The Denver Community Kollel held its 18th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, March 15th at Aish Denver. With close to 250 people – a cross-section of the Denver Jewish community – in attendance, the Kollel honored Rabbi Myer J. and Mrs. Bruria Schwab, for their founding of, and continued commitment to, the Kollel. The Kollel also recognized the 18 Kollel families currently residing in Denver.
A concise, impactful 40-minute program featured a video entitled Torah: The Tree of Life, that focused on the impact the 18 families have made, and continue to make, for Denver Jewry. The roots, or the Kollel families, the trunk, which represents the Torah study of the Kollel members, the branches, which are the many Torah study opportunities and programs the Kollel offers, and the fruits, symbolized by the many Jews whose lives were changed by the Kollel, all form the tree of life that is the Torah, brought to Denver by the Kollel.
Following a video presentation about the guests of honor, Rabbi and Mrs. Schwab, and their founding of the Kollel, Rabbi and Mrs. Schwab were presented with a leather-bound copy of Rav Schwab on Chumash, authored by Rabbi Myer Schwab himself. This much sought-after work is a collection of Torah thoughts on the weekly parsha from his father, the legendary Rabbi Shimon Schwab, and Rabbi Myer Schwab has generously dedicated all royalties from the sefer to the Kollel.
Rabbi Myer Schwab spoke for several minutes about the Torah that the Kollel brings to Denver. He explained that Torah is not just an experience; rather, it is connecting our minds with Hashem’s mind, so to speak. Through Torah study, a Jew is inspired and connected to our past and to Hashem, and it is that Torah that has allowed us to continue as a nation through the millennia.
Rabbi Schwab continued by quoting the Mishna in Pirkei Avos that states that eighteen is the ideal time for marriage. Marriage, he explained, is permanence, and the Kollel’s eighteen years of bringing Torah to Denver is just the beginning, as now the true permanence of the connection between the Kollel, Torah and the community has been formed. “Until now – eighteen years – we’ve only been in the preliminary stages of the development of our Kollel,” he explained. “Now it becomes a marriage! Now it becomes something that we need to commit ourselves to, full-time and permanently.”
Kollel Dean Rabbi Aron Yehuda Schwab concluded the program with the exciting announcement that the Kollel will be launching a capital campaign for a Kollel building on Denver’s West Side.
“This dream has long existed,” said Rabbi Schwab. “But no longer is it just a dream.” He continued that a location for the building has already been obtained, and a significant lead donation of $250,000 has been provided to jumpstart the capital campaign.
“I ask you to come forward tonight and join our effort,” said Rabbi Schwab. “We look forward to a time in the near future when we will have an exciting makom Torah – to further sink our roots of commitment to bring Torah to Jews across Denver.”
Since that announcement, an additional pledge of $100,000 has been made, as well.
Rabbi Schwab also noted that the Kollel has a strong tree of Torah in Southeast Denver, and thanked a group of committed lay leaders who are involved in deepening the Kollel’s roots there.
“The Kollel celebration brought together a group of committed community leaders and scholars who started with lofty goals of enrichment who have not wavered from their purpose to contribute and build our Denver community,” said Dr. Daniel Abrams, a long-time Kollel student, friend and supporter. “Their success was on full display, and their future very promising and inspiring. I am grateful for their leadership and friendship and having the opportunity to partake, one good deed at a time, as they make the world a better place.”
“The Kollel’s annual Celebration was an enjoyable event,” said Kollel board member Avi Mehler. “The program was a fitting tribute to Rabbi and Mrs. Schwab.”
Following the program, everyone enjoyed Good Things Come in Trees: Fruit-Inspired Cuisine, a delectable and elegant display of mouth-watering fare prepared by the Kollel women led by Esti Schwab and Esti Erlanger. Attendees also got to take home Rav Schwab on Pesach, a collection of Pesach-related thoughts excerpted from the larger work Rav Schwab on Chumash.
“It was a great event,” said Larry Halpern, who studies at the Kollel daily. “It was very nice to see so many people come together to honor Rabbi and Mrs. Schwab. Of course, we also enjoyed the wonderful food and catching up with friends from all parts of the community.”
“Our family had an amazing time at the Kollel Celebration,” said Ktziya Simonov, who attended with her husband Abo, president of the Ohr Avner (Bukharian) shul in Aurora, CO, and their newborn son. “[The Kollel] invested great effort throughout the years, and we can see the amazing support [the Kollel] has from the entire community.”
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