By COLlive reporter
Two Crown Heights residents are behind a new initiative to encourage young working Lubavitchers to set aside a daily or weekly timeslot for learning.
The new Night Kollel, or Kollel Erev, was launched last week at 466 Albany Avenue (basement level), between Empire Blvd. and Montgomery Street, and has already boasted a steady attendance of 10 people.
Rabbi Shimon Piekarski, a halacha teacher at Beis Medrash Chovevei Torah in Crown Heights who opened the kollel, said the program was “long overdue.”
“There is a need for this,” he told COLlive.com. “There is a large group of men who are working and know they need to learn and bring meaning to their day to day life. They have 9 to 5 jobs but need Torah in their lives.”
Piekarski says the kollel is supported by a local businessman who asked that his name be kept anonymous. Participants of the kollel will receive a symbolic $200 stipend per month.
The location, which serves as a shul on Shabbos, is fully equipped with an array of seforim as well as warm drinks and refreshments. The Kollel is in session from 8:00-9:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday evenings, and is followed by Maariv.
“This is a nightly Beis Medrash and will be consistantly open,” Piekarski says. “People can choose which days work for them and they can choose what they would like to learn. We will soon be having guest shiurim in English.”
He said the Kollel will be accepting up to 20 people at this point and is looking to be a welcoming place for “a younger crowd who are working and can be benefiting from a structured learning environment.”
It is open as a Bais Midrash for non-Kollel members during this time as well, he adds. “Those who are unable to commit to daily attendance can take advantage and join as often as their schedules allow.”
For additional information or to apply, please contact Rabbi Piekarski at 347-410-3372.
The opening of more Kollels can only bring positive things to the individuals, their spouses and families, and the community in general.
To number 6:
I’ve just turned 40 B”H and am a member of this kollel. I was not asked my age, which leads me to suspect that age isn’t a deal breaker.
This seems like such an important undertaking. An hour of learning a day can give a person so much needed spiritual energy. I believe that although there are funds for only 20 people Rabbi Piekarski would welcome anyone who wants to join without getting paid. Hopefully there will be additional sponsors to give more of our young men an incentive to join. There are so many who would benefit.
Community minded guy who puts his money where his mouth is and stays anonymus. We need more people like that
Crown Heights needs this! This is our source of Blessings, no question!
Kudos to Rabbi Shimon Piekarski!!
why not at least 35 and even 40 ??? a huge amount of these fathers are not learning either. please consider.
thank you
I hpope all the young fathers will take advantage and learn!! learning-refines character hopefully !!!!! boy do a lot of men need this!
chazack!
Shimon Piekarski, the best of the best! If anyone can do it he can! Hatzlocha!
Beautiful ! Beautiful ! Beautiful! That’s all i can say !!!
Sooo happy this age group’s need is being filled. Hatzlacha!!