Heading West
The Kollel Institute sets up classes
outside of Oak Park.
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER
I
n response to the calls that
have been coming in for a
year, the 23-year-old Kollel
Institute is setting up shop in
West Bloomfield.
Starting Sept. 8, the Oak
Park-based, full-time Torah-
learning center will send about
eight teachers to Ohel Mohed
Shomrey Emunah in West
Bloomfield for men's and
women's learning nights. And if
teens accompany their parents
to class, Rabbi Elazar Meisels,
program director, says there will
be teachers for the teens. "You
come up with your suggestions,
your needs, and we'll fill them,"
he says.
Even if an individual is look-
ing for a chavruta (study part-
ner) for one-on-one learning,
Meisels says the Kollel will make
the match. The instructors will
be comprised of students of the
Kollel, says Meisels. Rabbi Eli
Jundef, spiritual leader of Ohel
Moed-Shomrey Emunah, will
serve as dean of the program.
Some lay leaders in West
Bloomfield wanted Jewish learn-
ing activities closer to home,
Meisels explains. Others want-
ed the Jewish community in that
area "to solidify," and "some sim-
ply want to do homework with
their kids."
Monday evenings have been
designated for women and Tues-
days are for men, each night
from 8-9 p.m. There is no cost,
although "sponsorships are al-
ways welcome," Meisels says.
The program is being funded
through private contributions.
Individuals at all levels of
Jewish knowledge and from any
level of observance are welcome;
the program will be attuned for
each level.
The topics for the men's pro-
gram will include Talmud, week-
ly Torah portion and relevance
of the holidays. The women's
lineup includes classes in He-
brew reading and language and
the weekly Torah portion.
The program, to be known as
the Jewish Learning Experience
of West Bloomfield, will not of-
fer a Talmud class for women be-
cause, according to Rabbi
Shmuel Irons, head of the Kol-
lel, "historically, the study of Tal-
mud was a men's endeavor."
Because of its abstract nature,
Irons says Talmud study "fits
better into the psychological
makeup of a man."
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Meisels assumes that people
have been asking for Jewish
learning because they "are look-
ing for meaning, spirituality, the
pintle yid [Jewish spark]. With
all the issues being raised [about
Jewish continuity], it makes peo-
ple wonder, want to see what it's
all about, make an informed de-
cision.
"This program entails a lot
more than just sitting down and
studying," Meisels says.
Irons says that just "the exis-
tence of such a program, it's very
being, is something that will im-
pact the community. It's a state-
ment that studying Torah is
important."
' For information or to sign up,
call (248) 988-7256.
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