Iconic Williamsburg: Memories of Moore Street

Early Jewish Williamsburg was concentrated in the area around Moore Street, and its surrounding streets such as Morell Street, Cook Street, and others—easterly, closer to Bedford Stuyvesant. 

Today we return to Moore Street section of the 1920’s and the thriving Jewish community that lived there. The following is an account documenting some of the landmarks in the area circa 1910: “Moore Street was an important religious center in the early history of the Williamsburg community. Four synagogues were built there: Beth Hamedash Hagodol at 46, Kesser Torah at 52, Congregation Chevra Kaddisha at 93, and Chevra Sfard Anshei Libowitz at 127. The last congregation was incorporated in 1888 and the building was erected in 1905. 

“The Beth Hamedrash Hagodol was organized about 1887. This synagogue set the standard in religious thought and practices for the early settlers. It was guided by an able Rabbi, Shabsi Rosenberg (author of she’eilos uteshuvos Bris Melach, a giant in Torah) who was called from Russia to assume charge of it. After a while, dissension arose in the ranks of the members. Some, including the rabbi, seceded and organized Kesser Torah. Jacob H. Werbelowsky was its president for many year. 

“As many of the Jews who lived in the vicinity of Moore Street moved southward and their places were occupied by [descriptive term for African Americans] and Italians, Kesser Torah was sold to… The Kesser Torah people and some of the members of Beth Hamedrash Hagodol united and acquired the [house of worship] building at 157 Throop Avenue about twenty years ago. The new synagogue was called Kesser Torah Chono Dovid (this shul would have a long history with some very prominent Rabbonim).”

Thus concludes this narrative of the outsized Jewish presence on this legendary corner of old Williamsburg.  

Mayor of Moore Street 

The aforementioned Jacob Werblowsky was a legend in this community of Williamsburg of yore, and had a hand in every community endeavor. The famed Hebrew Publishing Company was founded in 1900 by his father Yosef Leib Werbelowsky who came to America in 1882 (!), following his son Yaakov who arrived here… in 1866! The family became wealthy from real estate holdings, and the sums of tzeddakah that he distributed to causes in New York as well as the institutions of Europe were vast.  

The above-referenced secession from Beth Hamedrash Hagodol—built by the senior Werbelowsky— was a tragic, sad chapter in the history of this fledgling community, and the tumultuous events of those days, with the ensuing legal proceedings, made their way into the New York newspapers.  

He was born in the town of Werbelow, on the German border, and—in a true rags to riches story— upon arriving in America did a number of odd jobs, until he developed one of the largest glass manufacturing companies in this city. At the time of his passing, he was known as the wealthiest Jewish immigrant in America. His children were involved in his communal work, which included shuls, Talmud Torah’s hospitals, and myriad’s of organizations for the needy. 

At his untimely passing, in 1913, Reb Yaakov Werbelowsky was mourned by the entire Williamsburg community, and the beneficiaries of his largesse across the pond. 

Anshei Lubowitz (mentioned above) did hold on for many years despite the metamorphosis—a lasting vestige of a shtetl within a shtetl at the turn-of-the-century Moore Street in old Williamsburg.