How Scheiner’s became Monsey’s magnet for growth and connection
He exited the Garden State South and circled back onto the Garden State North; there was nowhere to go, but he might as well return to Monsey. It was close to midnight, and his hometown felt safer than the highway, even if he couldn’t face home itself. He cruised aimlessly down Route 59, not sure how to proceed, when he realized where he could go. With a slight surge of energy (was it hope?) he hung a right off Route 59 onto Saddle River Road, a left on Maple, another left on Viola, and then a right on Forshay Road.
It was past midnight when Avi pulled into the enormous, unpaved parking lot at 18 Forshay, but the crowds were still coming, heading over to the cluster of unassuming white tents. Avi joined them; he wasn’t going to daven like they were, but it felt good just to be there. He leaned against a wall, staring into space, trying, as he had for years, to figure it all out.
Suddenly, there was a tap on his shoulder.
Scheiner’s. Of course I’d heard of it. It was the minyan factory in Monsey, housed in a group of tents, with endless flows of people coming in and out at all hours. Would I want to write an article about Scheiner’s? Uh, I guess so, but I’ll admit I was skeptical. Minyan factories aren’t much of a novelty anymore — would this one really be any different?
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