Shadows of Selish 

The life of Vienna’s beloved butcher Berel Ainhorn proves that a Yid is blessed wherever he is

Berel Ainhorn is Vienna’s beloved mohel, retired butcher, shul gabbai, and baal chesed. But that’s just the last chapter. Reb Berel’s personal history, growing up in the Carpathian region under Soviet rule in a family dedicated to preserving Yiddishkeit at all costs, attaching himself to the Ribnitzer Rebbe and finally being released from the arms of Mother Russia to go to Eretz Yisrael, taught him that a Yid can find blessings wherever he is

Everyone in Vienna’s heimish kehillah and beyond knows Mr. Berel Ainhorn.

He’s been Vienna’s main mohel for decades, traveling as far as Prague and Budapest to perform milah, and closer to home as well, when refugees from oppressive regimes have, over the years, made Vienna their first stop under the protection on HIAS.

He’s a community stalwart in Vienna’s frum enclave, known for his warm smile, open hand, and as gabbai of the Tempelgasse shul. But mostly, he’s known for his famous kosher butcher shop, where his delicious sausages and salamis have garnered a loyal following (and where he would keep the most special salamis to give to his friends for free) and where, on Fridays, he’d be cooking Shabbos food for needy families.

Mr. Ainhorn has just recently retired from his popular kosher butcher shop, which is now managed by his son-in-law under the name Fleischerei Hager. It’s a business he built up through hard work. After arriving from Eretz Yisrael as a mashgiach and menaker, he gradually taught himself the meat trade and was able to buy out the retiring previous owner.