When I settled in
Baltimore in 1979, it was understood that “learning in kollel” meant the kollel
of Ner Yisrael, established just 20 years prior. Today, 250-plus kollel fellows
learn at Kollel Avodas Levi (subsequently named in memory of Rosh Hayeshiva Rav
Yitzchak Ruderman, zt”l) in one of
the five to seven chaburos (learning
groups, see sidebar), with guidance from its Rosh Kollel, Harav Ezra Neuberger.
Yet, dozens more men are learning in other local kollels, which seem to have
sprung up overnight. Here are just some of them.
Kollel Nachlas Yosef
“There’s a real
energy in the beis medrash, and
everyone is shtieging,” says Rabbi
Aron Tendler, rosh kollel of Kollel
Nachlas Yosef. Named in memory of Rabbi Yosef Tendler, zt”l, longtime menahel
of Ner Israel’s high school, the kollel was founded to ensure that young men
entering the workforce or who are in school have a place to learn with the same
intensity and enthusiasm they experienced during their yeshiva years. It is
open to those who want to learn long term, short term, or even one seder (session, see sidebar) a day.
The kollel, under
the guidance of seder rosh chabura,
Rav Shimon Greenwald, started with 12 yungerleit
(young married men); another seven, who are learning in Eretz Yisrael,
joined for the month of Elul. To create an environment of intense and
enthusiastic learning, the kollel yungerleit
learn in one chabura (learning group) in one beis medrash, where they can take
advantage of the great group dynamic and enjoy the ru’ach haTorah (the
atmosphere of Torah) that comes from such an experience.
Morning and
afternoon sedarim at Kollel Nachlas
Yosef are held in its beis medrash on
Smith Ave. For night seder, the
kollel joins the many bnei Torah learning in Derech Chaim (Rav
Pinchas Gross’ new shul). “Indeed, it is a wonderful testament to the amazing
people of our kehilla that so much
Torah is being supported throughout our community. And it is inspiring to see
how many people come to learn after a long day at work,” says Rabbi Tendler.
Kollel Zichron Yehoshua Heschel
Kollel Zichron
Yehoshua Heschel, which opened this Elul, was in the works for many years.
Rabbi Shaul Edelman, executive director of Mercaz Torah and Tefillah, shares
that the kollel is a project of the Zidichover Rebbe of Baltimore, Harav
Yissochor Dov Eichenstein.
The nine yungerleit have one common denominator,
which lends itself to the cohesiveness of the group: They are all talmidim of Harav Tzvi Kaplan’s yeshiva
in Yerushalayim. According to Rabbi Edelman, another group is expected to join
the kollel in a few months, after completing their studies in Maseches Temura.
The kollel members
learn on their own during morning and second seder and in the main beis
medrash during night seder, together with the balabatim. The
learning of the kollel is set by the rosh
kollel, Rabbi Aryeh Hartman, a
distinguished talmid of Rav Kaplan,
under Rav Kaplan’s guidance. Rabbi Moshe Kirwan, a native of Baltimore, leads
the second seder as the rosh chabura.
While any
donations are welcome and appreciated, the Rebbe is specifically encouraging balabatim to take on a Yissochor-Zevulun
partnership by sponsoring the full salary of a specific yungerman. Supporting a kollel, the Rebbe believes, will not drain
the community financially but will, instead, become a source of tremendous bracha and parnassa for those who contribute.
“The kollel
families have become part of our kehilla,”
explains Rabbi Edelman, “davening with the kehilla
and attending shalosh seudos as well as other kehilla functions. Although we are
blessed with hundreds of people who learn here daily, the avreichim (men learning full time) of this kollel bring with them
an atmosphere of purity and elevated avodas
Hashem (serving G-d) that we believe
will cause a qualitative transformation. A group immersed in learning full time
raises the madreiga (level) of all
those who connect with them.
“The Rebbe, shlit”a, has stated clearly that he
hopes and envisions that this kollel is just the beginning for Baltimore,”
concludes Rabbi Edelman, “and that, over time, it will become the standard for
every kehilla to have an integrated kollel.”
