Ohr HaTorah-Jewish Heritage Center has opened in Glendale under the direction of Rabbi Akiva Freilich.
Formerly community education director with the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish Studies, Freilich is continuing his work in outreach education “to enrich Jewish life. I thought the program would be more productive as it was taking on a life of its own.”
Freilich said that the center, located at 6789 N. Green Bay Ave., was established to enable every member of the Jewish community to be involved in an active Jewish learning experience.
“Ohr HaTorah will try to accomplish that goal by offering an array of activities, including classes, seminars and individualized study for people of all ages throughout the week, both during day and evening,” he said.
He added, “Also, we want to help establish social connections among the Jewish community, particularly for young families and singles.”
Howard Eisenberg, dean of the Marquette University Law School, is president of the board of directors, with Michael Cohn serving as vice president; Bob Michels, treasurer; and Fran Serlin Cohn, secretary.
Eisenberg said that he has been studying with Freilich for four years and believes the rabbi is serving an important role in the community. “I feel my studying has been important to both my intellectual and religious development,” Eisenberg said.
On learning that Freilich was no longer associated with the Kollel, Eisenberg wanted to help him set up a similar program independently. He estimated that some 50 people are involved in the new, non-profit corporation.
“We’re trying to raise funds to allow the program to continue,” Eisenberg said. “When you don’t charge for the only service you offer, funding is a challenge.”
Eisenberg lauded the program for helping him deal with the conflict he feels between his religious and secular lives. “While I’m not Orthodox, I do feel it’s important to make certain that Orthodox traditions continue,” he said. “I think there are a lot of people in the community that are interested in more traditional study who don’t necessarily come from Orthodox backgrounds or live Orthodox lives. Some simply want to strengthen their connection to their Jewish heritage.”
Kollel dean Rabbi Mendel Senderovic said that the Kollel will continue to offer adult education classes “to the entire Jewish community as we have in the past.” However, he suggested the Kollel and Ohr HaTorah may run some programs “in conjunction with each other.”
Concurring that there will likely be some collaboration between the two programs, Freilich noted that one of the Kollel rabbis is already leading a teen discussion group at Ohr HaTorah.
Senderovic said that the Jewish Learning Connection operated by the Kollel in Whitefish Bay has been closed, but the program is continuing at its west side location under the direction of Rabbis Rocky Anton and Avi Zaitschek, who worked with Freilich.
In addition, Freilich has been hired as the part-time assistant education director at Congregation Anshai Lebowitz. According to Rabbi Bernard Reichman, its spiritual leader, “Rabbi Freilich began his work in our congregation in February. Right now, he is concentrating on adult education programming.”
For program information, call Freilich at 228-8930.
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