Iconic Williamsburg: The Iconic 571 Bedford Avenue - Home of the Admorim of Skver

YS GOLD 

The legendary address of 571 Bedford Avenue has been the Williamsburg home of the Admorim of Skver for three quarters of a century. The beautiful mansion was purchased by chassidim and admirers of the previous Skverer Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky, zt”l, for the Rebbe’s residence.  

In the year 1950, a group of chassidim, with the help of Rav Moshe Bick and Reb Yakir Biegeleisen collected funds—loans and donations—from admirers of the Rebbe, and purchased the mansion for the astronomical sum for $100,000. The building was a bit old—having been built in 1896—and the group made some renovations before the Rebbe moved in. 

Thursday night, 6 Nissan, the Shoproner rov and the Serdeheler Rov sat and learned in the home all night, and on the following morning, the Rebbe arrived from Boro Park and affixed the mezuzah on the front door, marking his official move to Williamsburg. 

571 Bedford Avenue was built by a well-known Jewish philanthropist and politician by the name of Moses May—a central figure in New York philanthropy who was heavily involved in the Brooklyn Orphans Home. May also built another beautiful home further down Bedford Avenue: 500 Bedford Avenue, the home of the Satmar Rebbe, zt”l. It changed hands a few times in the interim years, and one wealthy resident outfitted the building with beautiful and ornate woodwork—eventually earning it landmark status. 

The seller was wealthy, and had his face carved into a number of places in the home. The Rebbe would not move into the home until the likeness was altered, so there wouldn’t be an intact engraving of his face anywhere in the home. 

The Rebbe would also not move into the home before asking for the blessing of the Tzhelimer Rov whose beis medrash was nearby—not wanting to impinge on his territory. The Tzelimer Rov in turn encouraged the Rebbe to come. 

The Skvere Beis Medrash was established on the ground floor. On the first floor was the Rebbe’s private room as well as the ezrash nashim. On the second floor was the Rebbe’s apartment, and the apartment on the third floor was rented out to a number of tenants over the years—and eventually became the home of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, a son-in-law of the Skverer Rebbe, after his marriage to the Rebbe’s daughter. 

Only a few years later, the Rebbe moved to the shtetl of New Square in Rockland County. But the home remains the official Williamsburg residence of the Skverer Admorim to this day, and the Skverer Beis Medrash continues to function in the building at 571 Bedford Avenue, a tradition of 75 years.