One Man’s Dream: A Friday Kollel for All Who Want to Learn

The money Avi Suissa inherited from his late parents didn’t last long. Most of it was used up during the building process of a small kollel, a place where men gather to study Torah, right above his home. But even after the money ran out, Avi didn’t stop. Every Friday, anyone who comes to learn in his kollel receives a small payment, in cash, that very same day.

“As long as Hashem sends help, even through other channels like ma’aser (tithing from income), I’m not stopping,” he says. “The joy it brings is beyond words. I pray Hashem gives me strength to keep going.”

Avi, 37, lives in the northern Israeli town of Ma’alot and works in sound and amplification. Raised with strong values of Torah and emunah (faith), he sees this project not just as charity, but as a meaningful mission and a tribute to his parents, who passed away 12 years ago.

So why did he only start now? Because only recently did his parents’ home sell, and the siblings divided the inheritance. “We already dedicated a Torah scroll in their memory, but we wanted to do something lasting. Something that would keep giving joy to others for years to come.”

That’s when the idea struck him. “In a small city like Ma’alot, most kollels close before Friday. I wanted to give people a chance to learn even on Erev Shabbat (Friday before Shabbat), which is often the busiest time of the week.”

He acted right away. He built a unit above his home, specially designed for the kollel, and soon word spread. Dedicated learners began showing up, scholars whose hearts beat for Torah. Even though it’s right before Shabbat and people are busy with food and family preparations, they leave it all behind to come learn at the “Maor Yisrael” study hall, named after the great Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

“I can honestly say they’re not coming for the money,” Avi says. “They come because they love Torah. They already learn all week in other places. But this is the only kollel in town that’s open on Fridays.”

When asked what kind of responses he gets, Avi smiles. “Thank G-d, most people are encouraging. They tell me to keep going. Of course, some people doubt how long it will last, it’s a small city with limited resources. But I believe that with tefillah (prayer), patience, and Hashem’s help, it will only grow.”

Are there any requirements to join the kollel? Avi, who also learns part-time himself, says it’s more about attitude than rules.

“Look, it’s just three hours of learning. If someone comes here to waste time, they’ll feel out of place pretty quickly. But we’re not strict in a cold way. We offer coffee, even a coffee machine, so people can feel comfortable and learn with peace of mind. But things like chatting on the phone? That’s where I draw the line. A place of Torah needs to feel like a sacred space.”

Running the kollel isn’t cheap. Besides the payments to the scholars, there are costs like electricity, water, and maintenance. Yet when asked if he limits the number of people, Avi answers firmly, “No. We don’t ask for donations, and we’re not supported by any organization, but we welcome everyone. If more people want to come, great. Hashem will provide. The more we give, the more He will bless us.”