedicated teacher at two of our big local schools and a valued member of our community.
Shabbos Bnos groups are held in one of our buildings in the upper Park Heights area.
Our Mosdos employ mostly litvish staff and administrators, creating jobs. Our daycare center is proud to be one of the few LICENSED daycare centers in Baltimore for infants/toddlers.
Kedushas Yisrael (the Chassidish shul/kollel), welcomes Litvish people to learn there, attend shiurim, and daven there on Shabbos and Yom Tov. They embrace the community and are appreciative to be here in Baltimore.
If you walk past MKC on Shabbos or Yom Tov during nice weather, you will see lots of frum children playing and enjoying our playground.
BJH: Wow you really make an impact in the Baltimore community. Please tell us about your upcoming campaign.
RJ: That would be important! We are having a critical campaign to help us subsidize our budget and help us continue to do the great work we do! We have a budget of over $1.5 million dollars a year, and we need to fundraise the deficit. This money will go to give our children the best chinuch possible and get the best staff and pay them nicely. It will also go to resources needed that aren’t covered with tuition that will help each child grow and excel in their yiddishkeit. BUT, we cannot do this without YOUR help. Please help us keep the Mosdos running by giving to our campaign – tizku l’mitzvos!
The campaign website is www.childrenofjoycampaign.com
For more information about MKC, please email administration@mkcbaltimore.org
BJH: Sounds like a great organization, hatzlacha !RJ: Thanks for having me!
