University Initiative A project of YU Center for the Jewish Future – Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary

Yeshiva University Kollel Initiative Mission Statement: The mission of the YU Kollel Initiative is to enrich and engage the greater Jewish community with inspired living and learning. The Kollel is an open community of study that celebrates three core values: the primacy of Torah U’mada, understanding and contributing to the world community, and dedication to Eretz Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael. The kollel fellows will bring passion and commitment to a vibrant “Beit without walls,” engaging the community as they grow personally and professionally.

Yeshiva University-Torah MiTzion Chicago Kollel: Position: Kollel Fellow Website: www.ChicagoTorah.org Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Reuven Brand, [email protected]

The mission of the Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago is to enrich and engage the greater Chicago Jewish community with inspired Torah living and learning. The Kollel is an open community of learning that celebrates three core values: the primacy of Torah, the importance of Madda and the religious significance of the State of . The Kollel has created a vibrant community of learning and serves as an incubator for budding talmidei chachamim and lay leaders, seeding the community with future educators, and lay leaders.

Our eight Kollel members are committed to developing, both personally and professionally, and contributing to the community. Fellows continue to grow in their Limud Hatorah through rigorous daily morning and afternoon sedarim in Gemara and Halacha, which are enhanced by regular Chaburot by the Rosh Kollel, Kollel members and RIETS Roshei Yeshiva via videoconference.

Fellows engage community members of all ages and backgrounds in learning, whether it is through a personal chavruta at our community Beit Midrash in a local shul, through a youth program or at one of our many weekly shiurim. The Kollel is a strategic asset to the community by strengthening its many shuls and schools with programs that we offer. Our daytime Beit Medrash is housed in the Ida Crown Jewish Academy enabling our presence to inspire students, in addition to our “Beit Midrash on wheels” that lights up local elementary schools on a monthly basis.

Fellows are able to choose from either a Chinuch or Rabbinic Fellowships that will offer hands‐on opportunities in their respective fields. Chinuch fellows will benefit from directing school‐based learning programs and having in‐class experience with teachers and administrators. Rabbinic fellows will have opportunities to deliver Drashot in community shuls, participate in life cycle events and engage with the Chicago Rabbinical Council, the largest regional rabbinic organization in America.

Compensation for Kollel fellows is highly competitive; the generous salary includes moving expenses, optional health insurance and parsonage deductions. Wives share the mission and vision of the Kollel and are invited, but not required, to participate in Kollel programming. Chicago is unique. It is a major metropolitan Jewish city with its full complement of amenities (shuls, schools, mikvaos, restaurants, etc.), and it is a welcoming Midwest community with warmth and unity that connects families.Kollel families benefit from an active group of lay leaders who continuously partner with the Kollel and help integrate families into the fabric of the community. The Kollel is seeking to place incoming fellows in both of Chicago's large Jewish neighborhoods, Skokie and West Rogers Park.

Responsibilities include:  Serving as an ambassador of the Kollel by exemplifying its values  Observing the curriculum and timely schedule of Sedarim and successful completion of written exams  Participating in all Kollel programs and functions  Dedicating four evenings a week to community focused learning  Managing a personal portfolio of programming activities  Delivering Chaburot within the Kollel in Gemara, Halacha and Machshava  Hosting local families to share the warmth and vision of our Kollel