One of the silver linings of the Covid cloud that overcast the world several years ago was a burst of new minyanim. One such minyan that originated outdoors during the course of those memorable summer months of 2020 is a flourishing קהילה that continues to grow, week by week.

The Windsor Road בית המדרש, as it is currently known, is now a second home to over 70 member families who have recently taken up residence in the surrounding streets. The shul is comprised mostly of young fathers, whether כְּלֵי קֹדֶשׁ or ba’alei batim. The common denominator is mature בני תורה, who seek a בית המדרש that maintains a positive attitude towards תְּפִלָּה, תּוֹרָה, and devotion to the Kehilla. 

The shul has been ably led since the summer of 2023 by its Rav, Harav Chanoch Greenblatt shlita. A talmid of Harav Osher Westheim zt”l, Harav Greenblatt is renowned as an erudite תלמיד חכם and a מרביץ תורה in Manchester. 

With its first move from the garden of a house to the rear of an office situated on Windsor Road, the shul slowly began to attract more yungerleit, who had moved to the area in recognition of its more affordable housing. 

It soon became clear that unless the overflow of the minyan was to continue being forced to stand outdoors, this time, due to a lack of space, a larger premises was to be secured. 

Several years ago, the kehilla acquired a building on a shopping parade, and the בית המדרש was, for the time being, a respectable size. It did not take long, however, for that too to prove inadequate. At this point, it was not merely the affordable housing drawing the new families; it was the existence of a vibrant בית המדרש that maintains its family feel, no matter how large it seems to grow.

With that in mind, just before ראש השנה תשפ"ה, the shul acquired a neighbouring property, allowing space for a further 30 mispallelim. With the בית המדרש having a less-than-ideal layout and far from being finished to a high standard, the avreichim were relieved to have a space for themselves and their children. The expanded space also allowed for a small room for the ladies. At Yom Tov times, however, the ladies need to stand in the street to participate in the tefillos and teki’as Shofar.

Those unfamiliar with the shul would find it hard to imagine that a mere six years ago, it was yet to be born. Credit is due to ראש הקהל, Reb Yehuda Roberg, who, since the shul’s inception, has spared no effort in every aspect of the kehilla, including introducing numerous learning programmes in the בית המדרש. 

There are daily opportunities for each מתפלל to be קובע מקום for both תפילה and תורה. There are several מניינים throughout the day. 

There is a pre-Shacharis דרשו משנה ברורה shiur delivered by the Rav, a דרשו עמוד יומי and דרשו משנה ברורה chaburah and in the late afternoon, a קנין מסכתא chaburah, אורייתא chaburah and דף יומי shiur in the evening. 

There’s also a בין הזמנים learning programme for bochurim and a זרע שמשון shiur each ליל שישי.

שובבים Shiurim and pre-Yom Tov preparation shiurim are presented by the Rav. A weekly אבות ובנים and Kiddush are a venue for the אחדות and vibrancy of the kehilla. As the only suitable option for families of a similar hashkafa within a fifteen-minute walk, the need for a fully functional מקום תורה and תפילה, serving both the men and ladies of the kehilla, is highly evident.

A kehilla of this size and standard comes at a significant financial strain, however.

The urgent needs at present are:

• To acquire 69 & 71 Windsor Road permanently.
• To unify and renovate into a modern, spacious בית המדרש.
• To increase capacity to 120 seats, for daily, שבת and יום טוב needs.
• To form three separate office spaces upstairs of the shul, bringing much-needed income to the shul.

The commitment of our shul members to this project has been truly extraordinary. Our community has pushed itself to the maximum matchnig this campagin,  to secure the future of בית המדרש Windsor Road.

Now, we turn to you. With your support, we can complete this vital project and ensure our Beis Medrash continues to thrive for generations to come.

As Rav Greenblatt has stated, anyone investing in this קהילה is partnering with countless hours of תורה, countless תפילות and generations of countless children whose lives will be shaped by growing up in such a מקום תורה.

Moshul Media