Kollel of Greenspring
One of Greenspring’s
newest kollels, Kollel of Greenspring, is overseen by Rabbi Dovid Schwartz. It
opened its doors last year after Sukkos and presently has seven full-time and
five part-time kollel yungerleit, who
learn three sedarim daily. It follows
a particular pace and offers recommendations of different marei mekomos (source sheet) set by the rosh chabura, Rav Elie Lipsky, who maintains a close relationship
with the avreichim and offers hadracha (guidance) when necessary.
Notes Rabbi
Schwartz, “In addition to learning, the kollel members’ responsibilities
include creating the ru’ach of the beis medrash, a warm and welcoming beis medrash where people (including balabatim) take their learning and their
davening very seriously and are looking to grow in both areas. It is not
nine-to-five; rather, it is a second home to avreichim, who provide the feeling of a warm kehilla for anyone in the community to be a part of.”
Shaarei Avodah Night Kollel
Rabbi Shmuel Iser,
Rav of Kehilas Shaarei Avodah (KSA), has moved his night kollel, formerly
housed at Congregation Shomrei Emunah, to the Katz Music Venue in Moses
Montefiore Anshe Emunah. The five paid members of the kollel are divided among
the Rav’s Beitzah b’iyun chabura, the
worldwide Oraysa learning program,
and learning on their own b’chavrusa.
The kollel takes part in the general Shaarei Avodah night seder, which tries to incorporate all members of the shul as an
integral element of the kehilla. Some
of the kollel yungerleit learn
certain topics, while others have the option of learning whatever they
want, so long as
it is done with a chavrusa (study
partner) to increase the kol Torah.
“We are very
fortunate that all of the members of the night kollel are also individuals who,
in one way or another, are participants in our kehilla,” shares Rabbi Iser. “At the same time, we have been very
blessed by the tremendous participation of non-kollel members, which is what
has made it a very dynamic and inspiring beis
medrash.”
The Rav adds, “We
have a great Daf Yomi shiur by R’
Elazar Steinmetz, an amazing Oraysa rosh chabura by R’ Aviel Abaei, and shiurim given by two talented members of
the kehilla, R’ Yechiel Ray and R’
Shaul Goldman – all of whom contribute to a very positive and exciting
atmosphere for learning and growth. The broader vision is for each member of
the kehilla to have some role in the
night seder on a weekly basis as part
of a community of learning and camaraderie.”
Here, There, and Everywhere
Rabbi Yonah
Sklare’s days take him from shiur to shiur, kollel to kollel. He starts in
the wee hours of morning (5:50 a.m.) at Kehillas Kol Torah (Rabbi Berger’s
shul) with a group of serious talmidim
chachamim. “They are moser nefesh (devoted)
to carving out this time for in-depth learning before engaging in their arduous
workday and familial responsibilities,” he says, “and learning through the
chosen mesechta with thoroughness and
depth. Mareh mekomos are provided, as
well as a weekly shiur. Visiting magidei shiur join us from time to
time.”
Rabbi Skare’s next
stop is a late morning kollel that meets at Mercaz Torah and Tefillah (Rabbi
Eichenstein’s shul) at 9:30 a.m. “We learn subjects topically from their source
in Gemara and mefarshim through their
development in halacha,” he says. “The dedication of the men to carve out time
from a busy workday is inspiring and directly attributable to the influence of
the Rebbe, HaRav Eichenstein, shlit”a.”
Rabbi Sklare ends
his day at his night kollel for young avreichem,
Minchas Yitzchok, founded l’ilui nishmas the
unforgettable Torah personalities, Rabbi Yitzchak and Miriam Lowenbraun, z’’l. “The beis medrash is located in their home on Park Heights Avenue, where
they exposed so many Jews to the warmth of Yiddishkeit. I am privileged to
partner in this endeavor with venerated mechanech
and mashpia, their son Rabbi Yossi
Lowenbraun.”
Aside from the
learning and shiurim with the avreichim, Rabbi Sklare also conducts
various programs for the broader community, including a weekly parsha shiur, which he delivers to a
dedicated following on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. (for more info contact Chanoch
Hoenlein, 443-386-4757), as well as other dedicated shiur groups in Shomrei Emunah, Mesorah (formerly WIT), and
throughout the community.
“Having the
privilege of leading kollelim and chaburos throughout the day,” concludes
Rabbi Sklare, “I can attest to the intensity of limud haTorah and growth-mindedness across our community.”
