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| Rav Shneur Kolter during his years studying in Jerusalem |
The Chicago Community Kollel is one of the greatest assets Chicago
has. This Kollel - led by two ‘overachievers’ Rabbis David Zucker and Moshe
Francis - came into town back in 1980 to much concern over about how they would
affect our limited financial resources.
The fear was that a Kollel of young men
with growing families would be a burden to an already over-taxed community of
families struggling just meet the tuition obligations for their children. I
recall that even Telshe was opposed to the idea claiming that Chicago didn’t
need a new Kollel (and the increased financial burden they would bring with it)
since they (Telshe) already had a Kollel open to anyone who wanted to take
advantage of it.
But there was one individual who wanted to make it happen in
spite of the resistance to it. Rabbi Morris Esformes was determined to bring
them in. So determined was he that he promised to fund their payroll for the entire first
year out of his own pocket. Which he did.
So with the help of this Kipa Seruga wearing philanthropist and the encouragement of Lakewood Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Shneur Kotler and one of my heroes Torah VoDaath Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Yaakov Kamentsky, ‘The Kollel’ was established. As a
condition for financial support Rabbi Esformes insisted that only the cream of
the crop in Lakewood be considered as an Avreich (Kollel member). And so it
was.
The pioneering Avreichim of the first year (and many years
after) are today a ‘whos who’ of principals, Mechnchim, Rabbonim, Menahalim, Roshei Yeshiva, and
outreach. Many of them populate our day schools, high schools, Yeshivos, co-ed schools and girls schools as
Rebbeim as do many of their wives. Some of them have also gone on to successful business careers and careers in
the professions. I can quickly think of at least 3 who have become professionals, One
an MD, another a PhD in psychology, and another who is a PsyD.
The Kollel revolutionized Chicago. They changed the way
Judaism was practiced. Not by being preachy. Not by dictating standards. But by
being warm and inclusive; open and honest; and exemplary role models of their
Hashkafos.
From the moment they came to town, people started studying
Torah like they never had before. The Kollel influence spread far and wide in this town as
they drew Baalei Batim (house-holders) from
across the Hashkafic spectrum into their Beis HaMedrash. Whether it was with Chavrusos
(study partners) or by attending Shiurim given by either of the 2 Roshei Kollel or by any
one of the many popular Avreichim.
Early on a popular Daf Yomi Shiur was established at the
request of the newly inspired Baalei Batim. It was given the first 7 and a half year cycle by
Rabbi Francis. This phenomenon became so widespread that other Shuls started giving
their own Daf Yomi. The publication of the
‘ArtScroll Shas’ was added into the mix
and now the Daf Yomi has exploded. It can be found in just about every Shul and
Beis Hamedrash.
The Kollel’s influence dfid not stop there. They inspired
other Kollelim to open up and flourish as well. We now have at least 7 fully
paid Kollelim in the greater Chicago area. One of them is the YU Kollel Torah
MiTziyon. And there are even more partially funded ones.
There is so much more to say about the positive influence
this Kollel has had in Chicago that I could probably write a book about it.
All this came at a price. The Kollel has influenced Chicago to the right. The Lakewood/Agudah Hashkafa has become pretty much mainstream now. So that things like mixed seating at weddings is a much rarer occurrence these
days than it was before they came. Former Religious Zionists (Mizrachi) have
become very active in Agudah. Mizrachi – once a powerhouse in Chicago- barely exists these days while Agudah is exploding in popularity. (Chicago used
to be the Religious Zionist capital of America!) While the Kollel is not entirely responsible for that, they certainly played a major role in influencing people in this direction.
There is still a vibrant Modern
Orthodox community in Chicago. But they have gone from being the majority to being a minority and
are mostly located in the suburb of Skokie. (There is still one very
large MO Shul in Chicago proper located just a couple of blocks from the
Kollel. It housed 2 additional Minyanim: Agudah and Bnei Akiva. What is nice about Chicago is that this MO Shul is used by all Hashkafos
when large gatherings are called for.)
But that is a small price to pay for the kind of ‘in-reach’
the Kollel has been so successful at. And even though my Hashkafos are
different than those of the Kollel I am a fan of what they have accomplished
and continue to accomplish. My hat (Kipa
Seruga?) is off to them.
What about the increased financial burden to the community?
In my view – whatever the cost of the Kollel is, it is well worth it. Money
well spent.
