The Denver Community Kollel’s annual Donor Appreciation Event took place on Sunday evening, October 9th in the elegant and spacious building of Altura Periodontics. The Kollel’s friends and supporters turned out in droves to attend this special occasion.
At the event, Rosh Kollel Rabbi Aron Yehuda Schwab launched the start of the Kollel’s much-anticipated capital campaign. The three-million-dollar campaign, explained Rabbi Schwab, would provide a Torah Center in two different areas.
In West Denver, a new, state-of-the-art two-story building with a basement will be constructed, providing a spacious, beautiful place for community members to come study Torah and attend classes. The new building will also house an outreach center for the many Jews moving into the rapidly-gentrifying West Denver neighborhood.
In Southeast Denver, the Kollel has already obtained a house that has become the home for the Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Shachne Sommers, and his family. Attached to the home, the Kollel is creating a Torah Center for the community. Rabbi and Mrs. Sommers, who are widely-respected and much-sought-after in the community, will be in close proximity to the new Bais Medrash, making them more available and accessible to community members.
More than half of the funds – 1.6 million dollars – have already been obtained, explained Rabbi Schwab, through commitments, pledges and financing.
As for the remaining funds – “We will do this,” said Rabbi Schwab to the audience as they applauded, “with your help.”
“Together, we will build Torah infrastructure, for ourselves, our children and untold numbers of future Denver Jews searching for the neshama of the Jewish People – Torah.”
The concise but impactful program also featured a short address from Larry Halpern, a Kollel supporter who now spends his days studying Torah, including many hours daily at the Kollel Bais Medrash. Larry described his transition from the business world to the Bais Medrash, and the opportunity to build a relationship with the Kollel scholars.
“What has really amazed me as I’ve been learning at the Kollel is that each of the (Kollel) rabbis is so knowledgeable,” said Larry.
“Tonight,” he continued, “I am asking you to support the Kollel, as they embark on their future with the new Kollel building and the new Bais Medrash in Southeast… I would also like to invite you to come on over and learn with us at the Kollel, as well. For me, it has been an amazing experience.”
[su_custom_gallery source=”media: 4738,4739,4740,4741,4742,4743,4744″ link=”lightbox” width=”250″ height=”250″ title=”always”][su_custom_gallery source=”media: 3915,3914,3913,3912″ link=”lightbox” width=”250″ height=”250″ title=”always”][/su_custom_gallery]