Iconic Williamsburg: Rabbi Joseph Weber Way

By Y. S. Gold

Street-naming ceremonies have become quite common in New York City, with members of the community voting to recognize one of their own by having a street co-named for them. In the heart of Chassidic Williamsburg, an often-overlooked sign situated on Penn Street near Bedford Avenue reads “Rabbi Joseph Weber Way.” This is because Penn Street between Wythe and Bedford Avenues is named for an unforgettable Williamsburg icon and askan, longtime gabbai and rosh hakahal of the Pupa kehillah in Williamsburg, Reb Yosef Weber, zichrono livracha. 

Hailing from a prominent chassidishe family in Hungary, Reb Yosef survived the Holocaust, and went on to rebuild not only his own family but he would also be one of the pioneers of the postwar Williamsburg Jewish community which has so spread out far and wide. 

A true builder, and a true patron for the klal as well as the individual, Reb Yosef forged connections at the highest echelons of local and state government—all for the betterment and welfare of his fellow Yidden. He spent decades as the head of the Williamsburg Community Board, and he was a major askan who stopped at nothing to help his community. 

Reb Yosef was the right hand of his beloved Rebbe, the Vayechi Yosef of Pupa—and continued to be a trusted confidante to his son and successor, ybl”ch, the current Rebbe, shlit”a—and being the public figure that he was, he was a natural choice to give an interview to the Daily Times following the Rebbe’s passing in 1984. 

“A friend of the rabbi’s and a member of the sect, Rabbi Joseph Weber, said Rabbi Greenwald emigrated to the United States from Pupa, Hungary, after WWII. He survived a Nazi concentration camp where his wife and ten children died,” he said. 

“Grunwald established orphanages and religious schools for other Jewish refugees from Pupa who had lost their families. He became one of the eldest and respected rabbis,” Weber said. He was like a father to a lot of people.” 

Reb Yosef was niftar in the year 2020 following a lifetime of chessed for his fellow Yidden, and leaving behind an incredible legacy of rebuilding in the Williamsburg community. 

About one year ago, the street was renamed for this longtime, legendary askan who left his mark on the Williamsburg community, far beyond the confines of the Pupa chassidus. 

The event was attended by high-ranking city officials—many of whom worked with Rabbi Weber over the decades. Councilmember Lincoln Restler was at the ceremony, and aptly summed up the sentiments felt by many in the community: 

“Rabbi Weber was a larger-than-life figure. He dedicated decades to shaping Williamsburg into what it is today and uplifting each of our neighbors with unwavering support. Rabbi Weber survived the horrors of the Holocaust and arrived in Williamsburg in 1953. He helped build the core institutions of Williamsburg and the Pupa community. He served for 40 years as Vice Chairs of Brooklyn Community Board 1 and United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn.  He spent his life advocating for all of us.